tyates007 Posted May 28, 2018 Report Share Posted May 28, 2018 Time has come to change battery cables on the KW. Right now I have 4 batteries, 2 banks of 2 in parallel with a cable from each bank running to starter. So I have 2 positive cables and 2 negative cables combined at the starter. I am wondering if I need to leave it like this or if I can put all 4 batteries in a single bank and the run 1 positive and 1 negative to starter. I also want to put a battery disconnect in as well so I can switch. Them off when not in use. Any thoughts would be appreciated. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Darryl&Rita Posted May 28, 2018 Report Share Posted May 28, 2018 Those 2 pairs should be wired so that 1 pair handles the house loads in the sleeper, while the other pair takes care of starting duties. The starting pair are isolated when the engine isn't running, so the truck will start after warming up 3 day old fuel station burritos in the microwave. I have been wrong before, I'll probably be wrong again. 2000 Kenworth T 2000 w/N-14 and 10 speed Gen1 Autoshift, deck built by Star Fabrication 2006 smart fourtwo cdi cabriolet 2007 32.5' Fleetwood QuantumPlease e-mail us here. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Scrap Posted May 29, 2018 Report Share Posted May 29, 2018 120" hood big block w/ 42MT starter can't do it on a single set of 4/0 cables. If changed out to a gear reduction starter it maybe might squeak by. But dual 2/0 is still very common with them - especially with 4 batts. So probably best to stick with tandem starter cables. Give KWNW a shot at quoting new cables. They really aren't that bad. Adding a disconnect will more than double the cable price though. Yea it doubles the cables but it also isn't as common out there. So you get out of the high volume parts and get into the specialty stuff. Could still be well worth it though. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Randyretired Posted May 30, 2018 Report Share Posted May 30, 2018 A Cummins shop built new cables for my truck when the originals failed. I don't recall the price but it seemed reasonable at the time. Many welding shops can also make cables. Randy 2001 Volvo VNL 42 Cummins ISX Autoshift Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
tyates007 Posted May 31, 2018 Author Report Share Posted May 31, 2018 Thanks. Called Kenworth and got price. $200 for 4 cables. That would be by far the least amount I have ever spent in parts for this beast. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Scrap Posted June 1, 2018 Report Share Posted June 1, 2018 To do a disconnect switch, change out the red cables for these: K396-2341F020 batt-disco K396-2341F030 batt-disco K385-22E5F065 Qty 2 disco-starter P11-1012 bracket holds it and get a Flaming River Big Switch with handle for the switch. Cut the top half of the T-handle off to get it to work under the step. (the KW specific one isn't made anymore) I don't think the KW battery cables will seal with your Deka battery ties though. You will probably have to buy two Julian/Deka/Freightliner cables to go from your battery ties to the disconnect switch in order to keep the sealing. Or buy the Kenworth battery ties that seal in with the cables. You won't need that Freightliner stud for accessories anymore since they will all be on the disconnect switch lug anyways. I don't have a whole lot of experience with them, but that single stud for two batteries worth of cable has got to be a restriction. Usually 3/8 studs are only good for 250A, so the KW cables use a stacking washer to use the cable ends plus the stud to pull power from two batteries. Not that it'll burn up or anything, but you may see a starting improvement. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
tyates007 Posted June 1, 2018 Author Report Share Posted June 1, 2018 Thanks Scrap. That is exactly what I was looking for Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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