The Harpers
Carmel, California, USA
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Joined: 02/26/2004
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Need some advise on Battery System. Both batterys are getting old and not taking a full charge. My guy that works on my 03 Durmax Diesel 3500 wants to charge me $128.00 for each battery, then the instalation at $75.00 per hour. He is taking this price right out of his book he says. MY math is good but that seems really high. Is it hard to enstall the batteries? and what is a good brand. The orginal equipment is Delco.
I have all the tools to do make the change just have never done a dual system. Thanks
Tom
Tom and Sydney Harper - Monterey California
2004 HitchHiker II LS 32.5 UKTG
2003 Chevy Durmax Diesel
Travel companion our faithful rottweiler, Addie[b][/b][b]
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bldrbuck
one or the other
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Just buy the same size and type of battery at Wal*Mart and remove the old ones one at a time and install the new ones. It is not difficult and will save you some money. The brand is not really important get the stores own brand.
93 Ford F350 Turbo Diesel, DRW, Crew Cab. PullRite Hitch. 35' King of the Road 5er, 192 Watts Solar, 2800 Watt Yamaha Generator, 1750 Watt Inverter, 2 Trogan T105 Batteries, Me, my wife and 2 maltize furkids.
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plascell
Lynchburg, VA
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Interstate MTP-78 with 85 mo warranty is $119.95 and Sears has something for $109.99. Shop around and you may find a better deal. You might get a better deal because your buying two. Around here, there seems to be two tiers of dealers for Interstate batteries. After talking with the wholesaler/distributor, he gave me a list of dealers who are cheaper than most. I don't have info on Costco or Sams.
You should be able to swap the batteries. Just remember to disconnect BOTH battery NEGATIVE leads before you try to remove either battery. Biggest problem to deal with is the weight of the battery and moving it under complete control rather than prying and dropping it.
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2006 Chevy 3500 CC LB 4WD DRW Duramax auto-6
2003 Cardinal 29WB LX EU3000is Roto-Choks 300W from www.amsolar.com
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Texas Jim S
Belton, TX
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Thomas, it should take less than 10 minutes to install both batteries. I suggest that instead of getting two 12V batteries and wiring them in parallel you buy two 6V golf cart batteries and wire them in series. Parallel is + to + and - to - which equals 12V. Series is + to - and + to -. This also equals 12V. Ethier way you have 12V ( volts is electrical pressure ) and more amps ( amount or volume of electricity available ) BUT the 6V have more reserve and a longer discharge rate. You DO NOT want to use the same battery that is used to start your car because they are made to start your car which causes a small discharge and then imediately recharge the battery. Deep Cycle batteries are made to run trolling motors, RV's, golf carts and other things that slowly discharge a battery, many times untill it is dead and then completely recarge it. Starting batteries are not made for this kind of service. Many automotive parts stores will install batteries for free. I have found that Golf Cart stores with sales and service have the best price for these batteries. I just purchased some for $109 each. Yes they are more expensive but worth it in the long run.
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Al B
Cowtown
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Texas Jim S wrote:Thomas, it should take less than 10 minutes to install both batteries. I suggest that instead of getting two 12V batteries and wiring them in parallel you buy two 6V golf cart batteries and wire them in series. Parallel is + to + and - to - which equals 12V. Series is + to - and + to -. This also equals 12V. Ethier way you have 12V ( volts is electrical pressure ) and more amps ( amount or volume of electricity available ) BUT the 6V have more reserve and a longer discharge rate. You DO NOT want to use the same battery that is used to start your car because they are made to start your car which causes a small discharge and then imediately recharge the battery. Deep Cycle batteries are made to run trolling motors, RV's, golf carts and other things that slowly discharge a battery, many times untill it is dead and then completely recarge it. Starting batteries are not made for this kind of service. Many automotive parts stores will install batteries for free. I have found that Golf Cart stores with sales and service have the best price for these batteries. I just purchased some for $109 each. Yes they are more expensive but worth it in the long run.
