Using oOriginal bus batteries?

[Tyania]

Correct me if I am wrong but I was told that only the first battery is responsible for starting the bus. My bus has 3 so are the other 2 just for handling the 12v elements on the bus (lights ect)?

Once converted, how are people using these other 2 batteries? Leave as is or incorporate them into the electrical system of the camper conversion? Can they be added into the reserve for a solar system?

They are heavy so I would like to make best use of them and that battery box. I am still in the planning phase of my bus so I dont know much about the electical aspects of the conversion but want to lay out the spaces appropriately.

[cadillackid]

you have to look and see how your batteries are wired.. if there are jumpers across the batteries linking them together in parallel then all 3 are responsible for starting and all 12 volt items.. its a possibility that there are 1 or 2 that are isloated.. (you'd see wires coming off of them but not linking the batteries together).. but normally the factory build on school busses is all batteries are together..
-Christopher

[Brad_SwiftFur]

While 1 new battery may start the bus, it is a heavy load for just one battery and it won't last long. Cold weather, memory for electronics, leaving the lights on - all these will drain the battery and run the risk of not having enough power to start the bus. This is why manufacturers use multiple batteries in parallel, to give extra power for cold weather, spread the load across multiple batteries and extend their life.

Also, some states require a minimum amount of battery power and reserve (typically for the above mentioned reasons), and one Group 31 battery simply can't provide enough.