re best Battery?

[Wilder]

I tried the search, but theres next to nothing coming up, though Im sure this has been well covered in the past.
My Odyssey PC625 (replacement) has been in the car since December 08.
Im not impressed as its never seemed great at turning the engine over, and its showing on a meter as needing to be replaced.
It simply does not have the capacity to run a big V8 with lights etc.
The problem is there dont seem to be many out there that will fit into the compartment (I measured an available space of 11 x 5 inches).
Its the battery thickness thats the problem.
I know the Varley red top 60 will fit, but are there any other batteries better than the Odyssey that will fit in there?
Maybe a modification is possible, but Im short of time so any advice would be appreciated. I cant have the car stop & then not be able to start it.

Edited by Wilder on Thursday 9th July 20:32

[GTRCLIVE]

There is a Narrow Optima Battery that Jeff Fitted to his car in the USA.
Email him......

[GTWayne]

I have a large Optima battery fitted in the passenger foot well under a navigators footrest

[MarkWebb]

I have an odyssey extreme 40 arriving tomorrow. 250L X 97W X 206H 500CCA (cold crank amps) compared to 265 for the 625. Yes it is bigger but much more capable than what is a jet ski battery after all!!!
My 625 is kaput after 350 miles due to previous owner leaving alarm to flatten battery. Always leave ctek charger connected when not driving car.
Cheaper than red top who are based just down the road from me but who will not supply me direct.

Edited by MarkWebb on Thursday 9th July 21:13

[DHGTR]

MarkWebb said:

I have an odyssey extreme 40 arriving tomorrow. 250L X 97W X 206H 500CCA (cold crank amps) compared to 265 for the 625. Yes it is bigger but much more capable than what is a jet ski battery after all!!!
My 625 is kaput after 350 miles due to previous owner leaving alarm to flatten battery. Always leave ctek charger connected when not driving car.
Cheaper than red top who are based just down the road from me but who will not supply me direct.

Edited by MarkWebb on Thursday 9th July 21:13

Shouldnt we be able to leave the car for a week or two not connected to a battery charger, even with an alarm in the car - hardly a big drain.

I went on holiday for a week, forgot to connect my ctek - flat battery when i got back, not even enough to pop the door solenoids.

I'm at exactly the same point as Wilder, i just dont have the confidence in the 625 but what to replace with?

[Wilder]

There is one I found..its exactly the same dimensions as the Red Top, and it seems a bit of a beast.

- Voltage 12 volts
- 2618 peak amps
- 1400 amps pulse current
- 51 amp/hour capacity
- Rally,Motorsport, 4 x 4

Specification:
- 12 volt
- 51amp/hour at C20 rate
- 2618 peak amps
- 1400 amps cranking current for 5 seconds
- Dimensions: length 220mm, width 121mm, height 260mm
- Weight 17.5Kg
- Terminals M6 male
- Operating temp range -40c to +50c


http://www.powervampracing.com/detail.asp?ID=27

I like the idea of fitting a bigger battery behind the navigators footrest. It does seem the best place to locate one, and the only place if you do want a bigger battery.

Edited by Wilder on Thursday 9th July 21:50

[Alan 2]

Wilder said:

There is one I found..its exactly the same dimensions as the Red Top, and it seems a bit of a beast.

http://www.powervampracing.com/detail.asp?ID=27

I like the idea of fitting a bigger battery behind the navigators footrest. It does seem the best place to locate one, and the only place if you do want a bigger battery.

Edited by Wilder on Thursday 9th July 21:50

This is a Red Top 60 in a different colour scheme. I've had a Red Top 60 in my "Sports" for over 8 years now and it's still as good as new. With 1400 amps cranking current it will easily spin my 350 ci Chevy over, even in the depths of winter. The secret with Red Top batteries is to always keep them on charge if you're not using the car. Never allow them to become fully discharged. I use a 3 stage trickle charger and after a run, connecting the charger to the battery is the first thing I do when the car goes into the garage. The battery will fit comfortably in the usual place and doesn't need to go behind the passengers footrest but it is very heavy.

[ROWDYRENAULT]

I have a pc925. It is located in the normal posistion but with a 1 inch piece of maple under it to get the forward pointing terminals above the steering reck. Its been in for 20 months no problems so far. Lee

[andygtt]

fit the original red top... I had a year and half of never worrying that the car wouldnt start and it turned over even if i left it for weeks... I also never trickle charge any of my cars.

