Which Battery?

Submitted: Thursday, Feb 19, 2004 at 16:44
ThreadID: 10650 Views:7855 Replies:14 FollowUps:31
This Thread has been Archived
My auxilliary battery is getting long in the tooth and not charging up to my liking and before it lets me down I might replace it. It is a Yuasa N70ZZL which gives 700ca. I am considering replacing it with the same.

Have tried Exide batteries before but had a run of bad luck with them and this put me off the brand name. In fact an Exide Salesperson 'expert', told me that all batteries were manufactured at the same factory. I said "Oh yeah" and walked out of the shop.

Any other ideas on brands etc will be welcome.

Cheers,

Willem
Out on the Gibber
Back Expand Un-Read 0 Moderator

Reply By: Member - Rosco - Thursday, Feb 19, 2004 at 17:22

Thursday, Feb 19, 2004 at 17:22
G'day cobber

Had a pair of Yuasa N70Z's in the old MQ when I bought it back in '81. Top batteries I reckon, went for yonks.

Century make a fairly good unit also, but as I'm sure you know ... you only get as good as you're prepared to pay.

Interested in your comments about Exide. As you may recall I'm in the market for an aux battery also, so I shall watch this space with interest.

CheersFidei defensor

Rosco
AnswerID: 47337

Follow Up By: Patrol22 (Queanbeyan - Thursday, Feb 19, 2004 at 20:07

Thursday, Feb 19, 2004 at 20:07
Rosco
Century Yuasa is the same company. I don't know if the batteries are made in the same factory but I suspect so. Check out www.cyb.com.au
0
FollowupID: 309334

Follow Up By: Rosco - Bris. - Thursday, Feb 19, 2004 at 23:13

Thursday, Feb 19, 2004 at 23:13
Pat

There ya go .... probably explains why I thought they're not a bad job.

............... ;-DFidei defensor

Rosco
0
FollowupID: 309370

Reply By: Member - Eskimo - Thursday, Feb 19, 2004 at 17:26

Thursday, Feb 19, 2004 at 17:26
Gday willem
had Appollos which lasted 2 yrs (aux)
had an Excides which lasted 2 yrs (aux)
got another excide (aux) and is up for 2 yrs this june? will of course take the car in and have the batteries tested at my inlaws atuo electrical shop and have batteries load tested as I do evert 2 yrs and if it is not up to scratch, get him to replace under warranty as he did for the previous 6 i think

Wow, am I cute! The extra long legs are built-in prevention against ducks disease. Great looks and a real goer. Doesnt waddle along like some.
AnswerID: 47339

Follow Up By: Willem - Friday, Feb 20, 2004 at 20:09

Friday, Feb 20, 2004 at 20:09
Hello Eski

I am coming up to 5 years on my Yuasa.
Willem
Out on the Gibber
0
FollowupID: 309455

Follow Up By: Member - Eskimo - Friday, Feb 20, 2004 at 21:00

Friday, Feb 20, 2004 at 21:00
well there ya go
see, i dont seem to have a lot of luck with those excides ....hey! but if I get them for nothing, then all is not lost...just as long as I change them oftenWow, am I cute! The extra long legs are built-in prevention against ducks disease. Great looks and a real goer. Doesnt waddle along like some.
0
FollowupID: 309465

Reply By: Rod E B - Thursday, Feb 19, 2004 at 17:30

Thursday, Feb 19, 2004 at 17:30
Are we talking cranking or deep cycle batteries . I am thinking of putting a cranking battery in as my auxilary

Rod
AnswerID: 47340

Follow Up By: Willem - Thursday, Feb 19, 2004 at 17:33

Thursday, Feb 19, 2004 at 17:33
Cranking....... so that it can run the winch if that is needed.
Willem
Out on the Gibber
0
FollowupID: 309316

Follow Up By: Nudenut - Thursday, Feb 19, 2004 at 17:52

Thursday, Feb 19, 2004 at 17:52
I wouldnt have thought a winch does not need a cranking battery willem.

I am human ...I think?
0
FollowupID: 309319

Follow Up By: Nudenut - Thursday, Feb 19, 2004 at 17:53

Thursday, Feb 19, 2004 at 17:53
i'll rephrase
I wouldnt have thought a winch does needs a cranking battery willem.I am human ...I think?
0
FollowupID: 309320

Follow Up By: Nudenut - Thursday, Feb 19, 2004 at 17:54

Thursday, Feb 19, 2004 at 17:54
stuff it i'll do it again
I wouldnt have thought a winch needs a cranking battery willem.I am human ...I think?
0
FollowupID: 309322

Follow Up By: Willem - Thursday, Feb 19, 2004 at 18:21

Thursday, Feb 19, 2004 at 18:21
Hmmm...you remind me of someone Nudenut........

