Wondering if anyone can help provide a recommendation on best batteries to buy new for subject engines in GE 45 tonner. There are many options in 8 volt Marine/Industrial...just want to make sure we get the CCA requirement right. Thanks in advance,
KV

I haven't measured the amps but I have 3 USED group 31 batteries in a 25 ton (same engine) and they crank the engine quite lively even with some shoddy looking battery cables. 31 are rated in the 900 CCA range new. I'd say it's pulling under 500 amps. In other words ANY railway locomotive battery is going to have the amps.

I assume you are talking about the HBI-600 engine and you have a 32 VDC system.

The HBI-600 engines in our 70 ton center cab were replaced with Cummins 335 series engines in 1978. Starting the 335s used four Interstate Workaholic USRM 8V-26 batteries, 240 amp hours each. 26.75" x 8.44" x 11.12" dimensions. 149 lbs. 1050 CCA.
Go to http://www.interstatebatteries.com to find a dealer.

Best I can tell interstate does not carry any 'real' 8 volt batteries anymore. They have a golf cart deep cycle and a replacement that people sometimes use in old 6 volt automobiles(very small). Johnson controls makes interstate batteries and it's possible they sell them under another brand.

You might consider railway batteries because many 'automotive batteries' aren't built very durable. I wouldn't count on much more then about 5 years out of auto batteries. (some folks get more out of them by skill or luck). I am not sure how good marine batteries are.

The 25 ton at the Arkansas Railroad Museum has a roof hatch over the battery compartment inside the cab, so you know they are heavy!

Thanks guys...helpful inputs. It is a 32V system, 4 batteries. The Marine and Industrial batteries should work fine for this since that engine was also an industrial model (I in HDI). We found one with 980 CCA which should be more than sufficient.

Invest in an appropriate charger and hydrometer. Batteries for these are expensive so it's worth the time and effort to prolong their life.

We've had good luck with Deka Marine Master 8V195's. Page 4 here:

http://www.wholesalebatteries.net/PDF/E ... 20Line.pdf

We've used these in all of our center cabs with no issues. (Cummins HBI-600's, Cummins 855's, and even Cummins LI-600's.)

Joe

I will second the use of 8v-195 batteries. We have them in our 50 ton GE with the same Cummins engine. We also have them in our SW9 and they work surprisingly well. The Deka batteries are good and reasonably priced, but look for Magna Power batteries. Made by East Penn just like Deka, but purchased through a buying group and are less expensive. Same battery. Sometimes we would get them with a Deka sticker on them instead. You can also use two 1231MFs and an 8V-195 with good results. I set up a lot of older boats with this setup.

Eric

Surrette Battery.

http://www.surrette.com/

At Black River, we had a former LIRR wreck crane with a Detroit 6-110 engine and a 32V electrical system. It came with 8V batteries that had a few dead-shorted cells. We used Deka 8V195 batteries as replacement as well, IIRC.

Protips: Have a good battery disconnect switch, clean wood blocking under each battery, and opt for a good refractometer for checking specific gravity of your cells, as opposed to one of those throw away floating ball deals. You can also treat the cells with EDTA as a prophylactic to prevent hard "scale" formation on the plates.

I was able to resurrect some half dead jars on some 35 year old locomotive batteries with an EDTA dosage and mild "bubbly" overcharge for 2 weeks (topping off with fresh distilled every day), then a complete flush/electrolyte replacement (don't use tap water to top off cells... use distilled water). Finally a ETDA dose for "maintenance".

Thanks everybody...going with the 8V-195s...actually found them at Carquest in addition to several other places. $290 each then dropped his price to $240 when he found out I needed 4.