After I acidentally ran the battery totally empty I replaced with the new little battery they now offer and it frustated the hell out of me that after a wekk it wouldnt start etc... I went back to the red top.

[San Diego GTR]

I've been running the TP-1200 for about a year now and it works great. It barely fits into the standard location but it fits.
The TP-1200 Total Power Racing Battery

Ideal for Off Road, Sand Cars, Circle Track, Drag Racing, SCCA
· 12 - Volt Heavy Duty - AGM Construction
· Cranking Amps: 1200 CCA: 700
· Weight: 24
· Dimensions: 7.75" Length (x) 5.25" Width (x) 6.875" Tall
· Amp/Hrs @ C/20 Rate: 36
· Battery Group # - U1
Paul

http://www.totalpower-racingbatteries.com/batterys...

Edited by San Diego GTR on Saturday 11th July 14:59

[MarkWebb]

A lot of you guys probably already know this but for any that don't.
If you have any parasitic drain on your battery at all ie Alarm, stereo memory etc and you leave the car long enough to flatten the battery completely. The battery will be ruined no matter what type it is. If you have a big battery it will just take longer to discharge completely but it will still be ruined.
However leaving a normal battery charger connected continually will also destroy the battery. The only chargers which can be left connected all the time are 3 stage ones the likes of ctek etc.
Ctek also supply a permanent connection socket which can be hard wired into the car and which includes 3 leds to show the charge state of the battery. Odyssey and Red top are some of the easiest to ruin.

[GTRMikie]

MarkWebb said:

Ctek also supply a permanent connection socket which can be hard wired into the car and which includes 3 leds to show the charge state of the battery.

Sounds exactly like my Optimate, which has kept my Red Top "going" for nine years now.

[Wilder]

Ok, done a bit of research on this and Im going for the yellow top Optima battery.
This fits nicely in the space provided, and the normal price is around £170.
If you want a better deal then Longton Batteries of Preston can order this and just about any other other battery. Just mention Pistonheads when enquiriing and the owner Alan has promised

all PHers quoting Piston heads will receive trade prices - irrespective of the car or model they are enquiring about.

Now for the part that makes me sick... Alan will sell you the same battery as I bought for £170 ex delivery

Optima Yellow Top
YT S 2.7 R (Reversed)
(8073-176)
(D51R) YTS2.7R YTR

for approx £130 delivered (may be a couple of pounds cheaper or dearer - dependant upon your post code (mainland UK should be cheaper than £130).

Call 01772 731953 phone/Fax
or 07860 846456

Stig, Shall I post this as a seperate piece of information, as it can then be made a sticky perhaps?

Edited by Wilder on Wednesday 15th July 17:41

[DHGTR]

Jonathon,

How is the 'yellow top' getting on in the car?

dave

[Wilder]

Hi, its a lot more grunt and my problem was actually the starter motor.
Since fitting, its been faultless.
Glad I changed though , as the Oddysey is actually a jet ski battery designed for 750cc engines I believe.

[DHGTR]

Have you had to modify anything to get the battery in the same position? Can you leave the yellow top for a week without having to charge it?

[spatz]

yes must admit that the battery makes me thinking too after my first 200kms in the car.
When cranking I always get the impression that it is just enough to get the engine turned and really sounds like
it could stop doing so after the first piston movement.
Really no confidence in this.
So the Optima Red Tops have more current capability ?

[DHGTR]

Hi Spatz
i believe that is correct. They also do the yellow top which is a better deep cycle capability and almost as much cranking power. If you have a look on the Optima website it gives you all the details.
Be careful, these batteries are bigger than the odyssey so you will have to measure your space carefully.

Dave

[Wilder]

The yellow top drops straight in without any modification.
You just have to take the strap out and reposition it.

[spatz]

I checked the dims of the red top and yellow top it seems like the YT S 2,7 or R 2,7 can fit.
the red tops are all a minimum of 172 mm deep which I think is not fitting in an ultima unless
somebody can confirm that he has one in his car. The nice thing about these is that they are 50 AH
and the YT 2,7 is only 38 AH.
So the one that drops in is probably the YT 2,7 ?