If at first you don't succeed Try and Try again. Good on ya!

I am quoting from an article in 4WD Monthly Magazine a while back
"A serious 4wdriver might do one big trip away every year, plus a little trip at Easter and half a dozen short weekend trips. Deep-cycle batteries are designed to be discharged and then fully recharged on a regular basis. Unless you are a National Parks Ranger or a tour operator, your second battery is likely to spend most of its time doing basically nothing....and thats one of the best ways to kill a Deep Cycle Battery. The reason many people fit a second battery is to power a winch, the theory being that the winch can run the second battery dry and you will still have enough grunt left in the starting battery to crank the engine. And here, clearly, an HCD(starting) battery is better at that job than a deep cycle battery."

I have taken that advice some time ago and it works for me.

Cheers,
Willem
Out on the Gibber
0
FollowupID: 309325

Follow Up By: Nudenut - Thursday, Feb 19, 2004 at 18:46

Thursday, Feb 19, 2004 at 18:46
I hope I dont remind you of Prince Charles or the Duke of Wellington I am human ...I think?
Must be....make too many mistakes!
0
FollowupID: 309326

Follow Up By: Nudenut - Thursday, Feb 19, 2004 at 18:47

Thursday, Feb 19, 2004 at 18:47
my ears dont stick out that much....do they?I am human ...I think?
Must be....make too many mistakes!
0
FollowupID: 309327

Follow Up By: Rosco - Bris. - Thursday, Feb 19, 2004 at 19:25

Thursday, Feb 19, 2004 at 19:25
Yup

Try pulling 300 or so amps from a deep cycle and it'll bleep itself pronto.

They're designed for slow discharge rate ... least that's what I'm told.

CheersFidei defensor

Rosco
0
FollowupID: 309331

Follow Up By: Mad Dog Morgan (Geelong) - Friday, Feb 20, 2004 at 13:23

Friday, Feb 20, 2004 at 13:23
A true deep cycle battery because of its construction cannot deliver the amps required for starting. A number of so called deep cycle batteries are really hybrids and exhibt characteristics of both deep cycle and starting. My deep cycle is quite capable of supplying sufficient starting amps. BEAM ME UP SCOTTY


Hooroo
Ray
0
FollowupID: 309425

Reply By: TravellingVegemite - Thursday, Feb 19, 2004 at 17:31

Thursday, Feb 19, 2004 at 17:31
I've had a good run from Exide Batteries. I have 2 in my GQ Patrol at the moment. My Auxiliary is a deep-cycle battery as it gets flattened from time-to-time by fridge, etc.

Exide do make some other brand batteries in their factory here at Elizabeth. The RAA batteries are Exide batteries with their (RAA) labels on them. Sprint Auto Parts batteries are the same batteries also, with their (Sprint) labels on them.

I go for the Sprint ones as they are much cheaper, although identical. They don't have the deep-cycle one with their brand though, so I had to pay more for the name.

Roger
AnswerID: 47341

Follow Up By: Nudenut - Thursday, Feb 19, 2004 at 17:50

Thursday, Feb 19, 2004 at 17:50
but are the insides identical????I am human ...I think?
0
FollowupID: 309318

Follow Up By: TravellingVegemite - Thursday, Feb 19, 2004 at 17:57

Thursday, Feb 19, 2004 at 17:57
I have it on good authority that the insides are indeed identical. I have a friend who is a manager of one of the Sprint Auto Parts stores, and he said that even the model numbers they use are the same.
0
FollowupID: 309323

Reply By: Member - Luxoluk - Thursday, Feb 19, 2004 at 21:11

Thursday, Feb 19, 2004 at 21:11
I thought I knew what I was doing also and fitted a deep cycle Yuasa battery in the rear of my tray. Looking back the 6mm wire wasn't quite enough to charge it so I went for "00" wire through hose pipe and the chassis to the rear tub. Now my main battery seems to be over charging (splattering out the top) but this is probably another issue somewhere. The ARB solenoid works well but is slow to release after the engine is turned off.....probably as the voltage in the main battery has not dropped sufficiently to prompt disengagement. Who knows but I feel like I'm the passenger in all of this??
Next time I'm a gunna buy the same battery as the cranking battery and connect it via a switched solenoid and run the whole show through the main/starting battery. If the main battery is down on charge then I'll engage the aux battery to crank. Don't envisage this will be a regular occurance however. Hopefully the aux will only need the occassional charge to keep it in a serviceable state. Well that's the plan and i'm outta ideas after that!
Any views would be welcome.....within reason that is.

