Foretravel Owners' Forum

Foretravel Motorhome Forums => Foretravel Tech Talk => Topic started by: Protech Racing on May 21, 2018, 12:46:12 pm

Title: Do I need two 8D start batteries?
Post by: Protech Racing on May 21, 2018, 12:46:12 pm
Went to fire up the bus yesterday and start battery was dead.  Poking around today, I find that one of the under step batteries is connected to the rear mounted start battery.  It reads low voltage  by itself while the rear mount reads proper .   
 My question; do I need the two bats tied together?
  I thought that the under stair batts were the coach power but it is not wired that way.
 Thanks . MM
Title: Re: Do I need two 8D start batteries?
Post by: Pierce & Gaylie Stewart on May 21, 2018, 12:56:31 pm
Went to fire up the bus yesterday and start battery was dead.  Poking around today, I find that one of the under step batteries is connected to the rear mounted start battery.  It reads low voltage  by itself while the rear mount reads proper .   
 My question; do I need the two bats tied together?
  I thought that the under stair batts were the coach power but it is not wired that way.
 Thanks . MM
Depends on your model/brand engine, how well it normally starts, do you travel to high altitudes in winter, etc.

Detroit 2 cycles like ours do well with two 8Ds or three 34/31 etc. Smaller engines like the 5.9 and 8.3 Cummins do OK with two 34 series. You can NEVER have too many CCA. We frequently camp at high elevation and in cold weather. We don't have glow plugs(most direct injection diesels don't), intake heater, etc so the more CCA, the better.

Non-turbo engines usually have higher compression ratios so are easier to start cold.

A great starting engine in three seasons may not so so well when winter and other factors are considered. Good to have cables and terminals clean to avoid delays.

Pierce
Title: Re: Do I need two 8D start batteries?
Post by: Protech Racing on May 21, 2018, 12:59:12 pm
Cat 3208 T , fires right up at less then two revolutions.  (When the fuel filters are air free)
Title: Re: Do I need two 8D start batteries?
Post by: Pierce & Gaylie Stewart on May 21, 2018, 01:47:52 pm
Cat 3208 T , fires right up at less then two revolutions.  (When the fuel filters are air free)
If it does that in winter on one 8D, it's your ticket.

P
Title: Re: Do I need two 8D start batteries?
Post by: Dakota Slim on May 21, 2018, 08:22:40 pm
My 1981 Foretravel had a 3208 Cat and it came to me with a regular car battery and a 12 volt marine battery for the house. I never had a problem starting it. I switched over to 6 volt golf cart batteries for the house and stayed with one 12 volt car battery to start the Cat. Worked great for 10 years.
Title: Re: Do I need two 8D start batteries?
Post by: TAS69 on May 21, 2018, 09:39:46 pm
I think yes
Title: Re: Do I need two 8D start batteries?
Post by: Protech Racing on May 21, 2018, 11:48:56 pm
Thankyou for taking the time to answer.  I will clean up the post and give it a whirl ..
Title: Re: Do I need two 8D start batteries?
Post by: Old phart phred on May 22, 2018, 03:42:59 am
Cat 3208 T , fires right up at less then two revolutions.  (When the fuel filters are air free)
Started my 3208:at 15 degrees on a single 8d but it took a bit