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Read the WELCOME ALL BMWFANATICS post.
Correct Battery Size
- Thread starter essop1@gp
- Start date
XMAX
///Member
I would use an Optima Red Top, or Yellow Top. Both Excellent Batteries.
Whats really important is aH (ampere hour) and the cca (cold cranking amperage). the higher the better as long as theyre 12V batteries.
there arent really any downsides to having a bigger battery than required other than a physical size difference. the bigger batteries (more powerful) mean that the battery will last longer when not being charged by the alternator.
having a smaller battery is a bad thing cos it could mean that the battery will not start your car as it doesnt have enough cranking capability. this also means that the battery will run down quicker.
best is to find a battery that will fit best in your car.
I personally love the Optima Range of batteries. Theyre durable, long lasting, superb cranking, and look cool. They are pretty expensive though. Last I checked, the Red Tops were going for around R2.5k.
Another favourite battery of mine is the Deltec Range of batteries. Also great batteries. Better than the Sabats / Willards / Raylites or similar. Not as expensive as the Optima, actually slightly more expensive than the usual batteries. Personally, I think that theyre worth the slight difference in price.
In my past I was a SPL competitor with my Corsa. I had various batteries in my car. I had Willards, Sabats, Deltecs, Optimas, Kinetik, and Northstar. I found that the Deltecs and the Optimas were the best automotive batteries.
These were my personal experience. I trust Deltec and Optima. You can google Deltec Power, and you will be able to find a dealer near you.
p.s. Deltec batteries are not made locally. They are made by Delphi in France. Deltec stands for Delphi Technologies, as branded by the South African Distributor. Deltec Power also stock Optima Batteries.
Whats really important is aH (ampere hour) and the cca (cold cranking amperage). the higher the better as long as theyre 12V batteries.
there arent really any downsides to having a bigger battery than required other than a physical size difference. the bigger batteries (more powerful) mean that the battery will last longer when not being charged by the alternator.
having a smaller battery is a bad thing cos it could mean that the battery will not start your car as it doesnt have enough cranking capability. this also means that the battery will run down quicker.
best is to find a battery that will fit best in your car.
I personally love the Optima Range of batteries. Theyre durable, long lasting, superb cranking, and look cool. They are pretty expensive though. Last I checked, the Red Tops were going for around R2.5k.
Another favourite battery of mine is the Deltec Range of batteries. Also great batteries. Better than the Sabats / Willards / Raylites or similar. Not as expensive as the Optima, actually slightly more expensive than the usual batteries. Personally, I think that theyre worth the slight difference in price.
In my past I was a SPL competitor with my Corsa. I had various batteries in my car. I had Willards, Sabats, Deltecs, Optimas, Kinetik, and Northstar. I found that the Deltecs and the Optimas were the best automotive batteries.
These were my personal experience. I trust Deltec and Optima. You can google Deltec Power, and you will be able to find a dealer near you.
p.s. Deltec batteries are not made locally. They are made by Delphi in France. Deltec stands for Delphi Technologies, as branded by the South African Distributor. Deltec Power also stock Optima Batteries.
XMAX said:
I have a Deltec in the car at the moment, but the cranking is very weak, and no matter what, that indicator on the battery never goes green, it stays black, even if the car won't even crank i take out the battery and the indicator is black, do you think that the battery is maybe gone bad, my bro-in-law has a golf mk1 with some heavy sound and is running the same battery and his indicates green, i want to maybe swop them and see if there is a difference.
XMAX
///Member
If i remember correctly, a black indicator means that the battery is flat and needs charging, and a yellow indicates that the battery requires replacement.
I think that it is a good idea to swop batteries with your bro and see if it charges.
this could be a sign that your alternator is not working properly. If the your battery charges in his car (this may take a while) then you might have a problem.
you can monitor this by checking how well his battery lasts in your car. try driving with the lights on and using the eletrical components. If his battery remains fine, and yours doesnt work very well in his car, then it might be time to replace your battery.
how long do you have your deltec for.
I think that it is a good idea to swop batteries with your bro and see if it charges.
this could be a sign that your alternator is not working properly. If the your battery charges in his car (this may take a while) then you might have a problem.
you can monitor this by checking how well his battery lasts in your car. try driving with the lights on and using the eletrical components. If his battery remains fine, and yours doesnt work very well in his car, then it might be time to replace your battery.
how long do you have your deltec for.
XMAX said:
There's a secret menu on the OBC where one of the options you can check the voltage when the car is on and off, with the car idling it shows about 13.8v and with the car off it shows about 12.5v, which i believe is about right?
Well my other bro-in law works for a tracking company and i think he said they used the Deltecs at their base stations, so the one in my car was previously used at a base station the one in the golf is quite new, but i will swop and see what happens.
In aid of all this, i disconnected my boot light, my glove box light and permanently keep the cabin lights off, as a couple of months back, i was busy in the boot for a while and straight after that i tried to start the car and the battery was dead, a boot light to run a battery flat in so little time?
XMAX
///Member
I think that this battery has a few dead cells (cant remember the layout inside them). They will indicate +- 13.8v and 12.5v which is correct, but this doesnt mean that the battery is ok.
you could take it to a centre that sells batteries and ask for a load test. this will tell you if the battery is ok.
I think that you should reconnect all the lights. the boot lights should not run the battery dead very quickly, unless these something wrong with the wiring. This battery may have been on its deathbed and you gave it a punch in the chest then.
If the battery was used as you say it was then its possible that the battery is cooked, though it might not realise it. Car batteries need to run through a charge cycle where they discharge and then recharge, even by a lil bit. If this battery was used as a UPS or backup system, its likely that it was constantly on the charger and never needed to use any of its power.
I dont think that you should have any issues with your bros battery.
I hope this helps.
you could take it to a centre that sells batteries and ask for a load test. this will tell you if the battery is ok.
I think that you should reconnect all the lights. the boot lights should not run the battery dead very quickly, unless these something wrong with the wiring. This battery may have been on its deathbed and you gave it a punch in the chest then.
If the battery was used as you say it was then its possible that the battery is cooked, though it might not realise it. Car batteries need to run through a charge cycle where they discharge and then recharge, even by a lil bit. If this battery was used as a UPS or backup system, its likely that it was constantly on the charger and never needed to use any of its power.
I dont think that you should have any issues with your bros battery.
I hope this helps.
That makes sense, i'm going to swop when i get home, hope it starts when i leave the office, because it didn't on friday. The 325 tds seems to need a huge amount of power to get going especially since i have the hot start issue, where it has to crank for a while before it starts, that could been the "punch in the chest" as you put it.
But thanks, very useful info, i will post the outcome tomorrow.
But thanks, very useful info, i will post the outcome tomorrow.
