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The Pub For General Automotive Related Talk |
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#1 | ||
FF.Com.Au Hardcore
Join Date: Feb 2008
Location: Perth, Northern Suburbs
Posts: 4,924
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Like many people, I still have functioning lead-acid batteries that are almost a decade old. The batteries on my boat are ancient, but they keep working and because I have multiples, they keep doing the job. Just keep topping them up and charging them.
I've just disposed of a bunch of batteries, all relatively new, and all expensive models, all useless, and all supposedly "sealed". Except they're not. They still have vents, which means that gasses and some vapour still escapes. What they are is non-refillable. From what I could tell, from the translucent models, they were all low on water. I toyed with the idea of drilling holes in the top, but couldn't think of what to use as plugs. Supposedly technology has moved beyond the need to top up batteries, and perhaps for some it has, but clearly not for these. |
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#2 | ||
FF.Com.Au Hardcore
Join Date: Dec 2014
Location: St Marys Tasmania
Posts: 3,556
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I've pretty much always used Century batteries but lately I've not done that well out of them . They're a sore point for me . Next time I might try something else ..like Delkor or whatever .
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#3 | ||
FF.Com.Au Hardcore
Join Date: Jul 2011
Location: Serpentine W.A.
Posts: 1,639
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If you want a truly sealed battery you need to get an AGM (absorbed glass mat) battery
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XC GS OLD SCHOOL MUSCLE ![]() Audi A4 S-line quttro Xc falcon Previous fords- xc falcon 500 ,250 x flow 3 speed xc gs worked 250 x flow 4 speed xa Fairmont 302 auto wagon xb falcon 250 log auto 4 door xb falcon 200 log auto ute xc gs project - had to sell :-( xc gs 302 4 speed 4 door xc gs 351 auto 4 door zf fairlane 302 auto zk fairlane 250 x flow carb auto zl fairlane 250 x flow EFI auto xg ute , BA falcon dedicated gas xd, xf x 3 ,ea,eb,ef,au x 3,telstar tx5 |
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#4 | ||
Regular Member
Join Date: Sep 2017
Posts: 260
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If they were looking low then it's entirely possible they were being overcharged.
Sealed batteries should not go as high in Voltage when charging. |
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#5 | ||
BA/F6 BF/F6 SSV/R TTG
Join Date: Mar 2007
Location: Perth
Posts: 7,251
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No use telling us. Tell Ford.
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BA BF FPV starter button repairs. PM me. Nizpro equipped and Tuned by the BEST in the west Xtreme Ford Tuning 479RwKw Fuel limited, more pumps and power too come. F6#0507 & #0639 Pro racer and Tech expert NIZPRO modifying falcons like Premcar can only dream of , see VIDEO below. https://youtu.be/oa4IfguGQ-A |
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#6 | ||
Experienced Member
Join Date: Sep 2006
Location: Australasia
Posts: 7,564
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The average car battery life span these days is about 4 to 6 years, if you get more then consider yourself lucky.
How often do owners check the Alternator, wiring, battery, cables & connections for maintenance? it would have to be the most abused bit of equipment in a car for regular maintenance. Cheers. |
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#7 | ||
Cabover nut
Join Date: Aug 2015
Location: Onsite Eastcoast
Posts: 10,841
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yeah, me to. Not as good as they once were.
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heritagestonemason.com/Fordlouisvillerestoration In order that the labour of centuries past may not be in vain during the centuries to come...... D. Diderot 1752
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#8 | ||
Thailand Specials
Join Date: Aug 2009
Location: Centrefold Lounge
Posts: 49,084
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For what ever reason my LV Focus kills batteries every 12-18 months ever since I bought it new off the showroom floor, may be because of diesel engine though with vibrations, tight engine bay, heat etc.
Retrofitted the big-*** DIN85L into it which has another circa 200CCA capacity about 2 years ago, its starting to get a bit slow to crank in mornings. The thing with non sealed batteries is 99% of people didn't maintain them anyway so its a moot point. I'm big on Century - anything with the yellow and blue case is Australian made, but I've moved to ACDelco, out of all the cars I've replaced batteries on - AC Delco have consistently lasted the longest. |
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#9 | |||
Cabover nut
Join Date: Aug 2015
Location: Onsite Eastcoast
Posts: 10,841
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Quote:
With the older Century 200amp "Truck and Farm" I usually get 10-12 years out of a system like this because they can be maintained.
