1 battery instead of two?

[shoosty]

I know I really should be buying new 2 batteries for my exceed, but over here in Norway a 550 CCA is at least 200 bucks a peice. So is this worth asking....can a brand new 550 CCA battery get me through the winter by itself with temps between +1 & -10 at worst?

Just wondering if anyone else has pulled this off.

[jessef]

If it's a good quality battery. Yes.

Delica's are 12v systems, so only one good battery source is required.

[mararmeisto]

The purpose for a dual-battery setup would be to increase one's CCA time. CCAs are a time-based rating of the cells of a battery: the ability to maintain a 1.2V output for each cell for at least 30 seconds at 0 degrees.

With two batteries, one would essentially have twice the CCAs for the 30s. This means, a vehicle with a dual-battery setup would be able to conceivably crank-over the engine for a longer period than the expected 30s. This is beneficial for diesel engines when the the glow plug system is not working properly.

Glow plugs provide a bit of a 'hot-spot' inside the cylinders in order to help the combustion process start, but the greatest effect to starting a compression ignition engine is the compressing of the fuel-air mixture. If you were to disconnect your glow plugs, the engine should still start with cranking alone, it would just take longer. With a dual-battery setup, you'd could expect to crank even longer if it was particularly cold out.

Batteries cost a lot, at least good batteries do, so if you have the wiring harness for the dual-battery setup, you should replace both. It is not advisable to replace only one, because batteries in parallel work together: the weaker one will 'drag' down the stronger one; the stronger one will not 'pull up' the weaker one.

[TardisDeli]

Hi Shoosty,

Mararmeisto gave good info, as always. Especially about making sure both batteries are equally good, if you have the dual battery setup.

We use just one battery, but it is a larger battery, a 27 series rather than a smaller 24 series. One 27 is stronger CCA than 2 smaller ones.

Make sure vehicle will start easily. Keep fuel tanks full so water does not condense into fuel. Keep vehicle in a garage, or away from cold winds. Turn off accessories before starting up.

Whatever battery you have now, keep it properly charged and it will be OK. Get a battery charger to plug into the batteries every night, especially on cold frosty nights. Get a battery "Trickle Charger" this means that it only charges slowly, overnight, so it will not damage the battery by overcharging ... overcharging is bad.

A vehicle only charges a battery up to 80 percent, for safety. So a trickle battery charger that you plug into your house electricity will increase the charge level.

Cheers, Christine.

[vanjuggler]

Thanks for this thread, folks! I just was outside with bcaa trying to get my deli to start. I think my fuel has gelled up, so I need to wait for warmer weather. Unfortunately, I have to leave it outside all the time.... Brr....

Oh well, good time for the car co-op. :)

If I'm going to replace my batteries, can you guys suggest a particular battery model and retailer? I have a 91 super exceed with the 2 battery setup.

Cheers,
Luke

[FalcoColumbarius]

Actually, Jay sent me to a place called "Polar Batteries", on Boundary, Burnaby side. I picked up two "Globelites" for my Chamonix. 550 Cold cranking amps each. The last time I had a Globelite it outlasted two Chevy 3/4 tonnes and a pair of Voyagers, which was around ten years.

By the way, I was up a mountain recently, it was -15 in the van and -25 with the wind chill outside.... I was freezing in my sleeping bag so I reached for my remote which has a three second delay before cranking the starter... she started first time in the same way that she would have in the Summer. I was impressed.

Falco.

[jessef]

I went to Polar as well. Have been buying batteries there for a while.

Picked up one of these to replace the 'pair' in the Chamonix.

The one Odyssey battery is the equivalent to about 4-5 normal batteries + more. 1,500 cold crankin' amps for 5 seconds !

http://www.odysseybatteries.com/battery ... series.htm

It doubles as a deep cycle battery as well. 4 year free replacement warranty. Can't beat that.

Came out to $210 + taxes for the PC1500 version with dual terminal posts.

Not bad considering the retail/list is $500 and current online is $350+

AGL (glass pack) can be mounted any orientation except inverted and US DOT and IATA certified non-spillable.





Review :

Odyssey Batteries use Absorbed Glass Mat (AGM) Technology to offer the characteristics of two disparate battery designs. The Odyssey can deep cycle without damage, as well as provide enormous cranking power for starting and winching. Should an Odyssey Battery become deeply discharged, simply recharge it following the instructions in the owner's manual and it will be returned to full power.

Odyssey Batteries are completely sealed and do not leak. There is no fear of acid spillage, as Odyssey Batteries recycle the internal gas during operation and charging. With an Odyssey, you will not see your terminals or battery tray corrode as you would with standard batteries. Odyssey Batteries may be installed in any orientation except inverted without leakage or sacrificing performance attributes. The US Department of Transportation has certified Odyssey Batteries as a nonspillable item, so it may be shipped worry-free by air or overnight service if required.

The PC1500 is almost identical in size to the Group 34 sized Optima 750U Yellow Top Battery and the 800U Red Top Battery.

Unlike the 750U Yellow Top and 800U Red Top battery from Optima, the PC1500 operates as both a deep cycle and a starting battery, all in one.

