Which battery?

[JSP]

Think I need a new battery for the rib. This one doesn't seem to go over a certain charge. Enough to work the PTT but not enough to turn the engine over.
Not had to buy a car battery for years as I've been buying new cars. They all seem to be classed by engine size now. All you used to have to do was look up your car in a book and grab the right one. Now as you'll know they say up to 1200/1800 etc.
So what battery am I best buying?

[Pete7]

75 ah would be a bit mean, 100 ah better assuming you have the space to mount it, properly bolted down.

This is worth a read.

http://www.sterling-power.com/support-faq-2.htm

Pete

[JSP]

Thanks Pete. Interesting reading!
Didn't think I'd need as much as 100 ah, expensive!

[Nos4r2]

Originally Posted by JSP

Thanks Pete. Interesting reading!
Didn't think I'd need as much as 100 ah, expensive!

It's usually cheaper if you go to a motor factors.

[JSP]

Originally Posted by Nos4r2

It's usually cheaper if you go to a motor factors.

All the local ones either only deal with companies or have shut down. But will do a search around liverpool as there's loads of back street places.

[doggypaddle]

i would use a lorry battery or a leisure battery
110 amp hour lorry batteries are really cheap compared to car batteries. £60 for a 3 year warranty 110ah.
the rationale behind this is that you have plenty of spare capacity, and SLA(start lighting and auxiliary) batteries are ruined by deep discharge, by using a 110 ah you only use about 10% of the capacity even if you leave gps and radio on for a few hours.
Leisure batteries are great(for deep discharge) but you need to make sure they have a cranking capacity, most are designed for engine starting some arent. the cranking capacity will be lower than a SLA and they are more expensive.
I went for a 663 (or 664 terminals other way round)on mine (big lorry battery) cos they are the cheapest option and suitably big!
buy from an auto electrical factors they are cheaper than car batteries(being very common fitment)
I doubt you will get a 35ah car battery in halfrauds for the price of a 663.
theyre on Ebay for £59+postage

Before you buy a battery put a voltmeter across the battery, when you try and crank the engine, if the battery is cream crackerd the voltage will drop.
if it stays around 11-13 volts then you have corroded cables and connectors.

[JSP]

Originally Posted by doggypaddle

i would use a lorry battery or a leisure battery
110 amp hour lorry batteries are really cheap compared to car batteries. £60 for a 3 year warranty 110ah.
the rationale behind this is that you have plenty of spare capacity, and SLA(start lighting and auxiliary) batteries are ruined by deep discharge, by using a 110 ah you only use about 10% of the capacity even if you leave gps and radio on for a few hours.
Leisure batteries are great(for deep discharge) but you need to make sure they have a cranking capacity, most are designed for engine starting some arent. the cranking capacity will be lower than a SLA and they are more expensive.
I went for a 663 (or 664 terminals other way round)on mine (big lorry battery) cos they are the cheapest option and suitably big!
buy from an auto electrical factors they are cheaper than car batteries(being very common fitment)
I doubt you will get a 35ah car battery in halfrauds for the price of a 663.
theyre on Ebay for £59+postage

Before you buy a battery put a voltmeter across the battery, when you try and crank the engine, if the battery is cream crackerd the voltage will drop.
if it stays around 11-13 volts then you have corroded cables and connectors.

Cheers DP that sounds good!
The voltage does drop when the engine tries. So it looks like I'll have to use it to throw at the kids.

[doggypaddle]

Originally Posted by JSP

Cheers DP that sounds good!
The voltage does drop when the engine tries. So it looks like I'll have to use it to throw at the kids.

when i worked for a battery company we had empty cases for display,
they were brilliant, you pretend theyre heavy then throw it at someone
bit like a sponge housebrick. they must have weighed 300grammes

[matt h]

you pretend theyre heavy then throw it at someone,,

[Rogue Wave]

i;ve spent a lot of money on batteries always buying the best or sexiest. nowadays I just buy 110ah from towsure they seem to last as long and are considerably cheaper.

[doggypaddle]

Originally Posted by matt h

you pretend theyre heavy then throw it at someone,,

I thought that would appeal to you chap

[matt h]

that was splendid, when i did my apprenticeship with the AA, there was some twat who always drove to fast into the service bays, the floor was shiny grey so i greased the floor when i returned after my dinner hour i found a Ford D Series recovery lorry planted halfway through the Bosses Office, Hilarious, well it was for me, im sure you have been up to naughtiness!!

sorry to nick your thread

[JSP]

Originally Posted by doggypaddle

when i worked for a battery company we had empty cases for display,
they were brilliant, you pretend theyre heavy then throw it at someone
bit like a sponge housebrick. they must have weighed 300grammes

I've done that too I worked for a shop called motorworld in my teens. They had a rack of fake one for displaying outside. Was always fun

[JSP]

Originally Posted by matt h

that was splendid, when i did my apprenticeship with the AA, there was some twat who always drove to fast into the service bays, the floor was shiny grey so i greased the floor when i returned after my dinner hour i found a Ford D Series recovery lorry planted halfway through the Bosses Office, Hilarious, well it was for me, im sure you have been up to naughtiness!!

sorry to nick your thread

Note to self: watch yaself when Matt's about. He's the type to put nail polish remover on the tube of your self inflate life jacket and then throw you in the water.

[Nos4r2]

Originally Posted by JSP

Note to self: watch yaself when Matt's about. He's the type to put nail polish remover on the tube of your self inflate life jacket and then throw you in the water.

If you can get him to stand still long enough to do that you might get a medal

[Downhilldai]

Originally Posted by Nos4r2

If you can get him to stand still long enough to do that you might get a medal

He'd be halfway through doing it, then have to rush off to buy another RIB (probably a Searider)

[JSP]

Matt sounds like a right character

Any one got any approx dimensions for large leisure type or truck type battery's? I don't know if I can fit one in my double jockey. All website listing them don't give dimensions that I can see.

[doggypaddle]

i will measure one tonight,
should fit OK though, fits in my sr5 console no problem, probably 2" narrower and 4" lower and about a foot long.

[Downhilldai]

Originally Posted by JSP

Any one got any approx dimensions for large leisure type or truck type battery's?

Approx. 350 long x 175 wide x 200 high. Some lorry/plant batteries are taller.

[doggypaddle]

Thanks Dai, saves me a job!