How freaking hard can it be buying a car battery???

[vtchequers]

As per title.

We have EFB, AGM, Gel, Calcium and Calcium silver. Have I left any out? Does anyone want to add to my headache?
We have Start-Stop batteries.
There's Budget, Normal, Heavy Duty, Extra Heavy Duty.
Batteries dependant on engine size.

And as for charging them up, when the need arises!!

All I want is a battery to replace my failing car battery for a Chrysler Voyager 1.5 dirty diesel. Do you really need to keep Calcium batteries above 14.07v?

[trickywoo]

Just buy the one with the longest guarantee for the amount you want to pay.

[Bennet]

Nowadays, lots of them seem to need to be "coded to the car" as well.
So you can't just swap them yourself.

If I were trying to find a battery for your Voyager though, I'd just go on to Eurocar parts, insert the reg, and see what they are recommending for your car.

Quick cross check with the manual before you buy, and all should be well...

[Haltamer]

If it doesn't matter, and doesn't have stop-start, Anything about the right shape and similar numbers would work.

If you have stop start, or otherwise care, I'd opt for an AGM. Most expensive, but better than EFB etc. - Job jobbed.

[Krikkit]

Bennet said:

Nowadays, lots of them seem to need to be "coded to the car" as well.
So you can't just swap them yourself.

Only some AGM/stop start batts, even then I'd often question the need for it.

Personally I'd go to Halfords and get them to fit one. It'll be a few quid more than ordering online, but it's easier.

[captain haddock]

vtchequers said:

As per title.

We have EFB, AGM, Gel, Calcium and Calcium silver. Have I left any out? Does anyone want to add to my headache?
We have Start-Stop batteries.
There's Budget, Normal, Heavy Duty, Extra Heavy Duty.
Batteries dependant on engine size.

And as for charging them up, when the need arises!!

All I want is a battery to replace my failing car battery for a Chrysler Voyager 1.5 dirty diesel. Do you really need to keep Calcium batteries above 14.07v?

You'll find that quite frequently heavy/extra heavy/superturbomegaheavy duty batteries differ by not much more than a label.

EFBs (Enhanced Flooded Battery) are generally a step above most standard units but still aren't really cut out for start/stop applications despite them claiming so but due to some clever rejigging of plate design they do kick out quite a decent starting current.

AGM (Absorbent Glass Mat) batteries are pretty much the dogs danglies for starting batteries. By using a glass fibre matting between the plates to hold electrolyte the batteries can pack in a whole shedload more plates into a case than a flooded battery so things like starting current and cyclic capacity are greatly improved.

Gel batteries are deep cycling batteries not starting batteries, ignore these unless you want a service battery for a caravan or boat or similar. In which case if your budget stretches to a gel battery then that is what you want.

Calcium/Silver-Calcium batteries are standard fare these days. Unless you are looking at classic car, hard rubber case batteries then just about everything you find will be a silver-calcium battery.


As for charging, there are as many options as you can think of but the best kit I've ever worked with are the CTek chargers, particularly the MXS 5.0. Those things are every level of idiot and bomb proof and they'll do everything you need them to without you needing to muck about with anything. Just plug it in, connect it up and walk away.
Charging voltage can peak at around 14 volts with most chargers but when fully charged a car type battery will settle to between 12.6 and 13 volts.

Unfortunately, when it comes to sizing, there are a few dozen different sizes and shapes in use currently dependent on vehicle and the registration is not guaranteed to get you the right battery.
To make matters slightly worse for you, the Chrysler Voyages is a sod of a vehicle to get right, it could be one of five (I think) different types. Your best bet is to take your existing unit to wherever you'll be getting a new one from and asking for them to match it. It's also worth exploring the availability of an AGM battery if you don't have one already as some models of Voyages were chronically underpowered in the battery department.

Apologies for the long winded post, I spent several years working for a battery firm and subsequently it's a bit of a pet subject...

[dhutch]

vtchequers said:

All I want is a battery to replace my failing car battery for a Chrysler Voyager 1.5 dirty diesel.

1) Reg into eurocarparts, pick battery from list, apply discount code, checkout.
2) Reg into halfords, pick battery from list, checkout, compare price with the above (or ring for price if you have a trade card)
3) Click and collect from whichever if cheaper for the same thing.


Sorted?

[ElectricSoup]

I use tayna.co.uk. Great outfit, very knowledgeable and helpful.

[Chris32345]

Tanya batter or battery mega store both good online outfits




Something I'll never get is why more manufacturers don't have a capacitor bank along side the main batteries for start stop
Takes a lot of the brunt away for m the main batteries in these situations

[tumble dryer]

captain haddock said:

You'll find that quite frequently heavy/extra heavy/superturbomegaheavy duty batteries differ by not much more than a label.

EFBs (Enhanced Flooded Battery) are generally a step above most standard units but still aren't really cut out for start/stop applications despite them claiming so but due to some clever rejigging of plate design they do kick out quite a decent starting current.

AGM (Absorbent Glass Mat) batteries are pretty much the dogs danglies for starting batteries. By using a glass fibre matting between the plates to hold electrolyte the batteries can pack in a whole shedload more plates into a case than a flooded battery so things like starting current and cyclic capacity are greatly improved.

Gel batteries are deep cycling batteries not starting batteries, ignore these unless you want a service battery for a caravan or boat or similar. In which case if your budget stretches to a gel battery then that is what you want.

Calcium/Silver-Calcium batteries are standard fare these days. Unless you are looking at classic car, hard rubber case batteries then just about everything you find will be a silver-calcium battery.


As for charging, there are as many options as you can think of but the best kit I've ever worked with are the CTek chargers, particularly the MXS 5.0. Those things are every level of idiot and bomb proof and they'll do everything you need them to without you needing to muck about with anything. Just plug it in, connect it up and walk away.
Charging voltage can peak at around 14 volts with most chargers but when fully charged a car type battery will settle to between 12.6 and 13 volts.

Unfortunately, when it comes to sizing, there are a few dozen different sizes and shapes in use currently dependent on vehicle and the registration is not guaranteed to get you the right battery.
To make matters slightly worse for you, the Chrysler Voyages is a sod of a vehicle to get right, it could be one of five (I think) different types. Your best bet is to take your existing unit to wherever you'll be getting a new one from and asking for them to match it. It's also worth exploring the availability of an AGM battery if you don't have one already as some models of Voyages were chronically underpowered in the battery department.

Apologies for the long winded post, I spent several years working for a battery firm and subsequently it's a bit of a pet subject...

Every so often you come across a post that just perfectly informs on a subject you (I) knew little about.

Thank you Sir, excellent post!