This is sort of a stupid question (I know, no such thing as a ...blah blah blah), But this has been bothering me for some time now. I understand the whole 2 12 volt batteries put in parralel make 12 volts w/ twice the CCA, and 2 batteries put in a series make 24v w/ one battery worth of CCA. And I own 2 diesel truck ( a 6.9 and 7.3PSD) w the 2 battery/12v setup.

Now, here's my question. Can you add too many batteries and cause problems? Would it be because of the charging system couldn't handle it, or would too many amps being available fry stuff? Really no good reason for this question, it just came to me one day out of the blue.

For example, could someone put 5 or 10 or 100 batteries in the bed of a truck all connected together? Is there a limit to what is possible? Not really what is necessary. Just a burning out of the blue question. Thanks a bunch

SchaefferUSMC

 

..Too much CCA?
-- Strictly speaking, there is no problem in providing more electrical amperage capacity than what any electrical load can utilize.

In automotive applications, most electrical devices can and do suffer stress and subsequent breakdown or failure as a direct result of either too much heat, excessive voltage applied, or too little current delivered to them.

Assuming proper voltage levels and adequate sound wiring is maintained, the amount of electrical energy (amperes) used by any given device (say for example a starter-motor) is governed by the design [and the operating health] of the device itself -- not by how many available amps there are to draw on from within the electrical supply. Conversely, problems can arise in any situation where there is 'insufficient' supply capacity to meet the actual needs of the device (for example as with under-sized or under-charged batteries, bad connections etc). In that case then, the current flow (or amps delivered) is not determined by the load device.. but is limited by the capacity of the sourcing supply or the quality of the cables & connections.

So in other words (and again strictly speaking).... the simple answer is 'No' there is no inherent problem with providing any electrical system devices such as starter-motors, fans, etc. - with a greater amperage capacity than what the system devices themselves may actually ever need under normal circumstances.

However, the other (simple) answer to your other question is 'Yes' it is possible to run into problems by simply adding additional batteries.

Increasing the size of a vehicle's battery-bank can be done. It's done all the time..to be sure. But there other important and practical aspects to consider and certain caveats to heed. So basically, and unless there are good reasons to do so... simply throwing a whole bunch of additional batteries into a system isn't a particularly good idea in most cases.

For instance, as you already surmised, a vehicle's overall charging system capabilities would need to be properly balanced into the bigger picture also.
Moreover, by going 'over-kill' with any such electrical supply.. you not only wind up spending much more money (where it's not needed)... but will unavoidably introduce additional possible failure points that almost certainly will come back and haunt you. I should know.. I have lots of experience in this regard because I myself have always been prone to way 'over-building' things (especially electrical things!) -- Most of the time though.. this tendency just causes me more headaches down the road. And that's why I come here... to have more sensible folks point out the flaws in my own ill-considered thinking

Others may care to weigh in ... but that's my 2-cents worth. Hope it helps.

Semper Fi!

 

Hmmm, Thanks for the input. As stated, I have no desire to do anything mentioned above, it was just one of those questions that managed to bounce around in my mostly empty brain housing group. Thats all I was looking for.

SchaefferUSMC