The PC1500 may be deeply discharged multiple times without damage to the battery.

A PC1500 has the best characteristics of the two Optima batteries in a single battery.

They have some neat accessories. I like their hold down tray.

[Details Monster]

I am going to chime in with my opinion since one of my batteries just died. I have a dual battery setup and unless you live in areas with really cold temps, I don't think it is worth the cost. As mentioned earlier, you really need to replace both batteries at the same time otherwise (as in my case) the 'bad' battery will kill the good battery. So now, I am just using the one good battery. When it dies I plan on getting a 'spiral' type which have superior vibration resistance to the standard plate design as well as more CCA for there size. These batteries also use a fiberglass material to hold the electrolyte and are sealed (no more topping up with water). I also plan on getting a Deep Cycle version as well since they can handle going nearly completely dead a few times (which inevitably seems to happen). Optima used to be the only company that made spiral batteries (http://www.optimabatteries.com) but now there are quite a few. Here is a link to a review of one CanTire battery (http://www.canadiandriver.com/articles/ ... attery.htm).

[jessef]

When it dies I plan on getting a 'spiral' type which have superior vibration resistance to the standard plate design as well as more CCA for there size. These batteries also use a fiberglass material to hold the electrolyte and are sealed (no more topping up with water). I also plan on getting a Deep Cycle version as well since they can handle going nearly completely dead a few times (which inevitably seems to happen).

They are excellent batteries when they work but unfortunately they don't give any warning when they're about to go. I had a deep cycle and a yellow top in a parallel 12V setup like the Delica's. (had a Toyo back then). That setup was great. But the yellow top took out the blue top and I was left with a pair of dead batteries up on the mountain in Chilliwack. Had to leave the Cruiser there and come back with a pair of good batteries. Also had a few buddies had Optima's die in while off roading in the bush. Albeit they are really hard on their batteries. Left a really bad taste for Optima's. With that said, I also know guys who love them and never had any issues for years.

I'd recommend an Odyssey over Optima's.

If you go with Optima's, I would recommend the Red Top's. Quality control seems better with them.

The one Odyssey battery I bought replaces one blue top and one yellow top Optima. One battery for two.

I don't know how Polar can get away with that low price, but it's a steal for what you get.

Odyssey's are used in overland expedition, rescue and military vehicles.

Odyssey Batteries use Absorbed Glass Mat (AGM) Technology to offer the characteristics of two disparate battery designs. The Odyssey can deep cycle without damage, as well as provide enormous cranking power for starting and winching.

Odyssey Batteries are completely sealed and do not leak.

[Green1]

I just replaced my batteries, I went to Walmart and bought 2 Energizer 24M-100N “Marine Starting” batteries, they are no different from normal car batteries (many marine batteries are deep cycle, these are not), except higher capacity than anything else they sell. 800 cold cranking amps each and only $94 each... They are working AMAZING at the moment, however I have no idea what type of longevity to expect from them... but at less than $200 for the pair, I'm pretty happy.

By comparison, the red top optimas in the same size are only about 500CCA each, ("normal" batteries are 600-700 each) and I now have a total of 1600CCA packed in there...

[vanjuggler]

I like the idea of the single 'super battery' replacing the 2 I currently have. How does the single battery fit into the old double-wide spot? What is the install like?

Thanks,
Luke

[jessef]

Same size as one 24 class battery so it only takes up one side of the tray leaving the other side open for goodies.

Jay (tardisdeli) would be 'the' person to speak to about wiring/setup. He's the man.

[bob blake]

Thanks for this thread, folks! I just was outside with bcaa trying to get my deli to start. I think my fuel has gelled up, so I need to wait for warmer weather. Unfortunately, I have to leave it outside all the time.... Brr....

Oh well, good time for the car co-op. :)

If I'm going to replace my batteries, can you guys suggest a particular battery model and retailer? I have a 91 super exceed with the 2 battery setup.

Cheers,
Luke

Hi if your fuel has gelled up try adding some petrol to stop it gelling.
Haynes manual says " up to 30% " for the pajero
bob

[jmtoriel]

I have 2 batteries in my Super Exceed and was wondering why that was. Thanks for clearing this up on the rationale.

Luke, in Vancouver, Davidson Batteries on Broadway (between Main and Fraser) is a good place for cheap reliable batteries. As for gelling, below 4ºC, using a 20% blend for tallow-based biodiesel is recommended from research, and what I am currently using in my 1992 Super Exceed.

Best all,

J-M

[Kuan]

As for gelling, below 4ºC, using a 20% blend for tallow-based biodiesel is recommended from research, and what I am currently using in my 1992 Super Exceed.

Off topic here but, are you sure "tallow-based" biodiesel is recommended? Tallow or animal fat has the highest gelling point of all biodiesel and diesel blends I know and I only make summer fuel with it. It can gel at +16˚c.., Canola based biodiesel will have a get point closer to -10˚c if made well. I have several cubies of oil outside and the canola wvo is liquid while the tallow has been sold for a while now. Biodiesel is also hygroscopic - it attracts water molecules.

However, all biodiesels have higher gelling points than regular old dino-diesel and that is why most people blend in the winter.