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Starting and running amp????

Discussion in 'Trucks [ Eighteen Wheelers ]' started by fauxpas, Mar 11, 2013.

  1. Mar 11, 2013 #1
    fauxpas

    fauxpas Bobtail Member

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    Mar 11, 2013
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    I have a 1988 International S2200 with a Cummins NTC-350 in it. My truck sits for weeks, even months at a time. I want to install a battery disconnect switch on it so that I do not have to continue to disconnect the negative lead every time I park it. Sometimes I forget and I have dead batteries. It is very time consuming and a lot of time severely inconvenient to uninstall, charge, and reinstall 4 batteries.

    The biggest baddest disconnect switch I have found is made by Blue Sea Systems, model 3000. I has a rating of 600 continuous running amps, 2750 amps for 10 seconds, and 1325 amps for 1 minute.

    My problem is, I have scoured the internet and I have not been able to find any information on how many amps a truck/engine like mine (or any other truck for that matter) uses continuous and during starting. Does anyone know?
     
    fauxpas, Mar 11, 2013
    fauxpas, Mar 11, 2013
    #1
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  3. Mar 11, 2013 #2
    Ezrider_48501

    Ezrider_48501 Road Train Member

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    i cant tell you exact numbers but your not going to see 600 continuous alternators are normally in the 100-150 amp range. if you have 4 800cca battery the are capable of producing 3200 cold cranking amps obviously your truck is going to take less than that the battery are capable of producing to start. several trucks only run 3 batterys so that would be 2400 and they will still start a truck fine so your cranking demands less than 2400 amps and that is i less than a 5 second load normally. so i would say you would be just fine with that disconnect switch.

    further more i think i would try looking into what is draining your battery you should be able to let a truck sit for several weeks without starting and not have dead battery.
     
    Ezrider_48501, Mar 11, 2013
    Ezrider_48501, Mar 11, 2013
    #2
  4. Mar 11, 2013 #3
    Semi Crazy

    Semi Crazy Road Train Member

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    May 13, 2011
    Middle Tennessee
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    Semi Crazy, Mar 11, 2013
    Semi Crazy, Mar 11, 2013
    #3
  5. Mar 11, 2013 #4
    fauxpas

    fauxpas Bobtail Member

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    Mar 11, 2013
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    Thanks for the responses!

    Ezrider - The batteries mostly drain in the winter. Other than being cold out, I don't think the truck has a parasitic draw. The truck can literally sit for a month or two or three. I use the truck to haul around my heave equipment. There isn't a lot of dirt moving going on during our wet Oregon winters.

    With that being said, I don't know how well the alternator is charging, but that is another story.

    Semi Crazy - Thanks for finding a link to a starter, as I had that thought to try and figure out max amperage. I tried googling, but I don't know enough about them to be able to get the correct keywords to find it. With that information, I might even be able to bump down a size of switch. The switch I am looking at might be overkill.
     
    fauxpas, Mar 11, 2013
    fauxpas, Mar 11, 2013
    #4
  7. Mar 12, 2013 #5
    JohnP3

    JohnP3 Road Train Member

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    Feb 21, 2010
    Rock Creek B.C. Canada
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    Your engine starting will draw between 600, and Max 800 amps. If you take it to a shop they can attach a clamp meter and give you an exact number. The max draw on a starter is not what it draws, the bigger the engine the more it takes to turn over, the MT 42 is by far the most popular starter, many different nose cone positions and drives but same motor
    Isolation switches, if you have one ground rewire it for two and you will have no problems.
    You want to find the parasitic draw on the batteries, first thing you want to do is wash off the batteries, then when you shut the truck off, take a wrench and put it near the alternator pulley if it is attracted the alternator is the problem, the internal regulator is junk.
    Just a thought!
     
    JohnP3, Mar 12, 2013
    JohnP3, Mar 12, 2013
    #5
    Mattchu Thanks this.
  8. Mar 12, 2013 #6
    GrapeApe

    GrapeApe Road Train Member

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    Jan 7, 2013
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    If you park near power, what about a battery tender? Most come with a plug that you can mount and plug it in. Overkill on the amp ratings is not a problem, too big is better than too small. What's really important is the connections and mounting locations. You don't want corrosion problems. We use the Flaming River HD switches on our heavy equipment, they have nice connection studs and a cover that is easy to seal up.

    http://www.flamingriver.com/index.php/products/c0015/s0009/FR1043
     
    GrapeApe, Mar 12, 2013
    GrapeApe, Mar 12, 2013
    #6
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