Cheers for nowButcher Country Track - Vic
AnswerID: 47366

Follow Up By: Willem - Friday, Feb 20, 2004 at 20:27

Friday, Feb 20, 2004 at 20:27
One lives and learns......I keep on trying to keep it simple but I seem to accumulate more and more gear with more and more wires running everywhere in my truck

Cheers,
Willem
Out on the Gibber
0
FollowupID: 309463

Reply By: madcow - Thursday, Feb 19, 2004 at 21:25

Thursday, Feb 19, 2004 at 21:25
Heard a lot of good things about the Delkor Calcium Battery. It has both the benifits of being a deep cycle and has 500cca if you ever need to jump start the main battery. Cost was $150.00 and is foolproof, no need to top up water and have heard of one lasting 5 years from our local Opposite Lock Dealer.

Here's to another coldy
AnswerID: 47369

Follow Up By: Rosco - Bris. - Thursday, Feb 19, 2004 at 21:33

Thursday, Feb 19, 2004 at 21:33
Hey Moo

When you say "no need to top up water" do you mean it's a sealed low maintenance type?? That would be my preference due to its being located under the passenger seat.

Actually I believe in this scenario they are required to be sealed and vented to the outside.

The main factory battery is this type with a plastic hose (6mm) through a hole in the floor.

CheersFidei defensor

Rosco
0
FollowupID: 309345

Reply By: Rosco - Bris. - Thursday, Feb 19, 2004 at 21:36

Thursday, Feb 19, 2004 at 21:36
By the way Willem, if you win Lotto how about one of those flash "Absorbed Glass Mat" jobs check out ... powerdive.comFidei defensor

Rosco
AnswerID: 47373

Follow Up By: Willem - Friday, Feb 20, 2004 at 20:08

Friday, Feb 20, 2004 at 20:08
Thanks Rosco.......Had a peek at their site...pretty impressive...trouble is the battery would be worth more than my truck...hahahahaha

Cheers,Willem
Out on the Gibber
0
FollowupID: 309454

Reply By: Wayne (NSW) - Thursday, Feb 19, 2004 at 21:59

Thursday, Feb 19, 2004 at 21:59
Willem

I have always fitted a winch to the main starting battery,regardless of how many or type of second battery. When winching the motor should be at 1000 -1200 rpm, to keep the charge up to the main battery so that the battery does not go flat. Fitting a winch to the second battery means that at max load the winch draws about 400amps, that is a lot to go from the main battery through the isolater and then to keep the charge up on the second battery. As said in another post a deep cycle battery is designed for a slow charge and a slow discharge.

WayneAlways Out'N About
AnswerID: 47378

Follow Up By: Willem - Friday, Feb 20, 2004 at 20:12

Friday, Feb 20, 2004 at 20:12
Wayne,

You have apoint there. I haven't done much 'serious' winching lately and so far my aux battery has managed OK. If I have problems though I will change over to the main battery.
Willem
Out on the Gibber
0
FollowupID: 309458

Follow Up By: -OzyGuy- - Monday, Mar 08, 2004 at 20:39

Monday, Mar 08, 2004 at 20:39
True...
the main or cranking battery should be used for winching as they accept the alternators charge more readily than a (genuine) deep cycle battery.

Genuine deep cycle batteries are not suitable for winching.
0
FollowupID: 311374

Reply By: Ray - Thursday, Feb 19, 2004 at 22:06

Thursday, Feb 19, 2004 at 22:06
Hi,

I've used Exide Extreme first one lasted 4 years and the second is into it's 5 year. For the fridge batteries I use sealed Cat batteries, they are close to 7 years old. I always charge them before and after each trip and if they sit for a while. I run a mega pulse on the system and use a battery additive for the exide batteries. I'm pretty impressed with the Delkor calcium battery as well, it recharges very quickly, not sure about longevity yet though.
AnswerID: 47380

Follow Up By: Willem - Friday, Feb 20, 2004 at 20:16

Friday, Feb 20, 2004 at 20:16
Ray,

Yep, I suppose it is the luck of the draw with batteries as there seems to be good and bad in all of them. Proper maintenance is the key to longevity, I think.

