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New Battery - Recommendations??

Posted: Sat Feb 02, 2008 6:59 pm
by vincentvega
My battery needs replacing and I am after some opinions on what to get.

I currently have an exide stowaway marine ST460 which is a vibration resistant combination deep cycle / starting battery. It has been excellent and I have only managed to flatten it once (running the car stereo and PC for 10hrs)

Its lasted me 3 1/2 years which is pretty awesome, but now it seems to have collapsed. Its dimensions are 228 x 174 x 215 and i wouldnt fit any bigger in there.

I am happy enough to go get another one unless you guys have other ideas? This battery does starting duties and runs my stereo / accessories. I will be getting a second deep cycle battery for running my fridge.

Posted: Sat Feb 02, 2008 7:42 pm
by fredsub
check this one http://www.gsyuasabatteries.com.au/file ... 0Sheet.pdf

its got stamped on it made in Australia, so hmm, wouldn't surprise me if it is actually made by exide?? How many battery factories are there in Aus anyway?couldn't be too many?
258Lx170Wx225H
18.76kg
I'm sure that is the max size batt you possibly get to install to a OBW, but so I don't know how much space you lib has....

Posted: Sat Feb 02, 2008 8:07 pm
by vincentvega
how much are they? I paid $120 for the exide

Posted: Sat Feb 02, 2008 8:15 pm
by fredsub
$239 at Battery World. pricey yes, had no time to look elsewhere,who else might sell them?

Posted: Sat Feb 02, 2008 8:22 pm
by foxx510
Where are people getting the bigger battery trays? I jammed a N50 into my OBW, but need a bigger tray.

Posted: Sat Feb 02, 2008 8:29 pm
by Outback bloke
Dane, once you work out what you want let me know. I get pretty good prices from Battery World. Or come for a spin tomorrow and I will take you down to him (local) and get you one.

Posted: Sat Feb 02, 2008 8:31 pm
by vincentvega
Thanks Brett. Might come up for a spin tomorrow

Posted: Sat Feb 02, 2008 9:02 pm
by Subyroo
Go for an Optima Yellow Top Deep Cycle, I've had an Optima Red Top (starter only) for 7yrs and it's still going strong in the Forester.

They are a gel filled battery so no problems with plates buckling or deteriorating and they will recharge to 100% whereas the standard lead acid batteries are lucky to get too 80% from a couple of sites I visited a fair while back.

Optima

Posted: Sat Feb 02, 2008 9:26 pm
by brumbyrunner
I cannot find anything better than the Excide Orbital but at $400+ you have to be keen. I only have one and I can't kill it wheras I can't get more than 3 years out of an Optima.

Posted: Sat Feb 02, 2008 10:41 pm
by vincentvega
like i said... i got 3 1/2 yrs from my exide marine, i think i will stick with its $120 price tag ;)

I have read those orbitals are excellent but a little more than i want to spend

Posted: Sun Feb 03, 2008 10:06 am
by Xtreme_RX
Dane,
I run a Supercharge MRV Start/Deep cycle battery. Its a calcium cell battery.Very good battery for a 10" case you would be looking at approx $195.

Posted: Sun Feb 03, 2008 7:27 pm
by SUBYDAZZ
vincentvega wrote:My battery needs replacing and I am after some opinions on what to get.
Is this battery in your person ( CEU - Cyborg Energy Unit) or in your car? :rolleyes:

Seriously though, I've found the Super Charge brand to be very good and there a a multitude of sizes and capacities. I got 6 years out of my last one, but I don't give it much of a hard time either.

Posted: Sun Feb 03, 2008 10:59 pm
by brumbyrunner
I run Supercharge in all my trucks and staff vehicles.
Get at least 2 years from them if they're looked after.

Posted: Sun Feb 03, 2008 11:08 pm
by vincentvega
damn it, i have been hiding the fact that im a cyborg all these years and you finally figured it out dazz

Posted: Mon Feb 04, 2008 10:11 am
by SUBYDAZZ
I knew it! :)

Posted: Mon Feb 04, 2008 11:41 am
by Wilbur
Xtreme_RX wrote:Dane,
I run a Supercharge MRV Start/Deep cycle battery. Its a calcium cell battery.Very good battery for a 10" case you would be looking at approx $195.


Fark, I'm too cheap. Is that the MRV48 ?

I run two 12inch case size (MRV70) for aux power (woo hoo 210amp hours) and a classic for cranking. There are better but they are also more $$. Plus we are supercharge agents :mrgreen:

Posted: Thu Feb 07, 2008 1:47 pm
by vincentvega
ended up buying another ST460 Exide Marine. Unfortunately the terminals are on the wrong side of the MRV48 otherwise i would have gone that way for sure.

$150 these days... inflation i guess

Posted: Thu Feb 07, 2008 2:55 pm
by Wilbur
Yep. The price of lead has gone up something like 800% in 18 months.

Posted: Sat Feb 09, 2008 10:29 pm
by El_Freddo
Subyroo wrote:standard lead acid batteries are lucky to get too 80%
This would explain why my "new" bond battery with the funky little charge indicator has never seen the green (battery fully charged) since its first week in the car. Its two years old now and goes flat every 3 days when left to sit - although i think this may be the car's doing.

I'm not getting a battery like that one again. It cost 110 and i'm willing to pay extra for a better/longer lasting battery next time round...
A mate of mine has a "competition stereo" battery that he got off the net - $550 including postage. Its been sitting on his bedroom floor for 6 months without a recharge and ran a car stereo, amp and 2 lounge room entertainment speaker stands for 12 hours and only lost .5 volts. It was crazy and weighs 35kg! If i was to fit it in the L the only spot would be on the right hand side if i removed my air box and the "random" plate that's there too.

Cheers

Bennie

PS never thought about getting a marine battery - the number of rubes i've seen underwater (subarino comes to mind) would warrant a marine battery ;)

Posted: Sun Feb 10, 2008 8:35 am
by brumbyrunner
El_Freddo wrote:It's 2 years old now and goes flat every 3 days when left to sit - although i think this may be the car's doing.
Try disconecting one of the battery terminals when you let the car sit for 3 days. No point putting a new battery in there if you have a power drain problem. Fix that first. If it still doesn't start after 3 days you'll know it's the batt.