How many amp-hours in the stock batteries??

[Shelby Griggs]

The strobe lights on my truck draw about 6 amps. I know the OEM batteries say 750 amps with a reserve of 115 minutes. Is there a way to come up with the amp hour rating for the combined capacity of the OEM batteries? Bottom line is, I want to know if I sit for 8 hours beside the highway with the strobes running (roughly 50 amp-hours worth of draw), will I be able to start the truck at the end of the day? I suppose I could try it once and see, but I prefer to figure this out some other way.

An 8 hour run would be extreme, but it could happen while surveying along a highway. Usually my projects are not continuous on the road, but you never know when I might need to run that type of load.

TIA

Shelby

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2001. 5 2500 QC LB 4WD, ETH (Built 09-10-00), DEE, 3. 54 gears, Laramie SLT, Camper Special, Trailer Tow, Travel Convenience Group, Power Driver Seat, Alarm System, Remote Keyless Entry, Fog Lamps, Cab Clearance Lamps, HD Transfer Case, Bright White with a Gray Interior. Built 09-15-00, took delivery on 10-06-00, 3873 miles as of 01-04-01. Custom aluminum work body / flat bed. Coming soon: E-Brake and gauges.

 

[HC]

Reserve capacity usually means length of time the battery can supply 25 amps. thus, 115 minutes gives 115*25/60 = 48 amp-hrs per battery, so your 8 hour run could be 50% of your total capacity. The battery rating at a lower amp draw will be higher than 48 (maybe 60 to 75 amp-hours?), but, an 8 hour run would still be a major challenge and unwise in colder weather, even with brand new batteries. I'd think your best bet would be to call West Marine at 800-538-0775, and get a catalog. Get a good deep cycle battery, an inverter, a charger, and wire it up so that your strobe lights are powered from the deep-cycle and the deep cycle is automatically recharged when you drive. The reason for the inverter/charger is to avoid overcharging the gel-cell deep cycle, which could happen if you just plugged in the straight 14 volts of your trucks system.
Or, Optima apparently has a battery that is designed to take the 14 volts, so maybe you could do this with a yellow-top and an isolator.

 

[Amianthus]

Hey S. S. ,
What kind of strobe lights did you finally decide on? Do you have pictures?
Good advice on the Optimas. I run two red tops in my rig and have been on scene a few times with them running and not had any problems with battery power. I don't know how the oem's would be, but I don't think you'd have too many problems.

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'99 2500 ISB QC SLT (No Leather!), 4x4, 5sp w/McLeod, 4:10, BD-II, PE, PE-EZ, 4"exh. , Pac-Brake, A-Pillar gauge pod w/boost and pyro, Line-X, V-1, lights, siren, lic. plt. frame says "Diesel Fumes Make Me Horny!", and much more goofy stuff.

 

[Shelby Griggs]

Amianthus,

I used Grote stobe lights, and used the oval heads with a 4 light power supply. If interested look at the online catolog at
Grote. Look at part # 99850 for the power supply and at part #77263 for the heads.

Here is a picture.

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More Truck Photos Here

Shelby

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2001. 5 2500 QC LB 4WD, ETH (Built 09-10-00), DEE, 3. 54 gears, Laramie SLT, Camper Special, Trailer Tow, Travel Convenience Group, Power Driver Seat, Alarm System, Remote Keyless Entry, Fog Lamps, Cab Clearance Lamps, HD Transfer Case, Bright White with a Gray Interior. Built 09-15-00, took delivery on 10-06-00, 3873 miles as of 01-04-01. Custom aluminum work body / flat bed. Coming soon: E-Brake and gauges.

[This message has been edited by Surveyor Shelby (edited 01-22-2001). ]