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How to tell if battery is dead

Discussion in 'Trucks [ Eighteen Wheelers ]' started by KillBill, Oct 11, 2008.

  1. Oct 11, 2008 #1
    KillBill

    KillBill Bobtail Member

    4
    0
    Oct 10, 2008
    0
    In the past few weeks my APU has been kicking on every time I make coffee. The APU monitors the battery and starts up automatically if it senses the voltage drop below a certain point.

    All 4 batteries are less then 6 months old. I'm wondering if one of them is dead and if so, how do you check that?

    My alternator seems fine and no funny business from the dash meter. It's right at 13.7 volts when I'm driving.
     
    KillBill, Oct 11, 2008
    KillBill, Oct 11, 2008
    #1
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  3. Oct 11, 2008 #2
    pjw044

    pjw044 Heavy Load Member

    886
    279
    Jan 13, 2007
    Northern California-the land of fru
    0
    The best way is to go to a shop and have all the batteries fully
    charged and then "load" tested. But the batteries do need to be fully
    charged...anything less will give you a false test and maybe cause you to buy a battery that is still good. Also have the charging system
    checked-dont believe the dash meter...have the system checked...
    Also make sure all connection points are clean and tight.....
     
    pjw044, Oct 11, 2008
    pjw044, Oct 11, 2008
    #2
    Truckerjo Thanks this.
  4. Oct 11, 2008 #3
    Otter

    Otter Light Load Member

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    212
    Mar 16, 2008
    Milton, VT.
    0
    All it takes is one bad cell to draw down the rest of the batteries. Disconnect the batteries and load test them one at a time. I've had batteries go bad within a few months of being new. I always run the engine or APU when I use the microwave. I almost always have the APU running when the engine is shut down to keep the voltage up because of the refrigerator.
     
    Otter, Oct 11, 2008
    Otter, Oct 11, 2008
    #3
  5. Oct 11, 2008 #4
    dancnoone

    dancnoone "Village Idiot"

    9,922
    3,713
    May 6, 2007
    Mississippi
    0
    If you have a regular household coffee pot...say a "Mr. Coffee"

    It will actually draw as much current as an 800 watt microwave while brewing. A simple check of a load meter will validate this.

    I always turn my APU or truck on while making coffee, or using the microwave.
     
    dancnoone, Oct 11, 2008
    dancnoone, Oct 11, 2008
    #4
  7. Oct 11, 2008 #5
    Native Dancer

    Native Dancer Heavy Load Member

    978
    3,259
    Dec 28, 2007
    Portland, Or.
    0
    As Otter and danc694u have said the APU should be running when using anything with a big power draw such as a coffee maker or microwave. A big draw on the batteries lessens their life. If I have my APU on monitor starting the main engine will cause the APU to start.
     
    Native Dancer, Oct 11, 2008
    Native Dancer, Oct 11, 2008
    #5
  8. Oct 11, 2008 #6
    KillBill

    KillBill Bobtail Member

    4
    0
    Oct 10, 2008
    0
    Ok, thanks!!

    I do use a Mister Coffee. It's the only way to go...lol

    When I first got the batteries I could go all afternoon and into the next morning without the APU starting up. Now it happens within minutes of turning on the coffee pot.

    Not sure if I'll buy some cheap batteries this time and just replace them every year or pay a lot for the good stuff? I can buy 4 cheap marine batteries for the price of one good one.
     
    KillBill, Oct 11, 2008
    KillBill, Oct 11, 2008
    #6
  9. Oct 12, 2008 #7
    Markvfl

    Markvfl Road Train Member

    1,103
    338
    Nov 29, 2007
    Apopka, FL
    0
    Check out the deep cycle batteries at Walmart, the yellow ones - low price and good warranty.
     
    Markvfl, Oct 12, 2008
    Markvfl, Oct 12, 2008
    #7
  10. Oct 12, 2008 #8
    KillBill

    KillBill Bobtail Member

    4
    0
    Oct 10, 2008
    0
    That's what I bought this morning at 2am at Walmart!!!

    Now that I think about it. My troubles started after I jump started another truck. It took a long time to get him going. His batteries were completly dead. I'm wondering if that did them under?
     
    KillBill, Oct 12, 2008
    KillBill, Oct 12, 2008
    #8
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