One Battery
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Junior User
Joined: Sep 2011
Posts: 92
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One Battery
Humour me here. Just suppose you had one really good and new battery and one really old crummy battery. Lets say you want to try things out with just one battery. How would you do that? Remove the old battery and clamp the + and - terminals together?
Will that work?
Or will it prove not possible to use just one battery?
Thanks!
Will that work?
Or will it prove not possible to use just one battery?
Thanks!
More Turbo
Joined: May 2006
Posts: 504
Likes: 1
From: Cameron, Ok
Do not clamp the + and - together. They are wired in parallel to give you more current capability. If you have to try one battery, just remove the neg terminal on the one you don't want to use and go with that. It may or may not have enough current capability to temporarily start your truck. Other wise, tape up the unused terminal lugs. Oh, it will shorten the life of the remaining battery, if it works at all. Of course, the bad battery in parallel will also damage the good battery....
Logistics Pro
Joined: Sep 2007
Posts: 3,737
Likes: 179
From: Western Mass
NO!! DON"T CLAMP THE TERMINALS TOGETHER! Thats an instant short and will likely injure you and the truck (possibly starting a fire, or blowing up the one good battery.
I've never tried starting these trucks with only one battery. In warm weather, it might work just fine. In the winter, there are two for a reason. Preferably two matched batteries (same kind, same age).
If you only want to run one battery, put in on the passenger side (closer to starter). You don't have to worry about the ground cable for the drivers battery, matter of fact, just take it off all together. The Positive side needs to be well insulated so it doesn't short out with the body, engine, or anything else it touches. Either a crapload of electrical tape, or a thick leather glove, followed by a plastic or rubber glove and securely taped to keep the weather out.
You need to get two good batteries, this could be part of the problem you're having with your truck not starting well.
BTW where are you located? that can help us tell you what you might need to prioritize as winter is coming.
I've never tried starting these trucks with only one battery. In warm weather, it might work just fine. In the winter, there are two for a reason. Preferably two matched batteries (same kind, same age).
If you only want to run one battery, put in on the passenger side (closer to starter). You don't have to worry about the ground cable for the drivers battery, matter of fact, just take it off all together. The Positive side needs to be well insulated so it doesn't short out with the body, engine, or anything else it touches. Either a crapload of electrical tape, or a thick leather glove, followed by a plastic or rubber glove and securely taped to keep the weather out.
You need to get two good batteries, this could be part of the problem you're having with your truck not starting well.
BTW where are you located? that can help us tell you what you might need to prioritize as winter is coming.
Thread Starter
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Junior User
Joined: Sep 2011
Posts: 92
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I live in NJ next to Philly. Tpyical winter temps at five in the morning 25 degrees. Last winter was colder...maybe 17 degrees? Typical temp when restarting a work for the trip home 35-40 degrees.
How do you know if the batteries are good? One is a NAPA installed in June the other a Bosch unknown (but obviously old) date.
Im guesssing you are going to recommend..spring for the new battery?
Another new NAPa battery is $119.
BTW how you you jump start a dual battery setup?
How do you know if the batteries are good? One is a NAPA installed in June the other a Bosch unknown (but obviously old) date.
Im guesssing you are going to recommend..spring for the new battery?
Another new NAPa battery is $119.
BTW how you you jump start a dual battery setup?
More Turbo
Joined: Nov 2010
Posts: 521
Likes: 6
From: Cincinnati, OH
Switching side-to-side will not solve the real problem. You need two *good* batteries to get the engine started up when it is cold. Preferably two high CCA (cold cranking amps). As reluctant to start as the diesels are when it gets cold, it needs all the amps and spinning power the starter and glow plugs can get.
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Senior User
Joined: Nov 2009
Posts: 283
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I couldn't get my truck to start with one battery, didn't crank fast enough? Thats with 2 of whatever batteries autozone sell for the truck.
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Fleet Owner
Joined: Jan 2004
Posts: 26,007
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From: Brentwood,CA
You always replace the batteries in pairs or else you will kill a brand new battery with the worn battery. Yes the truck will (should) start on 1 good battery just fine as long as the starter is good and not worn out.
i ain't rite
Joined: Mar 2005
Posts: 65,426
Likes: 5,507
From: Marlboro Mental Hospital.
maybe in california, but a cold IDI diesel will never start in jersey when it is cold out with only one battery in it, unless it is one of those monster class 8 truck batteries that are the size of 4 regular batteries.
Hotshot
Joined: Jan 2010
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From: Bristol, TN.
Steve
Elder User
Joined: May 2011
Posts: 973
Likes: 2
From: Bellefontaine, OH
Ohio either heck on 2 decent batteries the truck barely wants to start.... I have been thinking about a quad battery setup in my truck 2 850 cca on passenger side and 2 deep charge 650 cca batteries driver side (wanting to install a power inverter)
Logistics Pro
Joined: Sep 2010
Posts: 4,411
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From: Victor, MT
There is room for that power inverter idea, I like the idea, but you would want to probably move some things around such as your coolant overflow and washer fluid tank. On the passenger side....lots of wires would get in the way lol....
Elder User
Joined: May 2011
Posts: 973
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From: Bellefontaine, OH
I already looked at it passenger side there is enough room if I just move the relays back.... Towards the cab and since I noticed ALOT of my cruise control stuff is missing except the cruise motor so I'm yanking it and it gives me enough room to move the overflow tank back and washer fluid tank
Postmaster
Joined: Feb 2011
Posts: 3,560
Likes: 1
a warm diesel will start on one battery, but a cold one won't like it. also, the lower voltage while cranking will cause your starter to wear out a lot faster
as for the quad battery idea, i like it, but i would suggest that the 2 sets be separated through a multi-battery isolater so you don't run your cranking batteries down when running the inverter with the truck off.
and remember to have a fuse in the wire to your inverter unless the inverter is right next to the battery. otherwise, you'll be likely to join the fools with the huge stereos that catch fire because they have no fuse in the 4ga wire to their amp and it shorts out
as for the quad battery idea, i like it, but i would suggest that the 2 sets be separated through a multi-battery isolater so you don't run your cranking batteries down when running the inverter with the truck off.
and remember to have a fuse in the wire to your inverter unless the inverter is right next to the battery. otherwise, you'll be likely to join the fools with the huge stereos that catch fire because they have no fuse in the 4ga wire to their amp and it shorts out