Outback - largest battery replacement

fredsub · Post by **fredsub** » Wed Jan 09, 2008 3:47 pm

Seems I need to replace the OBW battery in a hurry.....can anyone let me know what big bad ass battery will be able to fit, other than standard, which I guess isn't too bad, but.....

vincentvega · Post by **vincentvega** » Wed Jan 09, 2008 5:08 pm

drive it into a battery world or similar and see what they can squeeze in there

Jack · Post by **Jack** » Wed Jan 09, 2008 5:52 pm

I've got a larger than OEM battery in my Outback, but needed to also fit a larger battery tray. The battery fits okay - even has a bit of space (~ 20mm) for clearance from the body and engine.

GS Yuasa 68

http://www.gsyuasabatteries.com.au/file ... 0Sheet.pdf

AlpineRaven · Post by **AlpineRaven** » Wed Jan 09, 2008 6:11 pm

How come you need bigger battery?
Cheers
AP

Post by **Alex** » Wed Jan 09, 2008 6:17 pm

get a bosch gold. Ive got one in both my wagon and liberty. AWESOME battery for the price. I can run my stereo all day long and it wont even hesitate to crank over.

alex

Jack · Post by **Jack** » Wed Jan 09, 2008 7:07 pm

AlpineRaven wrote:How come you need bigger battery?
Cheers
AP

We wanted a battery that would comfortably power common camping items (light, radio, etc) for an overnight stop, and still have enough juice to crank the engine.

Went and spoke to a few auto elecs, and some battery world people about what we wanted to run, and the general consensus was that a larger cranking battery (one fitted with thicker than standard plates) would meet our needs.

We did consider keeping the standard size battery and run a portable AGM battery in the cargo area (removeable battery box), but given that we don't use a 12 volt fridge it's overkill - and a more expensive option.

vincentvega · Post by **vincentvega** » Wed Jan 09, 2008 7:38 pm

I did the same thing in my lib, i have a marine starting battery thats almost twice the size of the stock battery. I have only once had to be jump started, and that was after 10hrs straight of my carPC + big stereo running

AlpineRaven · Post by **AlpineRaven** » Wed Jan 09, 2008 8:40 pm

Jack wrote:We wanted a battery that would comfortably power common camping items (light, radio, etc) for an overnight stop, and still have enough juice to crank the engine.

Went and spoke to a few auto elecs, and some battery world people about what we wanted to run, and the general consensus was that a larger cranking battery (one fitted with thicker than standard plates) would meet our needs.

We did consider keeping the standard size battery and run a portable AGM battery in the cargo area (removeable battery box), but given that we don't use a 12 volt fridge it's overkill - and a more expensive option.

Fair enough yeah no worries. For me i don't have a good reason for a bigger battery.
Cheers
AP

fredsub · Post by **fredsub** » Wed Jan 09, 2008 8:55 pm

Thanks fellas for the suggestions, i suppose best would be to just roll up to battery world, they have century batteries which are good.

Big battery means could probably run the fridge for 6-8hours with confidence or running the laptop....without the extra effort of a dual battery setup.

SUBYDAZZ · Post by **SUBYDAZZ** » Wed Jan 09, 2008 9:11 pm

AlpineRaven wrote:How come you need bigger battery?

Because you ALWAYS need a bigger one

Jack · Post by **Jack** » Wed Jan 09, 2008 9:22 pm

lol

I was gonna write that I fitted a bigger battery because I've got a little penis, but thought that may have been a bit uncouth for this forum.

Matatak · Post by **Matatak** » Wed Jan 09, 2008 9:55 pm

Jack wrote:lol

I was gonna write that I fitted a bigger battery because I've got a little penis, but thought that may have been a bit uncouth for this forum.

hahahahahah but u wrote it neways

Suby Wan Kenobi · Post by **Suby Wan Kenobi** » Wed Jan 09, 2008 10:05 pm

I have a battery by the "Amron" brand, they are an Indian battery but i have had a good run with these batteries before. In my Liberty im running one of 580CCA that fits in there nicely

Subyroo · Post by **Subyroo** » Wed Jan 09, 2008 10:18 pm

I put an Optima Red Top in my 01 RX Liberty back in 2000 and it is still alive in my 03 XS Forester but if you are running Audio setups or fridges etc then go the Deep Cycle Yellow Top, 7 yrs is a good run for your money.

Suby Roo · Post by **Suby Roo** » Wed Jan 09, 2008 10:56 pm

Im running a n70zz battery in mine. 4WD or light truck. Runs the stereo for a day easily then will start first go.

Jack · Post by **Jack** » Wed Jan 09, 2008 11:05 pm

>>> Subyroo and Suby Roo

Are you a couple?

discopotato03 · Post by **discopotato03** » Thu Jan 10, 2008 7:44 am

A little exy but really a diode switch and a second battery (deep cycle) is the nice way to do it .
On the cheap I suppose you could run two batteries and have a isolator of some sort to keep one for starting .
You just have to be a bit careful about running a lead acid battery completly flat because the plates sulphate up and they won't accept a charge .
The issue with one battery even a large one is that once its flat its flat .

LOL buy a manual and camp on a hill ?

Cheers A .

SUBYDAZZ · Post by **SUBYDAZZ** » Thu Jan 10, 2008 9:12 am

I just took a couple of measurements with a tape measure and had a browse at what was on offer when I did mine. Just went for the highest CCA & RC I could find that would physically fit. When going for a larger battery I have found that they are likely to last a lot longer than what a standard battery should also. THey say 3-4 years is normal for a battery, but for my last one I got over 6 years (in 2 different cars).

Bear in mind 3 points though:

The terminals may be a different size than standard (not hard to adapt to)

Take into account the height of the terminals, not just the battery itself.

There are several configurations of terminal location, make sure they're going to fit your leads (again, not too hard to fix)

vincentvega · Post by **vincentvega** » Thu Jan 10, 2008 10:56 am

I think the only reason you get longer life out of larger batteries is because even when they are stuffed, and only at say 50% capacity, thats still more than enough to start your car.

My marine battery is about 4 years old, and I amsure its on its way out. You can see the plates are erroded looking inside it and there is lots of crap floating around ikn the electrolyte.

That said, it starts the car fine since its such overkill.

I think it will be relocated to my boat soon, so a new one can find its way into the car before i head west next year

also a tip for Gen1 guys - Jap Gen1 / Gen2 run a larger battery (for the snow) that has a larger battery tray. This fits perfet in Gen1. I fitted this tray then filled it with as much battery as possible

Suby Wan Kenobi · Post by **Suby Wan Kenobi** » Thu Jan 10, 2008 11:34 pm

vincentvega wrote: I think it will be relocated to my boat soon, so a new one can find its way into the car before i head west next year

Are you already planning for 2009?