"rca rating" on batteries

Submitted: Sunday, Sep 21, 2008 at 21:38

ThreadID: 61899 Views:4366 Replies:2 FollowUps:5

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Battery Power

In this article we explain why you might need an additional power source independent of the starting battery installed into your vehicle and we look in detail at types of batteries,

Steve

I've just inherited a Supercharge N70ZZ 160minutes RCA 660cca battery with a new (used) caravan, but it means nothing to me in terms of amp hours. Can somebody enlighten me? It appears to be a conventional starter battery but I've no idea how long it'll keep the the amber nectar cold for.

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Reply By: Member - AJB (VIC) - Sunday, Sep 21, 2008 at 21:52

Sunday, Sep 21, 2008 at 21:52

What is the "amber liquid" in? A three way fridge in the van? If so they are very power hungry and in-efficient on 12v so you'll have better luck with a block of ice and an esky!
CCA stands for "cold cranking amps" so it is a starter battery and best suited for that application. I think the 160 RCA is something like Reserve Capacity which means it can power some items for a short period. Someone else will en-lighten us on this.
Anyway unless the beer is in a compressor type fridge (engel/waeco)which are relatively efficient or an esky it'll get warm.

AnswerID: 326492

Follow Up By: Steve - Sunday, Sep 21, 2008 at 21:59

Sunday, Sep 21, 2008 at 21:59

actually, I have a 70L compressor fridge in the car - and that's where it stays with reserve stocks and other goodies. I'm aware of the applications of three way fridges and compressor types as I've used both for donkey's years. I know the 160 minutes refers to how long the car will run (on average) once the alternator has died but it still doesn't tell me in terms of a/hours, and what usage this rating is based upon and more to the point, what use I will be able to get from it.

FollowupID: 593598

Follow Up By: Member - Phil G (SA) - Sunday, Sep 21, 2008 at 23:07

Sunday, Sep 21, 2008 at 23:07

Steve,
If the battery was in as-new condition, you can call it about 70Ah. It should run that fridge overnight and into the next day, but I'd guess you'd be struggling to get a second night out of it.

FollowupID: 593607

Follow Up By: Ianw - Sunday, Sep 21, 2008 at 23:15

Sunday, Sep 21, 2008 at 23:15

Reserve capacity is theoretically the amount of time that a battery can provide power (25 Amps) to the vehicle without recharging.

160 mins = 2.6 hrs x 25 Amps = 65 A/hrs

So maybe 30 A/hrs useable?

Ian

FollowupID: 593612

Follow Up By: Member - Phil G (SA) - Monday, Sep 22, 2008 at 08:53

Monday, Sep 22, 2008 at 08:53

Ian,
If you allow for the Peukert effect, and a temperature of 26.7degreesC, I reckon it would be 70Ah :-)))

I reckon the only way to know in Steve's case (used battery, big fridge) is to try it and see.

FollowupID: 593628

Follow Up By: Steve - Monday, Sep 22, 2008 at 11:28

Monday, Sep 22, 2008 at 11:28

aaaaaah no! Not the Peukert effect again ;)

thanks guys - that's all I wanted. It's not all that critical tbh as I have two good agm batteries plus a conventional deep cycle as well as this "starting" battery. Coupled with 200w of solar and a gennie, we should be ok. Just wanted to know where I stood with this as I'm just coming to terms with the "new" van. The battery looks almost new and even though it's not what I would've chosen, I'm not gonna chuck it out for that reason.

Thanks again.

FollowupID: 593651