Willem
Out on the Gibber
0
FollowupID: 309459

Reply By: Member - Bob - Thursday, Feb 19, 2004 at 23:11

Thursday, Feb 19, 2004 at 23:11
I don't have a winch, but have an Optima Redtop as main cranking battery, and a Yellowtop as the auxillary. I was told the Yellowtop will also serve to crank as well. Sadly they cost about $300, but I've had too many OEM lead acid batteries die prematurely to trust them in extremely isolated areas.Bob
AnswerID: 47403

Follow Up By: madcow - Friday, Feb 20, 2004 at 07:48

Friday, Feb 20, 2004 at 07:48
details at this site for the Delkor Battery

homepages.tig.com.au/~ccoelho/delkor.htm

Cheers
0
FollowupID: 309390

Follow Up By: Willem - Friday, Feb 20, 2004 at 20:19

Friday, Feb 20, 2004 at 20:19
Thanks Bob...will check em out. One has to have the very best of gear and necessities when in remote locations.Willem
Out on the Gibber
0
FollowupID: 309460

Reply By: Diesel1 - Friday, Feb 20, 2004 at 08:10

Friday, Feb 20, 2004 at 08:10
G'day Willem,

Over the past couple of years I have had a bad run with Yuasa batteries - I used to think they were the ducks nuts in affordable units, but have reconsidered that opinion after having both the starting battery (N70ZZ) and aux (N70T deep cycle) both die just outside of the warranty period. I can probably blame myself for the failure of the aux because as you say, the deep cycle battery needs regular discharge and recharge which mine was not getting. Still, I was not happy about having to replace either of them so close to the warranty expiry date.

I had a talk to a bloke at Battery World here in Darwin and he recommended the Supercharge MF95D31R as a good trouble free starting battery. He told me that a lot of the fishos were using them as they handle the hard knocks better than other cost comparable brands. Although he did not come straight out and say so, I got the impression that he thought Yuasa were somewhat over rated compared to some other brands.

Diesel1
AnswerID: 47415

Follow Up By: Diesel1 - Friday, Feb 20, 2004 at 08:27

Friday, Feb 20, 2004 at 08:27
Willem - I forgot to mention that I carried out a post mortem on the failed N70ZZ and the guts had vibrated to pieces. I put this down to the fact that I spend more time driving on corrugated dirt roads than I do on the bitumen.

I think this is something everybody should consider when looking to replace a battery, especially those who opt for the cheaper units - will it handle the constant vibrations of outback corrugated roads?

Diesel1
0
FollowupID: 309394

Follow Up By: Member - Eskimo - Friday, Feb 20, 2004 at 14:13

Friday, Feb 20, 2004 at 14:13
I believe boat batteries have extra supports for the plates or at least thats what I have been led to believeWow, am I cute! The extra long legs are built-in prevention against ducks disease. Great looks and a real goer. Doesnt waddle along like some.
0
FollowupID: 309430

Follow Up By: Willem - Friday, Feb 20, 2004 at 20:24

Friday, Feb 20, 2004 at 20:24
Thanks Diesel I will check out the Supercharge. Anything that can bounce around in a tinnie out in the Arafura Sea should be a good battery.

How is Darwin. Spent 20 years of my life up there. Now it isa just as hoy here in the deep south. We are waiting for a cool change tonight.

CheersWillem
Out on the Gibber
0
FollowupID: 309461

Follow Up By: Diesel1 - Saturday, Feb 21, 2004 at 09:48

Saturday, Feb 21, 2004 at 09:48
Willem,

We've had a good wet season up here - plenty of run-off and a lot of big fish around at the moment - some absolutely monster jewies being pulled in at Leaders Creek.

Darwin is changing at a rapid pace and the wife & myself are thinking that it's time to head down the track a bit to try and escape all the crap that so called 'progress' has dumped on the area - too much crime at the moment and it gets worse by the day.

