bigredhdt Posted April 13, 2021 Report Share Posted April 13, 2021 How many batteries do we really need to start our trucks? I have a VED12 with 4 group 31 batteries. Would this work with 2 or 3 instead of 4? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
house Posted April 13, 2021 Report Share Posted April 13, 2021 Let me start with the fact that I am not a battery expert. Under ideal conditions, with brand new batteries at full charge you could probably do it, the issue you run into is when your batteries get a bit older, and the weather gets a bit colder, the harder you draw from the batteries the more quickly they will die. So while technically probably could start your truck with 2 batteries the lifespan will be much shorter, and on top of that you will have much cushion. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
noteven Posted April 13, 2021 Report Share Posted April 13, 2021 My little phart Kenworth dually has a Cummins 8.3 engine with 2x group 31 1000CCA batteries. It has an electric manifold pre heater for starting when coolant temp is cold. I run 15w40 engine oil and preheat the coolant and oil pan with a Webasto heater (the heater exhaust is pointed at the oil sump) when it is colder than 32F/0C. It has no "parasitic draws" except for the clock when the engine is not running. There are no inverters or other non automotive loads connected to the them. I disconnect the batteries when parking it for more than a couple weeks, and charge the batteries with a "smart" battery charger every 2 months or so when in storage. The batteries are over 6 years old and going fine. Paccar brand from your local KW or Peterbilt dealer. Quote "Are we there yet?" asked no motorcycle rider, ever. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
DanZemke Posted April 13, 2021 Report Share Posted April 13, 2021 I agree with all of the above responses. IMO, one battery of the type originally installed in your truck is good enough most of the time. The problem for most of us, is that a 10% risk of being unable to start our truck is not acceptable. My 12.7L truck was ordered with 3 batteries and seems to work well for me. Why do you want to use fewer batteries? Quote Volvo 770, New Horizons Majestic and an upcoming Smart car Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Vegas Teacher Posted April 13, 2021 Report Share Posted April 13, 2021 When I got my 2010 780 D13 engine it only had 2 batteries on it. It started fine, however I knew it was supposed to have 4 batteries and Volvo ran a special just to get People into Volvo TEC here in Vegas and had batteries on sell for 35.00 each. Since I had two batteries only and they were 4 years old, as I was told, I couldn't find a good reason not to stock up. Short answer is I ran my truck on 2 old batteries for the first two years I had it. Later, Cory O Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Alie&Jim's Carrilite Posted April 13, 2021 Report Share Posted April 13, 2021 My old M-11 Cummins runs on 3. The battery box can hold 4 though. In cold weather, 2 batteries is barely enough to spin it over. Quote Alie & Jim + 8 paws 2017 DRV Memphis BART- 1998 Volvo 610 Lil'ole 6cyl Cummins Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
podwerkz Posted April 13, 2021 Report Share Posted April 13, 2021 Are you wanting to add a starting module? If so, 2 or 3 batteries will be fine with that module. Quote Nothing to see here. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
bigredhdt Posted April 14, 2021 Author Report Share Posted April 14, 2021 6 hours ago, DanZemke said: I agree with all of the above responses. IMO, one battery of the type originally installed in your truck is good enough most of the time. The problem for most of us, is that a 10% risk of being unable to start our truck is not acceptable. My 12.7L truck was ordered with 3 batteries and seems to work well for me. Why do you want to use fewer batteries? Paralleling batteries is always problematic. When one cell goes it ends up killing the whole bank. This is the problem I've had on the last 2 sets of batteries. The most work my batteries get are when I crank the engine over for 10 seconds when it's been sitting for more than a week. (Per the manual). It always turns over in about 2 seconds or so. I rarely drive my truck in the winter. Lastly, it is costly to replace 4 batteries @$125 each . Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
jenandjon Posted April 14, 2021 Report Share Posted April 14, 2021 You need at least 3. I run 4 because I have an inverter to run the fridge and stuff. Quote Farmer, Trucker, Equipment operator, Mechanic Quando omni flunkus moritati-When all else fails, play dead I'm a man, but I can change, if I have to, I guess. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
rickeieio Posted April 14, 2021 Report Share Posted April 14, 2021 Batteries usually don't just "die". They gradually get weaker. And putting them under heavy loads accelerates the degradation. So in the long run, you likely get about the same life per dollar whether you put in 2, 3, or 4. But with more batteries your safety margin goes way up. We got 10 years out a set of 4, despite severe neglect. Quote KW T-680, POPEMOBILE Newmar X-Aire, VATICAN Lots of old motorcycles, Moto Guzzi Griso and Spyder F3 currently in the front row Young enough to play in the dirt as a retired farmer. contact me at rickeieio1@comcast.net Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
steiny93 Posted April 14, 2021 Report Share Posted April 14, 2021 On 4/13/2021 at 1:27 PM, bigredhdt said: How many batteries do we really need to start our trucks? I have a VED12 with 4 group 31 batteries. Would this work with 2 or 3 instead of 4? Some intel The Cummins ISM in the HDT operates with 4 batteries, but the Cummins ISL (used in a pile of motorhomes) operates with 2 batteries (in-laws have had a few of them). In-laws current motorhome has one of the large Cat engines pushing their current motorhome, it also operates off of a pair of batteries for starting. In all of those motorhome applications the battery box only supports a pair of batteries. I personally have spent a lot of time around the larger motorhomes, I haven't experienced issues with any of them starting on a pair of batteries. But I have no idea if those applications are using the same starters / relays / etc as HDTs, I assume they are the same but they could be different. Additionally, the motorhome usages tend to be with it is warm and they have been recently operating from shore power, so freshly charged starting batteries. Quote 2000 volvo 6102013 cyclone 3950 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Randyretired Posted April 14, 2021 Report Share Posted April 14, 2021 2001 volvo with ISX @500HP. I cheated and just bought 3 batteries instead of 4. It has worked well but it also has a solar panel to keep the batteries charged. When in the garage it has a trickle charger. If I used the inverter I would want 4 batteries. Quote Randy 2001 Volvo VNL 42 Cummins ISX Autoshift Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Scrap Posted April 14, 2021 Report Share Posted April 14, 2021 General rule of thumb minimum for trucks: 6L-9L w/ 42MT starter: 3 batts 6L-9L w/ gear reduction starter: 2 batts 10L-13L w/ 42MT starter: 4 batts 10L-13L w/ gear reduction starter: 3 batts 14-18L w/ 42MT: 4 batts 14-18L w/ gear reduction starter: 3 batts 14-18L w/ gear reduction starter and body controller: 4 batts Adaptations: 6L-13L weight sensitive and you own a service truck or are the service truck: 2 batts Engine start module: 2 batts Engine start module and service truck and\or you never shut your truck off: 1 batt (good luck with that...) Inverter, fridge, beacon lights, liftgate: 4 batts. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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