Largest capacity battery for AU?

ronwest · 28-06-2008, 10:17 AM

After the earlier thread about battery longevity I was trying to figure out how long mine has lasted.

Shouldn't have bothered as whatever it was it's now conked out. I'll recharge it and see if it will hold charge from full but I'm not optimistic.

So, does anyone know the largest capacity (CCA?) battery that will fit in an AU?

EvilChief · 28-06-2008, 01:10 PM

CCA is not dependant on seize (well to a degree). you can get 800 to 900CCA batterys in std seize, however they are not cheap.

std replacemnt cca battery is around the 550 mark

ronwest · 28-06-2008, 10:50 PM

Ok, so this is the way it works with AU batteries.

The battery manufacturers recommend either a 450 cca or a 480 cca - probably one for low spec and the other for high spec models because of the extra electrics.

My Ghia had a 520 cca so that is what I bought to replace it (Century $195). Got it home , fitted it...it only just fitted in the battery bay... started car, all good.
Only problem is that the bonnet wouldn't close. The extra width meant that the negative post sat directly under the rib on the edge of the bonnet.

I removed the old battery from the plastic case and discovered it's a Motorcraft.

My choice was to wait till Monday and get one off Ford or swap my new one for a 480 cca.

I had a hunt around the internet to see if any manufacturers made a 520 cca the same physical size as whoever made the Motorcraft one.

What I discovered is that the vehicle manufacturers recommended replacement (in our case the 450 cca or the 480 cca) is all that is required for normal use.
One would think that bigger is better but it usually just ain't the case.

The CCA rating of auto batteries is rated by a standard that is set at -18c (the standard is reflective of ambient temperatures that may be attained in North America or Europe) so at +18c the cca doubles - meaning that a 480 cca battery used in Brisbane (as mine is) is actually the equivalent of 960 cca for motor starting purposes.
All this cca info is available at Century Batteries website but it's in .pdf form and I couldn't cut and paste it.

Anyhoo, I settled for a Century 480 cca for $154.

**GasoLane** · 28-06-2008, 11:15 PM

Two types to try would be Federal or Optima, neither of which are cheap.

I used a Federal with 750cca in a Jaguar V12 I had, as a regular battery just would'nt last. The Federal really spun the engine over.

Your probably looking at about $200+ for a Federal and $300+ for the Optima's

http://www.federalbatteries.com.au/
http://www.optimabatteries.com.au/

blackers10 · 28-06-2008, 11:51 PM

I have an Optima Yellow top in my fairlane
it JUST fits with a little guidance in the battery holder thing(the plastic surround)

it cost $330 from battery world at Morayfield/Caboolture

4VCLEVO · 29-06-2008, 09:37 AM

I put a 580cca bond battery in mine, cost $110.

ayeyew · 29-06-2008, 12:02 PM

I have an optima yellow top D34, which is 750cca

Fits fine

**Mechan1k** · 29-06-2008, 07:29 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by ayeyew

I have an optima yellow top D34, which is 750cca

Fits fine

Same ... mine has been in there for 2 years now.
the D34 is the direct replacement for Falcons ... it is pricey ... but it does the job.

Dedicated LPG starts at 4:30am at -5 deg C is fine ... and have had issues with flooding the motor with LPG ... and it can withstand 30 second constant cranking without slowing down at all.

It was worth a bit ... but in the end though ... I reckon it was worth it ... especially with all of the accessories I run on my ute ... and the constant stop-start city driving as well.