Posted by jdemaris on September 13, 2007 at 08:00:39 from (69.67.229.200):
I know I overthink things sometimes - but . . . I'm wondering if I'm missing something here.
I've got a first-generation Dodge truck with the Cummins diesel. It uses only one starting battery which is kind of unusual. All my Ford and GM diesels use two smaller batteries - as well as most of my diesel tractors. It can get 30 below zero here - but it's unlikely I'd try to drive a diesel at that temp. Still, I want to have the option to start it at zero temps - even if I forget to plug in the heater. Battery capacity gets cut in half at zero. Dodge calls for a single battery in my truck that has a minimum of 1100 cold-cranking amps at zero temp and a reserve of 170 minutes. It is a BCI type 31 battery. I'm finding out that hardly anybody makes such a battery anymore. Most for sale now - the commercial 31s - are only 925 CCA. Deka still makes one that is rated 1100 but it costs $140 with only a 1 year warranty. As I said - I tend to think a bit too hard at times. But - if I buy the $140 battery - it only comes with a one year warranty - because it's commercial. On the other hand, I can buy two smaller batteries - like my Fords and GMs use - at around $60 each - and get a much longer warranty - and much more reserve capacity and cold-cranking amps. Is there something here that I am overlooking? I am wondering a bit if a larger single battery can be more long-lived than two small ones - regardless of warranty. I had an Exide type 31 in my IH tractor - bought it in Jan, 1999 and it just went bad last month. But - it was not started every day like a truck will be - not even close. I've also been told that some CCA claims are make-believe - but that was from an Interstate battery dealer. I see it like this. Battery weight is the all important factor. Any size battery can be custom tailored to put out more amps at a fast rate - but then sacrafice how long it can do it. I checked around at many lists of batterys - and weight seems to be the determing factor with all of them. In regard to the BCI type 31 battery my 92 Dodge W250 calls for - I found this.
I found several type 31 brands for sale locally - all listed as commercial with one-year warrantys and all no more than 925 CCAs. So, I assume they are equivalent to the Deka battery that weighs 56.5 lbs.
If I put in two, type 27 batteries - it will be cheaper, the warranty is much longer, I'll have 94 lbs. of batteries, and 1500 cold-cranking amps. Is there an advantage to using the single battery that I am not seeing? And, I guess this applies to tractors as well.
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