What kind of batterys do you use?

[skipm]

I have Interstate marine , for 2 years & still working good.

[Mistress]

Optima 31's with 6v golf carts paralled to #2 for house.

Flooded deep cycles wouldn't reliably start my Cummins when it was cold without runinng 2 bats. A single Optima starts it with no problems. I'm sure a flooded starting battery would too, but deep cycling could kill it.

[skipm]

I have noticed that in the cold weather, to get a good spin, I have to use both .Whats the # of the golf cart batteries you use? Why 6 volt parallel only gives more amps still 6 volts , series gives 12 volts?

[Mistress]

The 2 golf cart bats are tied together in series to make 12V...then that is paralled to #2. Sorry if I was misleading.

Golf cart batteries are very effective deepcycle bats...meant to be abused within reason. They offer about 3x the number of cycles, have loads of amp*hours and thick plates. They aren't good for cranking (except like gen sets, etc.). RV'ers have been using them for years for house bats.

I think they are TE35's. About the same footprint as 24's, but taller and typicaly "L" lug terminals.

The Optimas (individually) have had zero problems cranking the Cummins...but they are fresh and it doesn't get what many would consider cold here.