Have an 02 Peterbilt 379 with a C15. Left my inverter and refrigerator on and killed the batteries. Batteries are 12-14mo old
Went to jump it off my Yukon and after 2hrs and it wouldn't kick over. Hooked up my Excursion this morning and let it sit about 30min. Barely enough to kick it over with the volt meter showing 12.6V. I had the cables hooked to the 3rd battery which I think is where the cables for the starter are connected. I unhooked my 4th battery and let the truck sit another 5min and it fired right off.
Looking at the batteries, it seems the 1st 2 and 2nd 2 arent interconnected.
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How are my batteries wired?
Discussion in 'Trucks [ Eighteen Wheelers ]' started by HillbillyDeluxeTruck, Jun 13, 2023.
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All batteries are connect in parallel. The 2 separate positives and negatives are connected at the starter. You have to leave the main cables on each pair of batteries. The connection between battery pair is made at the starter.
You can install jumpers between pairs if you like. But with everything clean and secure it’s not necessary. Sounds like you have a bad battery pulling the others down. I would have them tested.Oxbow, BoxCarKidd, AModelCat and 4 others Thank this. -
And how good are your jumper cables? I've jumped 1000's, and even with my wifes old Malibu or her Altima, I'd usually have em started in less than 10 minutes.
But I have good jumpersOxbow, mslashbar, singlescrewshaker and 1 other person Thank this. -
AModelCat, kemosabi49 and Big Road Skateboard Thank this.
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Where’s the fuse for the inverter?
I’d cut the rubber insulation off the ends of the jumpers.AModelCat and singlescrewshaker Thank this. -
Load test all separately. Agreed with @Goodysnap
Oxbow, Last Call and singlescrewshaker Thank this. -
Charging absolutely dead batteries off another vehicle can take several hours. Depending on the size of the alternator and how good of a connection the booster cables are making.
singlescrewshaker Thanks this. -
If you can see, my power wires on my inverter are connected to 2 different batteries, I was told that was the proper way when using multiple batteries. Dont know if thats true or not.
We'll see how the truck acts in the morning when I fire it up. Don't have anything in the cooler, so I'll shut it off tonight. I have a usb port with a voltmeter in the dash that is accurate.
My jumper cables are undersized. It was all I had, but they've never failed me in the past.
I'll probably load test the batteries this weekend when I get back home. I know someone with a load tester.singlescrewshaker Thanks this. -
blairandgretchen, OLDSKOOLERnWV and singlescrewshaker Thank this.
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Good to see you're alive & doin well.!
Keep er shiny side up.
Being leased on steady freight sounds cush right now. Spot market is brutal..blairandgretchen Thanks this.
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