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Charging the batteries......

CARMAN

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No electrician here...BUT...if they are 4 of them in series...If I connect the + to the + on one and the -- to the other terminal...it's attached to the + of the next battery.
 

98G

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No electrician here...BUT...if they are 4 of them in series...If I connect the + to the + on one and the -- to the other terminal...it's attached to the + of the next battery.
2 in series and then in parallel. Doubles the voltage to 24v and doubles the amperage also.

You can connect them to a 12v charger one at a time. It'll only go as far as the ground clamp on the charger. If it makes you feel better, you can disconnect each battery in turn, but this is unnecessary.
 

CARMAN

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2 in series and then in parallel. Doubles the voltage to 24v and doubles the amperage also.

You can connect them to a 12v charger one at a time. It'll only go as far as the ground clamp on the charger. If it makes you feel better, you can disconnect each battery in turn, but this is unnecessary.
OK...now what 74M35A2 makes sense. Did not know the voltage will only go as far as the clamp. So I will hit each battery for a while tonight w/o unhooking the entire set up. And M35A2-AZ can bust my Brofl if it blows it up.
 

PsycoBob

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They're 12v batteries, wired as 2 strings of 2 batteries each, assuming nobody has replaced them with something weird.

Most 12v battery chargers are isolated enough to allow you to just connect them to a pair of batteries in a string and they'll happily charge it. If you do it that way, take a minute and follow the battery cables, make sure you know what you're looking at. When in doubt, post pictures, and we'll try to keep you from lighting stuff on fire.

Here's a couple of examples scavanged from other forum threads and google.
 

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CARMAN

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Broad Run VA
They're 12v batteries, wired as 2 strings of 2 batteries each, assuming nobody has replaced them with something weird.

Most 12v battery chargers are isolated enough to allow you to just connect them to a pair of batteries in a string and they'll happily charge it. If you do it that way, take a minute and follow the battery cables, make sure you know what you're looking at. When in doubt, post pictures, and we'll try to keep you from lighting stuff on fire.

Here's a couple of examples scavanged from other forum threads and google.
801DDA3C-B3C8-444E-981C-2276A573D57B.jpeg
 

CARMAN

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So if one were to replace these 4 batteries....What would you recommend for brand and size? I am in VA, so weather really not an issue and truck is garaged. Not a huge fan of interstate. Neighbor says he runs the Costco batteries in a lot of his trucks and likes them. I would most likely just replace the 4 with 2. I love the Diehard platinum but can't get them anymore.
 

CARMAN

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I also just ordered two Battery tenders from Costco. They have the best price by far. But not driving these trucks like I used to is eating up batteries.
 

98G

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I also just ordered two Battery tenders from Costco. They have the best price by far. But not driving these trucks like I used to is eating up batteries.
If it's critical, buy Hawkers.

If it's not critical, the cheap Walmart RV and marine batteries work just fine and will last a few years. This is probably the least cost per start/use.

My trucks are toys. I have several and own heavy jumper cables. The odds that at least one will start and slave the rest are pretty good. So my stuff has the cheap Walmart batteries and when they go bad they get new ones. I treat them as a consumable. Life expectancy is 2-3 years.

My hmmwv has Hawkers in it from 2011. It's worth noting that it was the only truck to start at negative 17 and it slaved the others.
 

Guyfang

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A well taken care of HAWKER, will last forever.

IF, its kept charged. And using a charging device designed to charge this type of battery. The truck charging system is good, but having an external charging system, is better. Or drive the truck more often,
 

US6x4

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Is the Hawker an AGM style?

The battery in my seldom used highboy is a Walmart battery from 2012 that's still going strong (knock on wood)
 
Last edited:

CARMAN

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Well they just wont stay charged anymore. They are dated 2012. Kicked ass till about 6 months ago. Charged em up one more time this Sat. Had the truck out for 5 hours. Monday.....no start. Out with the old...guess I will just convert from 4 down to 2 of these.
65336048487__5C4929C2-0CBE-4F56-ADF6-1C4A42987E5D.jpg
From these
IMG_1774.jpg
 

CARMAN

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Broad Run VA
OK. So tonight I removed and installed the new batteries. Everything went as planned but when I started the truck the alternator pegged in the red. Shut the truck off and cycled it again and the same thing. Everything went back where it came from with the exception of 2 batteries now and not 4. The only thing I can think of is the wire tagged #569 says it is 12V power. It was removed of a negative terminal (not the negative terminal that the truck uses but that is the negative terminal I installed it on because I only have 2 batteries). Is it on the wrong negative terminal? Getting 24V and not 12V? It is the black wire with the silver clip in pic. 2. The other large wires are the slave cable hook up. The batteries look different in appearance but are the same model. Just different production dates.
IMG_1788.jpg
IMG_1789.jpg
IMG_1790.jpg
 

CARMAN

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Broad Run VA
Found this thread. Sheds some light on the issue but does not explain the alternator issue.

 
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