BATTERY or Batteries

[DPinkston]

I have been pondering batteries for my conversion. Would I be better off using 2 smaller batteries with around 800 CCA each, or one big battery with 1125 @ 0? I have got to do some measuring to see if the bigger battery would set in my battery tray, but I think it will. I have seen mention elsewhere that 2 batteries often fight each other, but it is a common setup these days so it can't be all bad. I have also seen gadgets that are supposed to make sure each battery receives a correct amount of charge, but factory setups don't have this do they?

Opinions?

Danny

 

[MartyAdams]

Battery

My opinion is that one battery over 1000 CCA will work fine provided it is checked at a regular service interval. The two battery option usually has no problems provided the batteries were installed as a new pair. This way as the batteries degrade they degrade at the same rate together. Mixing a new battery with an old is where many charging issues occur and this is due to the degrading effect of the batteries over their lifespan. The specific gravity of the old battery will be lower than the new battery and this sets up a current flow between the two batteries as the stronger of the two tries to charge the weaker one. Usually the weaker battery wins by damaging both batteries or significantly reducing the useful life of the good battery.



To check your single battery just ensure the acid level is good (not too low) and check the specific gravity with an inexpensive tester from your local automotive store. I cannot remember the specific numbers for the battery to be in the green on the tester.



Marty A

 

[SRadke]

One big battery will work fine, that's how the first gen's are setup. They switched to a pair primarily for ease of finding batteries. Not every road side shop has a 1100 cca battery lying around.



-Scott

 

[1stgen4evr]

Two Batteries

Along with the concerns that Marty stated, my experience with two batteries has been that over time, one will have a poor connection and will not be 'contributing' anything to the job. Thus, for the most part, you only have one anyway. In anything but really cold conditions, the cummins will work fairly well with a 800 cc battery.



I use the biggest thing (1100+) that will go in the tray. With the reserve capacity, I never have problems with the charging system since even a hard crank will not drain the battery to the point that the alternator has to work its butt off to recharge the battery. One big high amperage battery is better for the starter as well. One quick zip and the Cummins is running.



With one battery, you know where to look if the connection fails. Two batteries = trouble. I have never even tried two batteries in a Dodge but have had several tractors that were new that way. Always trouble. I even changed a John Deere to single battery setup



James

 

[willyslover]

Look at Odyssey PC2150 [that's 2150 amps ] almost the exact size of original stock battery

 

[DPinkston]

The big battery I was looking at has about a 12. 75 inch base, which will fit my tray, but there is a wad of wires attached to the fenderwell that will prevent the battery from utilizing all the available tray area. I went and got another stock sized battery that matches the one I already had. I know, mixing old and new not good, but the old battery isn't really that old, < 1 year, and I am on a budget. Thanks for the advice.

Danny

 

[BV]

My Step Bro is having problems with his 92 Dodge that is running a single 900 cca battery. I would not want to run with less then the 1000/1100 they came stock with.



As for dual batteries - Lots of folks around here run them without problems (My Uncle Paul's 01 Dodge has 80k on the originals) - Yes you have to clean 2 sets of terminals once in awhile but so what - 1800 cca's turn my Fummins over just fine .