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heritagestonemason.com/Fordlouisvillerestoration In order that the labour of centuries past may not be in vain during the centuries to come...... D. Diderot 1752
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#10 | |||
Thailand Specials
Join Date: Aug 2009
Location: Centrefold Lounge
Posts: 49,084
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Quote:
https://www.centurybatteries.com.au/.../8d-n200z/info https://www.centurybatteries.com.au/...ery/c1275/info |
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#11 | |||
Cabover nut
Join Date: Aug 2015
Location: Onsite Eastcoast
Posts: 10,841
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Quote:
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heritagestonemason.com/Fordlouisvillerestoration In order that the labour of centuries past may not be in vain during the centuries to come...... D. Diderot 1752
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#12 | ||
I am Groot
![]() Join Date: Dec 2007
Location: Burnett Heads, Qld
Posts: 6,840
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Just replaced the house bank on the boat, 8 x Trojan 105s 6v 225ah Deep-Cycle Flooded, next time i'll be giving AGM's a shot......
For the engine i bought 2 Century 780 Marine Pros N70ZM, supposedly maintenance free, will see, previous ones where 6 year old Century 720 Marine Pro's......
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.. ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() "Those were the days when the cars were cars, they weren't built out of an Ikea pack like they are now and clothed in plastic; they were real cars." John Bowe |
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#13 | |||
Cabover nut
Join Date: Aug 2015
Location: Onsite Eastcoast
Posts: 10,841
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Quote:
Wasn't Trojan part of the Century group once. ?
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heritagestonemason.com/Fordlouisvillerestoration In order that the labour of centuries past may not be in vain during the centuries to come...... D. Diderot 1752
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#14 | |||
Moderator
![]() Join Date: Jan 2014
Location: Melbourne
Posts: 7,940
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Quote:
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#15 | ||
BA/F6 BF/F6 SSV/R TTG
Join Date: Mar 2007
Location: Perth
Posts: 7,251
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Batteries are now sealed like this
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=CJdPTLZees0 This is the century battery I use to buy. They dont make it anymore , they are now FULLY sealed. Now I will buy AGM. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=r4StoOMsrBw Not like this anymore. ![]()
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BA BF FPV starter button repairs. PM me. Nizpro equipped and Tuned by the BEST in the west Xtreme Ford Tuning 479RwKw Fuel limited, more pumps and power too come. F6#0507 & #0639 Pro racer and Tech expert NIZPRO modifying falcons like Premcar can only dream of , see VIDEO below. https://youtu.be/oa4IfguGQ-A |
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#16 | |||
I am Groot
![]() Join Date: Dec 2007
Location: Burnett Heads, Qld
Posts: 6,840
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Quote:
Am hoping next time around the price and availability is a bit more reasonable for the AGM Lol...... Not sure about the Trojan/Century connection but heres a little history on Trojan US..... https://www.trojanbattery.com/corpor...ew/#ourhistory
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.. ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() "Those were the days when the cars were cars, they weren't built out of an Ikea pack like they are now and clothed in plastic; they were real cars." John Bowe |
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#17 | ||
Formerly ST170ish
Join Date: Jan 2005
Location: Down south
Posts: 1,670
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"I'm big on Century - anything with the yellow and blue case is Australian made"
Yep, I refine and blend the custom lead alloys they use for the plates ![]()
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My bad attitude escalates in direct proportion to the amount of stupidity I am presented with!!! ![]() |
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#18 | |||
Cabover nut
Join Date: Aug 2015
Location: Onsite Eastcoast
Posts: 10,841
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Quote:
Double thumps up to Century for still being Aussie made.
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heritagestonemason.com/Fordlouisvillerestoration In order that the labour of centuries past may not be in vain during the centuries to come...... D. Diderot 1752
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#19 | |||
Thailand Specials
Join Date: Aug 2009
Location: Centrefold Lounge
Posts: 49,084
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Quote:
Just quietly the N70ZM and the N70T are identical internals, one has a blue case and one has a black case and labelled as 'deep cycle' but you didn't hear it from me ![]() |
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#20 | |||
Thailand Specials
Join Date: Aug 2009
Location: Centrefold Lounge
Posts: 49,084
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Quote:
Sounds suspiciously like Century C105: https://www.centurybatteries.com.au/...tery/c105/info Something interesting is look at the weight, size and capacities of the industrial range compared to the automotive versions of 'deep cycle' batteries. Those weighs nearly 30kg a pop - there is a lot of lead in that. There is a lot of conjecture about AGM batteries - Optima D34 is a favorite on this forum for use in Falcons, they halve their charging capacity at above 60 degrees ambient temperatures and virtually stop charging once they reach 80 degrees, AGM isn't ideal for under bonnet applications, especially when you have a bigass turbo in the engine bay in a modified XR6T and you beat on it. I guess if its a garage queen and it sits on float charge 24/7 then its fit for purpose but for a daily, not ideal. AGM is a good option for house batteries on a boat, a secondary deep cycle in the back of a 4x4 or a car with a battery in the boot like Euros or VE/VF Commodore. If you have a Falcon as a daily - Century 67EF MF, is locally made and 640CCA with a 3 year warranty: https://www.centurybatteries.com.au/...duct/67ef%20mf Last edited by Franco Cozzo; 02-03-2019 at 03:15 PM. |
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#21 | ||
Cabover nut
Join Date: Aug 2015
Location: Onsite Eastcoast
Posts: 10,841
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Maybe not their fault but I must admit I had a bad run of smaller truck size Century NS70's probably due to being a twin 12V starter set up.
