Batboard

Here's one of these common sense items that everyone seems to forget about on occasion- especially when a FD has a call and they discover their vehicle battery is dead.

I just had a 1995 Suburban come in today with these failures:
1) blown fuse in a Nova strobe supply
2) burned out Tomar Neobe supply
3) blown memory fuse in AM/FM radio
4) blown ABS fuse
5) blown ABS computer
6) malfuntioning PA300 (due to smoked +5V regulator)
7) blown fuse in M208 Radius
partial failure of Whelen Traffic Director (L & R arrow dead)



Cause: jump starting instead of disconnecting the battery and charging.


Let all departments know that when you encounter a dead battery, take another vehicle or call mutual aid. Charge it slowly, or this can happen.

That was neat- dont put a number 8 next to right parenthesis symbol or you'll get an emoticon!

Add to the list

1) trailer brake controller
2) alternator

Gas or Diesel

5.7 Gasoline, single battery.

Just for the record, the dual battery was available on gas engines, if ordered properly. The second battery was linked to the other through a #8 lead and a solenoid that engaged only with the engine running. This was for camper/RV service so if you ran the driver side bat. dead, you could still start the engine. Problem was, the #8 was not adequate for emergency service and the 2 need to be jumpered together via a double #2 or #4 jumper pair and the OEM charge lead removed.

Talked them into a Kussmaul system, finally.

How did all this stuff get toasted? It doesn't get fried when jumpstarting a normal vehicle, how is this any different?

It was "boost started" with a battery charger. The "boost" setting usually produces about 18-20 VDC.

Ok. You said "jump started" which I usually associate with vehicle-to-vehicle.

Does that mean vehicle-vehicle is okay in a pinch/emergency? Or should the batteries always be taken out and charged?

I'm asking because 2 of our 5 primary patrol cruisers had dead batteries at work last night. They were jump started vehicle-vehicle because we needed them in a hurry...

Gordon

We do vehicle-to-vehicle on occasion when it is dead and never had anything blow up. We've also used external battery chargers, however NEVER on the "Engine Start" mode, always on the regulart charge mode and with the battey switch disconnected.

If you MUST do vehicle-to-vehicle, connect the two and use the running one to charge the dead one for 10-15 minutes.
Don't connect them and try to start it right away.

...which brings me to a major question:

How did the battery get run down in the first place? Seems to me that there should be little any excuse for a FD vehicle to have a run down one.

stuff left on?? maintenance failure?? battery failure?? (it happens).

C'mon guys, we can't let this happen... stay on top of the routine battery checking schedule!!!

Mike in CT

enjoy the holidays, stay safe!!

A few years ago we had a Tahoe come in to the shop. It was involved in an accident and repaired by a local body shop. The complaint was that the Eyewitness camera system and the VRM 650 would not work. It was a front end hit and the battery was disabled and replaced because of the accident. We figured out that when they did the repairs that they had MIG welded parts to the front end and the voltage spiked the hell out ot the camera and VRM. It didn't seem to touch the Spectra or the MCS2000 or untrol TM4. It still cost them a few $$ to have the camera repaired and the VRM replaced.

Body shops are notorious for that. When I had my yukon go in for work I made sure the equipment was disconnected to protect it just in case.

Most bodymen ground the MIG to the bumper or somewhere convenient instead of grounding at their work.
If they grounded properly, we'd never have a problem.
Unfortunately.......they don't and never will.

I would have to imagine (based on years of doing this) that vehicle to vehicle 'jumps' should not be a problem -- for the 'jumpee' -- as the running vehicle will (hopefully) be regulated to 14vdc. some of the 'quick starters' have a very high voltage to "condition" the very dead battery, or some such.
Your suggestion of charging (monitor the voltmeter occaisonally) before starting is VERY good. I have amazed my co-workers by 'jumping' fire apparatus with the Suburban. The secret is to NOT hurry, and let the batteries come back up to a believable voltage. Learned this many years ago when an overanxious ambulance jockey tried to suck my 30 amp generator (yes, it was a generator)thru #8 jumper cables to a 454 Police Interceptor with dual batts. Instead, my charging circuit fried (and this was LONG before chips!) So, now I pocket the keys and/or guard the master switch.
Patience is not something I'm good at, but sometimes it works.

An easy way to blow things out is to connect the jump cables backwards! I've seen this on non-emergency type vehicles and it ended up costing the owner $$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$