Diesel1
0
FollowupID: 309505

Follow Up By: Willem - Saturday, Feb 21, 2004 at 17:34

Saturday, Feb 21, 2004 at 17:34
G'day Diesel1,

I arrived in Darwin at the beginning of the wet season in 1968 and just loved the place. Moved there and back around Oz a number of times but the bulk of my living in Darwin was from'77 to '92. After the cyclone, life had changed and by the early eighties I nearly had a seizure when I saw pollies wearing ties. I spent some time in Batchelor and Adelaide River over our stay up north and finally moved south to Alice Springs at the middle of 92. We pushed off from Alice in mid 95 and went on the wallaby till end '99 when we settled here in Peterborough SA(cheap housing then).

Darwin has had its ups and downs development wise and I was involved in a lot of development projects in ther early '80's. I was also one of those responsible for the development of Hidden Valley Motor Sports Complex and especially in the 4x4 area. I was fortunate enough to visit a lot of places in the Territory in my time up there and had enormous fun in the 4x4 club scene on hair raising waterlogged trips in the wet seasons.

I do feel that the rush for development has spoiled the wildness and the casualness of the Top End but I have fond memories of my time up north and no regrets.

After the age of 50 the heat becomes a bugger to contend with and so the time to depart from the tropics finally arrived.

Cheers,Willem
Little Dip Cons Park S.A.
0
FollowupID: 309546

Reply By: Mick - Friday, Feb 20, 2004 at 09:20

Friday, Feb 20, 2004 at 09:20
Seeing i build the outback battery chargers, i thought id put my 2 cents in!
Cranking batteries are probably the best thing to have as a second battery these days, or an AGM with a fast charge rate if you can afford them.
A standard n7oz will usually always last 2to2.1/2 years with a few corrugated road trips, but the technology is getting better and cheaper.
Deep cycles, as was mentioned earlier need a constant discharge and recharge, but not many battery stores tell you that after discharging down to 20% capacity, it may take several days to fully revive.
A cranking or agm will recharge, especially with our outback chargers! in about 1 or 2 hours, which is what you want when your sitting next to a billabongdropping a line!
AnswerID: 47417

Follow Up By: D-Jack - Friday, Feb 20, 2004 at 11:23

Friday, Feb 20, 2004 at 11:23
Mick,
I am one of those persons who uses the aux once a year on a longer trip, then a couple of 4-5 dayers and a couple of weekends away. does that mean I should be keeping my Engel in the truck and turning it on every week to make sure the aux is discharged regularly? Does it need to be completely discharged or will 1/2 empty be OK?

D-Jack
0
FollowupID: 309407

Follow Up By: Mick - Friday, Feb 20, 2004 at 11:45

Friday, Feb 20, 2004 at 11:45
If its a deep cycle your using as the second battery, then you should hook up something that will discharge the battery from time to time, such as your stereo, or driving lights etc..
Im guessing You also would have some sort of charging device under your bonnet, which will recharge it whilst driving
0
FollowupID: 309408

Follow Up By: Mad Dog Morgan (Geelong) - Friday, Feb 20, 2004 at 13:16

Friday, Feb 20, 2004 at 13:16
Jack, don't completly flatten the battery, doing so will shorten its life. 1/2 flat is ample exercise. BEAM ME UP SCOTTY


Hooroo
Ray
0
FollowupID: 309421

Reply By: sean - Friday, Feb 20, 2004 at 23:51

Friday, Feb 20, 2004 at 23:51
I use exide extremes and kill them after 2 years by running them FLAT with the fridge. They just dont like it. Just replaced the KMart battery in wifes commador after 5 years.

I really just dont know what is best but at aroudn 120 bucks, the exides are not too bad.

I recently did a bit of research adn found to my surprise that the Hawker Odyssey is a battery to be avoided. Run one flat and chances your will not be able to recharge it. Definately not for fourbies. If you and considering one of these as I did, best to do the research. and then I think you will not buy. These batteries could cost your life if your life depends on it.

Sean
AnswerID: 47487

Reply By: -OzyGuy- - Sunday, Feb 22, 2004 at 18:44

Sunday, Feb 22, 2004 at 18:44
For a crank battery I use a 700cca K Mart battery, and for an auxiliary I use a pair of Delkor gel 80 a/h Deep Cycle batteries wired in parallel, with no hassles.
When they are not used for a long period I leave them on a 10 amp charger with a trickle facility and switched to the Gel cycle.
A lot of battery problems are maybe associated with the wireing and the lack of servicing.
As for winching you should winch only from the crank battery, with the altinator working to supply the extra power required, as already stated Deep Cycle batteries are not suitable for that type of usage as they are designed for low power draws over a long period of time eg the Fridge.
AnswerID: 47605

Sponsored Links