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heritagestonemason.com/Fordlouisvillerestoration In order that the labour of centuries past may not be in vain during the centuries to come...... D. Diderot 1752
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#22 | ||||
Thailand Specials
Join Date: Aug 2009
Location: Centrefold Lounge
Posts: 49,084
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Quote:
Heat and vibration are two big killers of batteries, Kenworth trucks have a 4x N70ZZ start battery setup, there is a particular range of battery that Century has for these trucks: https://www.centurybatteries.com.au/...difference.pdf If you put the regular 4x4 ones in Kenworth trucks they flog them out in 6 months tops if you're lucky, its vibration in particular on those trucks and where the batteries are that does them in on those trucks. The small Jap trucks may have a similar issue. Quote:
Thats the previous generation Century battery - majority of the range has gone to sealed variants, this is non sealed N70ZZ sized new generation for 4x4s Last edited by Franco Cozzo; 02-03-2019 at 03:30 PM. |
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#23 | |||
Cabover nut
Join Date: Aug 2015
Location: Onsite Eastcoast
Posts: 10,841
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Quote:
Earlier model truck has a single larger 12V 120amp 1000cca battery, just a better setup. Jap trucks above, my KW uses 2 12V 1100cca Delkor in series 24v start 12v run.
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heritagestonemason.com/Fordlouisvillerestoration In order that the labour of centuries past may not be in vain during the centuries to come...... D. Diderot 1752
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#24 | |||
Thailand Specials
Join Date: Aug 2009
Location: Centrefold Lounge
Posts: 49,084
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Quote:
There was only about $5 difference in margin between the smaller NS70 and the bigger N70ZZ, so mostly we retrofitted the bigger ones in. Bigger is always better ![]() |
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#25 | |||
Cabover nut
Join Date: Aug 2015
Location: Onsite Eastcoast
Posts: 10,841
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Quote:
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heritagestonemason.com/Fordlouisvillerestoration In order that the labour of centuries past may not be in vain during the centuries to come...... D. Diderot 1752
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#26 | |||
I am Groot
![]() Join Date: Dec 2007
Location: Burnett Heads, Qld
Posts: 6,840
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Quote:
As for the Century C105? there are plenty of other makes that have 6v 225ah Deep Cycle batteries, nothing unusual there it's a popular size, but i would take a sizeable bet that the T105 was around long before the C105 ![]() Unfortunately the C105 doesn't have the reputation of the Trojans outside of Australia cause for the most part they are unknown, even i have no idea of how reliable they are or what sort of life can be expected from them, but i do know that the Trojans i replaced where originally fitted in Nov 2009 and are still soldiering on, although at a reduced rate now, so for where i plan on going it's best to stick with what i know...until someone can prove to me otherwise that is ![]()
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.. ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() "Those were the days when the cars were cars, they weren't built out of an Ikea pack like they are now and clothed in plastic; they were real cars." John Bowe Last edited by DJR-351; 02-03-2019 at 04:25 PM. |
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#27 | ||
Experienced Member
Join Date: Sep 2006
Location: Australasia
Posts: 7,564
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Make sure they are suitable for automotive general use or for your vehicles specs., seen plenty of numpties using the wrong type AGM battery wondering why they fail prematurely.
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#28 | ||
Donating Member
![]() Join Date: Dec 2004
Location: QLD
Posts: 11,824
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http://www.lionbatteries.com.au/
I had a bad run of century many years ago, 3 in 6 mths .. Had a few of these lion batteries now last just on 10 yrs |
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#29 | ||
FF.Com.Au Hardcore
Join Date: Dec 2014
Location: St Marys Tasmania
Posts: 3,556
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Currently I have a new Century in the XR6 . (67 MF) with 640 cold cranking amps. The one in it when I bought the car in 2016 was a Delkor 22EFR 520 . No worries yet of course as it's only about 4 months old .
In the AU it's on it's third Century in the past five years. Last year I put a 67 in it , same as XR6 now. I have pretty much always used Century but if either of these fail too quick I'll consider something else . I reckon at least three years isn't unreasonable . Hopefully that'll happen with the current ones . My Honda has a Delko in it. Had the car since late 2016 and has not shown any sign of a problem . |
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#30 | ||
Donating Member
![]() Join Date: Dec 2004
Location: QLD
Posts: 11,824
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I've also got a couple Optima red tops . Oldest is 8 yrs now , other is near 5 yrs
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