Is it worth it to invest in the higher priced 8D batteries?

[dan-fox]

How about using a TWECO 1/4 turn welding connector on the neg side, inside the (lockable) battery box? That would do it.

[Iceni John]

I relocated my start batteries to be much closer to the starter, and I put my house batteries next to them. I have two Blue Sea 9002 battery cutoff switches and some 4/0 cables to link my house batteries directly to the starter if I need more Reserve Capacity than my two Group 31s can provide. For starting a big diesel I think that RC is at least as important as CCA or CA, especially in cold weather when you may need to use the technique of "Crank for 15 seconds, wait for a minute, repeat" until you build up enough heat in the combustion chambers. My old 8Ds were 1400 CCA each and the new Group 31s are almost 1200 CCA each, but the 8Ds have more than twice the RC. Mind you, a 1500W block heater or a Webasto would be better yet in those conditions.

John

[Brewerbob]

Rated to 180A Continuous or 1000A Intermittent
https://www.amazon.com/Cllena-Curren...olation+switch


Operation: On/Off, Rating: 275A DC Continuous (1hr) , 455A DC Intermittent (5 min), 1250A DC Cranking (10 sec), Voltage: 48V DC, Stud Size: 2x3/8" (10mm)
https://www.amazon.com/BEP-701-Batte...olation+switch

Either of these should do no? My alternator is 160 amps so the batteries never seen more than that. If I need a switch capable of 2800 amps then I'm going to need another bus just for the switch.

[cadillackid]

on my DEV bus, i looked at how the factory installed switch is.. they have a separate wire going from the starter direct to the batteries.. and then everything else goes through the switch.. so the huge current pull of the starter is not handled by the switch.
-Christopher

[Brewerbob]

Originally Posted by Brewerbob

Operation: On/Off, Rating: 275A DC Continuous (1hr) , 455A DC Intermittent (5 min), 1250A DC Cranking (10 sec), Voltage: 48V DC, Stud Size: 2x3/8" (10mm)
https://www.amazon.com/BEP-701-Batte...olation+switch

Oh wait, this one says 48VDC. So that's 4 times 275A. Overkill and then some but it's cheaper than the fancy shiny one.

[cadillackid]

I like that first one.. it looks cooler.. that red one looks cheesey
-Christopher

[Brewerbob]

Originally Posted by cadillackid

I like that first one.. it looks cooler.. that red one looks cheesey
-Christopher

I agree with your entire statement. If the switch is going inside the bus, I'd go with the first one. If it's in the battery box, the second.

I need to do some measuring. I'd rather have it ... I was going to say outside so I don't have to punch any additional holes inside the bus. But long term and parking the bus... would be nice to flip it from inside when it's raining. If I put it inside, I need to decide where I would want it. I don't have walls or anything yet. Building a bus from scratch was a bad idea. Grrrrrr.....

[PNW_Steve]

Originally Posted by Brewerbob

Oh wait, this one says 48VDC. So that's 4 times 275A. Overkill and then some but it's cheaper than the fancy shiny one.

It doesn't quite play that way. It is 275A max AND 48V max. 275A max applies regardless of voltage.

[CaptSquid]

OK, now I'm thoroughly confused.

The stealership says Brunhilde takes 2 8D batteries. Funny, there are 3 in Brunhilde.

Calling all over town, only one store has 8Ds - NAPA - and at a premium price.

So, I looked it up and Autobatteries.com says she takes 31T batteries. OK, so I'm off in another direction.

Guess what? NAPA has these, also, and also at a premium price.

Which one do I use?

[Brewerbob]

Originally Posted by CaptSquid

OK, now I'm thoroughly confused.

The stealership says Brunhilde takes 2 8D batteries. Funny, there are 3 in Brunhilde.

Calling all over town, only one store has 8Ds - NAPA - and at a premium price.

So, I looked it up and Autobatteries.com says she takes 31T batteries. OK, so I'm off in another direction.

Guess what? NAPA has these, also, and also at a premium price.

Which one do I use?

Three 8Ds would be serious overkill. Batteries Plus Bulbs has the 8Ds. Tractor Supply has the 31s.

[cadillackid]

for me.. I cant lift an 8D but i can lift 31's.. so id rather have a bank of 31's because I can lift them to replace them and I can certainly handle wiring them together..

-Christopher

[Brewerbob]

Originally Posted by cadillackid

for me.. I cant lift an 8D but i can lift 31's.. so id rather have a bank of 31's because I can lift them to replace them and I can certainly handle wiring them together..

-Christopher

You aren't that scrawny. Yes they are heavy but I think it's like 115 lbs.

Batteries + says 130 lbs. Not fun but not unpossible either.

[cadillackid]

wierd - the board double posted.. grrr.. 130 lbs for a guy that weighs 140 is tough.. esp when I dont work out and have a back thatsd jacked...

of course there is tools for lifting heavy things..

[Brewerbob]

Originally Posted by cadillackid

wierd - the board double posted.. grrr.. 130 lbs for a guy that weighs 140 is tough.. esp when I dont work out and have a back thatsd jacked...

of course there is tools for lifting heavy things..

I strained my back twisting getting the battery cores from the car to the cart. Nothing pulled and hurt at the time but I felt it for the next couple of days. Getting the new batteries in the car or the old batteries out of the bus and into the car were fine. Just dumping the cores a week later with the slight turning.

[brokedown]

My 200AH AGM house battery weighs about 135. I would never consider something that big for a start battery. I've got 2x group 31 for start and if they need to be replaced I can get them for around $90 at walmart.

[Brewerbob]

How often are you guys lifting batteries? Mine are sliding in and out all the time on the tray so I can disconnect them when I'm MIGing but those are on rollers. If I have to replace these every 4 yrs I'll be pissed. No way in hell they should be getting replaced more often than that.

[brokedown]

I would like to lift mine zero times. I have to lift them a few times between purchase, installation, and eventually removal. That's at least 3 times more than my goal!

Sent from my Nexus 6P using Tapatalk

[Brewerbob]

Well, the dude from Batteries Plus offered to help so that's down to one.

[EastCoastCB]

Originally Posted by brokedown

My 200AH AGM house battery weighs about 135. I would never consider something that big for a start battery. I've got 2x group 31 for start and if they need to be replaced I can get them for around $90 at walmart.

Or $75 each for better ones than walmart has at Rural King.

[Rusty]

If you think batteries are heavy now, wait until you have to replace a power pack on your electric bus build in 10 years.

It's super important to maintain batteries- over-discharge a few times and takes years off their life.

US Military has many vehicles that sit, with many batteries each, as you can imagine. Their solution is Pulse Tech Solargizer- they are the real deal.

My Durango had the stock battery for 12 years. Was daily driver and I wanted to send that battery in to be examined and researched to further mankind.