Battery questions

[Adarian]

Is this the right mixture of batteries for a bus with an air starter and no AC?
Bus has 4 batteries,
2 commercial grade 700 CCA
2 deep cycle , 1 500 cca and 70 amp hour and the other 405 cca and 75 amp hour
The bus has an air starter.
The electrical system is 24v/12v
The batteries are not wired in a normal 24v and 12v set up.
Bus has battery disconnect switch
Bus has 24v to 12v converter

Should all the batteries be the same?

[Sean]

Without seeing a wiring diagram, it is difficult to say anything definitive.  However, generally speaking, all your house batteries should be identical -- same brand, size, and age.  Your chassis batteries should also be identical, however, no need for the house and chassis to be the same as each other, and, in fact, they ought not to be.

If your house batteries have CCA ratings they are not "deep cycle."  They are hybrids, often called "marine" batteries, a compromise between deep cycle and engine starting performance.  You are better off with true deep cycle batteries.

-Sean
http:\\OurOdyssey.BlogSpot.com

[Adarian]

I would venture to say they are all chassis batteries. As this is an original set up according to the schematic on the voltage regulator door.
Along that note they should all be the same.
They are no other electrical items except what the bus came with.
That could be some of my electrical issues.
The deep cycle batteries do have a mca rating on them also.
Plus the hybrid batteries don't fit in the tray, like the two commercial batteries.

I guess the next question is does CCA matter if they are not required to start the bus?

[Sean]

OK, I am at a loss to know why there would be four batteries, all different, on a coach with no house system (and air-started, to boot).  Perhaps someone more familiar with Flxibles will step in here and shed some light.

No, CCA is not really a relevant measure for a battery not doing starting work.  However, a starting battery is not necessarily a bad choice for chassis loads, even on an air-started coach, simply because of the charge/discharge profile.  IOTW, it is used and charged in much the same way, just without the instantaneous starting load.

-Sean
http://OurOdyssey.BlogSpot.com

[Adarian]

I looked online and it seems that the bus was supplied with deep cycle batteries.
The issue is more with cost to get it correct.
The bus is how I got it,  it does take 4 batteries, the question is what type?
From a charging standpoint I didn't know if having a mixture of battery types was a good thing.

[NJT 5573]

With different size batterys all taking charge from a single source, it tends to fry the smallest battery. It's hard to keep water in it.

[zubzub]

seems to me deep cycles are the way to go with an air starter, the batteries ae not going to work hard when the engine is running as the alt will be charging, then when you are parked that is what deep cycles are for.

[Adarian]

I am going to switch to deep cycle.
Thanks for all the replies.