Battery changes: On a schedule or as needed?

[Kirwin]

What I tried

I used a Optima red top in one of my 360 gas Ramchargers, and for starting my 12KW Onan QD generator in the back of my 03 truck I used a Optima yellow top. I was looking for "sealed" most of all as I had Dekas ooze battery acid that got on both fenders of my 97! I wanted the Generator starting battery isolated from the rest of the trucks electrical system to prevent any unwanted side effects. These Odysseys sound like they are even better sealed. Ken Irwin

 

[Crunch]

""""Then connect the negative poles for both of them before connecting the positive poles. """""



NOT A GOOD IDEA.

wrenching on hot leads after grounds are connected is not good, ' Lot's o sparks ' if you touch anything. .

Also as soon as grounds are connected and 1 Positive is connected the other Positive cable now becomes an ARC WELDER . LOT's&Lot's O Sparks...



Connect Both Hot leads (RED) before connecting grounds (Black)

I've heard that connecting the positive lead first can lead to shock if you somehow ground yourself before hooking up the negative side, i. e. touching the frame as you lean over the fender. If I'm wrong, then what is the proper way to replace and reconnect the batteries in a dual battery set up?

 

[Loren]

I've heard that connecting the positive lead first can lead to shock if you somehow ground yourself before hooking up the negative side, i. e. touching the frame as you lean over the fender. If I'm wrong, then what is the proper way to replace and reconnect the batteries in a dual battery set up?

Crunch,



A twelve volt system won't shock you. You can lick your fingers and touch both terminals on a battery and feel nothing.



The factory service manual for my 1995 truck doesn't give a procedure for changing the dual batteries in a diesel, but here's my procedure with the reasons:



1. Remove the negative cable from one battery. It doesn't matter which one. This is the grounded side of this battery, so if this cable touches the truck body it doesn't matter. The reason for removing the negative cable first is because it is the grounded side. If your wrench should touch the truck while loosening the negative bolt, it won't matter. DO NOT allow the wrench to touch the negative post and the positive post on the battery at the same time or you risk melting a notch in the wrench.



2. Remove the negative cable from the other battery. The batteries are now isolated from the truck and from each other. If either of the loose cables touch the truck body it doesn't matter. Since the batteries are isolated from the truck, it doesn't matter if the positive cables touch the truck, whether they are attached to the battery or not.



3. Remove the positive cable from either battery. You may allow this cable to touch anything.



4. Remove the positive cable from the remaining battery. The batteries are now completely electrically detached from the truck.



5. Loosen the hold-down bolts and remove the hold-downs on both batteries.



6. Lift the batteries out. They are heavy. An Optima battery weighs about 45 pounds. The factory batteries are heavier.



Reconnect the batteries in the reverse order. That is, clamp down the batteries, connect both positive cables, connect both negative cables.



Good luck.



Loren

 

[Crunch]

Reconnect the batteries in the reverse order. That is, clamp down the batteries, connect both positive cables, connect both negative cables.

Pretty much my thoughts, too but with more detail. I've always been taught to disconnect the positive lead first to avoid accidental grounding. Thanks for the info.

 

[DWeiler]

I have been hearing good things about Orbitals... anyone have experience with them?

Exide Technologies Exide Select Orbital

Run them in my rig as well,i dump my batteries every 5 years in all my vehicles due to extreme cold winter weather,reguardless,just chalk it up to preventative maintenance. Never have needed a boost ---"yet". DW

 

[LMcCary]

A shock is better than an explosion and/or fire!

 

[Lmoore1624]

Battery Desulfation

Batteries will last for a long time if you do a yearly "desulfation" pm. There are lots of info on the web on this subject.

 

[MickeyMiller]

Well this thread accomplished something... . I just went out and cleaned all four terminals, measured the voltage (12. 6 v, both batterys), cleaned the tops, re-fitted the cables (positive first), and sealed them with terminal spray. 5 year old originals... they will probably die tomorrow.

 

[Lmoore1624]

One of many Links to Battery Sulfation problems.

Here's a good link to get you started on " lead-acid " battery maintenance / pm's.



Why PWM?

 

[WhiteSheep]

Odyssey

OK, the Optima I was bragging about in my gasser Ford finally gave up the ghost after nine years. I really can't complain as I was replacing batteries every two summers before the red top graced my engine bay. I decided to go "up market" and purchased an Odyssey 1500 for $221 out the door from Sunbelt Batteries in Scottsdale AZ. This is about $100 more than I would have paid for a Red Top at Batteries +. Check back in about nine years and see how it went.