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Topic: Engine Battery Heater Suggestions Wanted (Read 1016 times) previous topic - next topic

Re: Engine Battery Heater Suggestions Wanted

Reply #26 –
We added a 3rd battery as it fit into the tray. We cycle the ignition key on and off a few times to prime and heat the intake manifold before cranking. Of course a block heater on for hours before crank is a good idea.

Re: Engine Battery Heater Suggestions Wanted

Reply #27 –
Quote from: "Irish" –
This morning it was around 18 degrees, . . .
my question is does anyone use heat pads, if so what brand do you have and do you leave them heating in all the time during cold weather.
Any suggestions?
 I know there are coaches in Minnesota, Canada, Washington state, all areas colder than Ohio, do all the coaches have the same issues?
I grew up in Massachusetts, and heating oil deliveries and service were "under time pressure."  Our trucks were kept in unheated buildings, with their block heaters plugged into timer controlled outlets.  Anything stored out of doors was another matter and under extreme conditions a salamander and snow berms usually did the trick.

That being said, I wouldn't keep the stored batteries heated as I'm of the belief that just as the cold slows down the electrical activity, it also slows the aging of the batteries.

There is no "fast" solution to a cold soaked truck and as others have said, it takes about four hours for a guaranteed start and that includes warming the batteries with the heat source of your choice.  In a pinch pushing electrons through the battery in reverse does a good job stirring up the batteries for their big push.

I have two PD 9260 power converter/smart chargers so with the generator or shore power I have an additional 120A available if necessary and I can manually switch the PD 9260s to Bulk mode, 14.4V to add some additional "warmth."

My engine manual has a chart of temperatures and what it required for an engine start.  And yeah, anyone living in those temperatures has the same problem.
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Re: Engine Battery Heater Suggestions Wanted

Reply #28 –
I've had to start the engine a few times now in the cold over the last several years. I've never used the engine block heater in fact I disconnected the plug inside the engine compartment as my dog would lay up against it and turn it on.
When I remember,  I turn the aqua hot circuit on the night before. Never had a problem with it starting except for when I had the old red top optima batteries. I can't say it was their fault exactly cuz I don't know how old they were but one battery was completely bad. The more I read about the optimas the less I like them so when it came time to replace them I switched over to Odyssey batteries. PC 2100s I think they were... I had to modify the battery cage by making it wider and shorter. These things are the bomb. They never fail to start. And I don't have a boost anymore. I do have a trickle charger on it when it's plugged in but since I boondock mostly it's rarely in use.
The other day I couldn't start my Jeep it was around 30° here. I pulled out a lithium battery start module that I bought on Amazon a few years ago. It's pretty small maybe about 6 in by 4 in by about 2 in thick and it's rated to start a semi. I've used it a few times on the Jeep and it works fantastic and it holds it charge like you wouldn't believe. In the last 3 years I might have charged it to full three times total.
Just my experience.
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