What is load shedding?

My truck does that also 2011 prostar but it has 3 new batteries and the alternator isn’t more than a year old. About 2 minutes after I shut the truck off it cut everything off. Also when I’m driving the low power gauge goes on then later back to normal then later on in the day it gets low again and so on.

 

It's when you do food service. Every cart load is load shedding.

 

Load shedding is sensed and controlled by the body controller. If you have bad electrically connections between the batteries and cab, it will still get lower than normal voltage and engage load shedding early. You need to go through your cable connections. Most are at the firewall there where the mega fuses are.

 

This is happening to my truck right now
International pro star

all power went off
Dashboard warning stated
Load shedding

do I need to replace my batteries?

 

It’s meant to do that after it hits a voltage threshold. Did you have accessories on for a long time?

 

My 2018 international does load shed with nothing on period. It’s hard to crank on cold start… my batteries passed the battery test. Not sure on what to do

 

I would start with cleaning and check all your battery connections, at the batteries, frame rail ground connection, starter positive and ground posts and cab feeds. For both load shedding instantly and poor cranking, I would also suspect the battery test as not being done properly.

 

If the battery voltage is dropping too low from load or an alternator not putting out enough or poor power supply connections to the main fuses at the firewall then the body controller may be activating load shedding.
From the manual:
Description

Electrical Load Control and Shedding (ELCS) is an optional feature (standard w/ sleepers) used to protect the vehicle's batteries from excessive discharge by automatically shutting down electrical loads to conserve battery power. When Load Shed is initiated by the BCM, the relay on the engine cover will open and power to various components will be turned off.
When troubleshooting ANY electrical issue, you MUST insure the battery voltage is above 12.1. This will ensure Load Shed is off, and all accessories, switch packs, and electronic brake components are powered up.

The Body Controller (BC) monitors the battery voltage at the J6 Power Feed connector of the BC (this is where the big red power cable connects to the BC) and when battery voltage drops below 12.1 volts for 30 seconds:

1. The operator will receive an audible and visual indication that load shedding is about to disable electrical loads. The gauge cluster will display the message "Load Shedding" in the LCD display and the cluster will emit 5 short beeps
2. The Accessory loads will be shut off by the BC sending a momentary 12v to pin C of the Load Shedding relay (Malone relay). This will cause the relay to open the circuit between pins B1 and B2 of the Load Shedding relay. Refer to circuit diagram below.
3. It is not recommended to set Load Shed (Electrical Load Control) below 11.8v

Symptoms

• Loss of accessory powered items:
• Compass
• Bendix / Meritor Collision Avoidance System Displays and Front Radar
• All Switch Packs
• Tire Pressure Diagnostic
• Task Lighting
• Spot Light
• Work Lights
• Cigar Lighting System
• HVAC Rear Aux Unit
• Refrigerator - Some models also include a low battery voltage shut down
• Video Entertainment
• Power Amp for Subwoofer
• Motorized Mirrors
• Heated Mirrors
• Customer Electrical Accessory Accommodation
• Heated Seats
• Fuel Heater (DC version only)
• Air Dryer and Drain Valve Heating
• Data Logger / Event Recorder
• Courtesy Lights
• Accent Lights
• Air Shield Light
• Running Lights
• Fog Lights
• Floor Lights
• Secondary Display (SD)
• Secondary Instrument Cluster (SIC)
• Engine Monitors
• Prognostic and Diagnostic Module

Possible Diagnostic Trouble Codes
SPN FMI Module Description
520705 5 Body Controller Load Shed OFF Relay Under Current Or Open Circuit
520705 6 Body Controller Load Shed OFF Relay Over Current
520706 5 Body Controller Load Shed ON Relay Under Current Or Open Circuit
520706 6 Body Controller Load Shed ON Relay Over Current