Can I put a diesel truck battery on my trailer?

[ecksdude]

The truck has been acting up when I go to start it the last week, and it turns out one of the two batteries is dead. I will be replacing them as a pair, however, so I will have one battery left over that is still good.

Is there anything I should beware of if I go ahead and attach it in parallel it to the two batteries already attached to my 284BHBE trailer?

I don't see why it would be a problem, but I don't know everything, so figured I'd ask.

[norty1]

It would work but even a rv, its a good idea to replace all batteries at the same time. the worst battery will bring down the others to its level since they are all recharged in parallel.

The battery in your diesel will not be same type. I would save it for a car or something that only has one starting battery.

[J-M Cox]

The battery from truck is not a deep cycle battery. I would not use it in your trailer.

[ctbailey]

As an emergency, sure you could. But I agree with previous posters... the "health" of a battery will act as a weak link, due to differential absorbtion rates while charging and discharging. So - your singled starter battery can certainly be used, but I'd prefer you use it by itself, and not in paralell.

The other issue is also true: the battery from the truck is a "starting" battery - the lead plates are more like a "sponge" in appearance in contrast to a deep cell; the deep cell lead plates are much more dense and approaching solid.

The "sponge like" appearance (they are not soft like a sponge) of the lead plates in a starter battery provide MUCH MORE surface area, and surface area is what a battery plate needs to transfer huge amounts of current quickly.

The solid plates of a deep cell allow for less surface charge, so the current cant' jump off as like in the starter, but instead the solid plates allow for a prolonged, steady discharge of current - lilke when an RV is running lights, pumps, fans, etc. Or when a trolling motor on your bass boat runs all day.

These physical differences between battery types is why your shouldnt' mix the two types.

Will it work? yes.
Will it work well for long? probably not.

[ecksdude]

Ah, OK.

Thanks folks. I guess I'll ditch this idea...