Jim, I think he's talking about his Duramax. 
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WellShooter2
West Texas
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I have used the Walmart Everlast best battery they sell. They last about 18 months on average which means I take it back and get a new one for free because the warranty is for 5 years. Haven't paid for a battery in years.
So even though I haven't paid for any lately the changing out batteries every year or so gets old.
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Texas Jim S
Belton, TX
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AL B, sorry about that. I have been working on my trailer the last couple of days after a 8,315 mile trip and I guess all I am thinking about is trailers. I did see where his mechanic was working on his Duramax but assumed he was pricing the batteries for the trailer from the same person. Oh well, you know what happens when you assume.
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garym114
Bluff Dale, Texas
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If you do it, take a picture of the current installation before you start.
2000 Sea Breeze F53 V10 - CR-V Toad
Some RV batteries live a long and useful life, some are murdered.
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SoCalDesertRider
SanDiego, CA, USA
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Changing batteries on a truck is a very easy straight forward task that just about anyone can do, aside from the physical aspect of lifting the batteries in and out. Maybe get the kids, grand kids, neighbor, friend, whomever, to help with the lifting if your back is out. If the cable connections are confusing, draw a map on a sheet of paper to help you remember where they go.
I would not waste money on a battery that only lasts 18 months, even if the warranty is for 5 years and you can keep getting new ones for free. I would rather change the batteries once every 5 years and not mess with them in between time and not be left stranded with a dead battery somewhere.
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BenK
SF BayArea
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Joined: 04/18/2002
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The Harpers wrote:Need some advise on Battery System. Both batterys are getting old and not taking a full charge. My guy that works on my 03 Durmax Diesel 3500 wants to charge me $128.00 for each battery, then the instalation at $75.00 per hour. He is taking this price right out of his book he says. MY math is good but that seems really high. Is it hard to enstall the batteries? and what is a good brand. The orginal equipment is Delco.
I have all the tools to do make the change just have never done a dual system. Thanks
Tom
The only difference between a 'normal' single battery vs a dual system
is one more battery.
The cables and lugs go on just the same, just more cables & lugs to
deal with.
Takes more time to go out buy'm (take the old ones along to both size
them and to drop them off in their recycling pallet) and taking out
and putting the tools back.
Assume both are GM side post and with that, the infamous POS positive
spacer problem when there are two or more cables/lugs.
I always end up back at Costco, normally. $50-$70 bucks with a return
for 100% if you don't like them. Have not done a diesel and assume just
a bigger battery.
Here is a link link to one of my previous posts on that POS positive
batter post issue.
http://www.rv.net/forum/index.cfm/fuseac........d/24268982/gotomsg/24270409.cfm#24270409
What the results of removing the insulation covering on the lugs
look like. This has 2 power (OEM) cables/lugs, one alarm wire/lug
and two aux cables with 30 & 50 amp fuses in series.
-Ben Picture of my rig
1996 GMC SLT Suburban 3/4 ton K3500/7.4L/4:1/+150Kmiles orig owner...
1980 Chevy Silverado C10/long bed/"BUILT" 5.7L/3:73/1 ton helper springs/+329Kmiles, bought it from dad...
1998 Mazda B2500 (1/2 ton) pickup, 2nd owner...
Praise Dyno Brake equiped and all have "nose bleed" braking!
Previous trucks/offroaders: 40's Jeep restored in mid 60's / 69 DuneBuggy (approx +1K lb: VW pan/200hpCorvair: eng, cam, dual carb'w velocity stacks'n 18" runners, 4spd transaxle) made myself from ground up / 1970 Toyota FJ40 / 1973 K5 Blazer (2dr Tahoe, 1 ton axles front/rear, +255K miles when sold it)...
Sold the boat (looking for another): Trophy with twin 150's...
51 cylinders in household, what's yours?...
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