[C320-list] Battery Bank Upgrade - Which starting battery??

[Karl Mielenhausen _/)]

I believe a starting battery in the neighborhood of 400-500 CCA should be  
more than adequate, especially since we do not tend to start our engines  
when the temp is below freezing.
I've seen 3 cranking amps per cu in of displacement as a guide. That would  
be 180 CCA for the 3GM.
 From what I've seen, most starters will draw around 150-200A but not for  
very long. The 5108 at 300A should be fine. It will actually pass 600A for  
0.2 seconds according to Blue Sea testing.
I am planning on installing a 5191 holder and 5187 fuse @ 200A right on my  
starting battery.
I installed a Walmart Maxx 1N auto battery some time ago, because it had  
side terminals which aided my wiring hookup. 900 CCA. Group 34/78. A  
Consumer Reports Best Buy at the time.
To be honest, I don't use it that often, as the house bank (440AH of golf  
car batteries) starts the engine just fine.
It's there just in case I really draw the house bank down too far.
I see no compelling reason to pay twice the money for a "boat" battery for  
use as a starter and get fewer CCA.

On Fri, 18 Mar 2011 16:02:01 -0400, Alan Goodman  
<goodmanalanlee at hotmail.com> wrote:

>
>
> I am in the midst of upgrading my battery bank following the  
> instructions in the forum archives.  FYI, based upon cost / benefit  
> ($200 each) I installed 2 Interstate SRM-4D lead acid batteries for the  
> house bank providing a combined capacity of 410 Ah.  (I know, they are  
> not a pure deep cycle battery, but readily available without paying huge  
> shipping charges)
> I am ready to purchase the dedicated start battery.  I am looking at a  
> Group 24 (11x 6 7/8 x 9 1/2 inch) lead acid rated at 800 CCA and 1000  
> MCA.  Looking at my Perkins shop manual, the required starting current  
> is 540A.  Does this seem reasonable, or am I reading the spec sheet  
> incorrectly?  Also, assuming 540A is correct, I have been looking for a  
> fuse to install at the battery "+" (Blue Sea MEGA SEA fuse block p/n  
> 5001), but it seems that 300A is the maximum fuse (per Defender  
> Catalog).  I think that this fuse rating would be inadequate, any other  
> suggestions?     Alan;  Hull #67;  Holland MI; launching last week of  
> April or first week of May, weather and ice dependent !!
>