battery question again

Status
Not open for further replies.
MikeG

MikeG

Mikeg
VIP MEMBER
Joined
May 31, 2012
Messages
1,465
Country flag
Looking to free up some space in the battery box of my 71 roadster for a fuse box/ground buss. I'm running an Old Britts power arc ignition and a Sparx 3 phase alternator, and usually run with lights on all the time. Any recomendations on smallest size vs. best AH rating??
Thanks
 
I think a 14ah battery is as small as you should go with lights on all time if you need to make room. The 3 phase setup will keep it topped of nicely.

I feel the rule of thumb should be a battery as equal to or slightly smaller than the AH output of the stator.

I know this does not apply to you but I have a 14ah LI battery but I run a mag that is not require a battery. The battery and the 200 watt single phase system is all for the lights and the like. I mention this because the small batteries are still under some scrutiny and the AGM or LeadAcid are very robust, priced right, easy to replace, and proven.

Now, if money is not an issue then you can get a High AH LiPO, feed it well with the 3 phase, and have plenty of room left over.

A 14AH Lead acid is a good choice though.
 
"A 14AH Lead acid is a good choice though."

No way, with modern AGM batteries available, at moderate prices, the risk if acid damage to a vintage bike with a FLA battery is just no longer needed.
 
concours said:
"A 14AH Lead acid is a good choice though."

No way, with modern AGM batteries available, at moderate prices, the risk if acid damage to a vintage bike with a FLA battery is just no longer needed.
Click to expand...

Ok. Though I have had a rash of issues in the past due to vibration with the AGM, I will not disagree with you cause I believe either can be suseptable to vibration.

I went through 3 in one season. I always thought that is was perhaps bad luck and maybe a bad batch. The dealer made sure he marked the third one he replaces, like I was screwing him or something. Being stranded three time, I felt I was the one being screwed. They did, somewhat begrudgingly in the end, stand behind their stuff at Batteries Plus.

This may or may not apply because of the application, but the UPS in the power room I maintain at a very large hospital systems data center was all upgraded to leadacid from AGM just because they don't hold up well nor give the output under extreme load
demands as leadacid.

But, as you said, they can be "dirty" so I might likey get another for that reason, but I would surely shop for quality.
 
Seems to me that a Shorai 18 would be the answer to the question… I've been extremely pleased with mine; it's been in the bike for about 2 years now and I couldn't be happier with it.
 
mike996 said:
Seems to me that a Shorai 18 would be the answer to the question… I've been extremely pleased with mine; it's been in the bike for about 2 years now and I couldn't be happier with it.
Click to expand...

Thanks...this might be my choice if I can convince myself that the cost is justified
 
MikeG said:
mike996 said:
Seems to me that a Shorai 18 would be the answer to the question… I've been extremely pleased with mine; it's been in the bike for about 2 years now and I couldn't be happier with it.
Click to expand...

Thanks...this might be my choice if I can convince myself that the cost is justified
Click to expand...


What breaker panel, er, I mean terminal bus will you be usin?? Pics?
 
It was my impression that AGM were developed for high vibration situations, like helicopters. Personally I like the AGM, price is about right and they seem to last long enough if cared for and they're not dirty. They're certainly better than the FLA in certain applications.

Dave
 
Blue Ocean 6 fuse combo buss. You know I can't woik a camera Moe! You'll have to come see it. Got a new bottle of single malt yesterday........
 
Ms Peel had 3 p Sparx and Podronics with a color change LED volt meter and ran mostly hi beam all the time even in city and creeping home after dark, her battery was a 1.2 ah Gell Cell alarm type that could slip in back pocket. I did run it dead a few times by letting idle a few min w/o rpm enough to charge back so boyah brain died at 10.v. In rainy stop/go inner city I have run it down too but only until I had shut off and tried to re start, so learned to let charge up a few min if that dead. Get a 2.4 size and double the time of slow low idle and time as stop lights in rush hour jams. DO Not Get A fiber-mat type battery as I've seen two reports this year of them failing some how in Commando specific use, one friend tried another mat type thinking it was his charger system but same thing caught out so back to Gel cell or slosh battery.
 
I'm sorry, but gel cell are the most prone to vibration failure, they work great in home security systems. IMHO

Dave
 
MikeG said:
Blue Ocean 6 fuse combo buss. You know I can't woik a camera Moe! You'll have to come see it. Got a new bottle of single malt yesterday........
Click to expand...
Fair enough, I'd be innerested to see it. I'll pass on the single malt, thanks, you know Old Panther makes steam come out my ears!! :oops: A good home brew however... :mrgreen:
 
DogT said:
I'm sorry, but gel cell are the most prone to vibration failure, they work great in home security systems. IMHO

Dave
Click to expand...

Absolutely, "gel cell" is very commonly mistaken/thought of as "AGM".
We are fortunate to have this technology (AGM) available to us at a very reasonable cost, having trickled down from aerospace apps.
 
Well I lucked out then on Peel's little non absorbed-mat type grey plastic gel alarm battery by me always sticking to smooth paths and never rough housing nor crashing or storing tools or parts on top of it laid sideways in bat tray. Got flipped completely upside down 3 times so glad it didn't leak. Would of used one a bit bigger on in my regular Combat but didn't want to wait on mail and going fast and low weight is not a concern.

battery question again


Wet, Gel and absorbed mat types
http://bdchargers.com/batterytypes.php
 
Nothing but an AGM for me. Personally I have had very good luck with the Odyssey brand. Jim
 
comnoz said:
Nothing but an AGM for me. Personally I have had very good luck with the Odyssey brand. Jim
Click to expand...

I've had an Odyssey on one of my Brit bikes for around 7 years now. Its only a small battery and the bike has had forced periods of no use (it caught fire!) yet still the battery is perfect and I have never, ever, put a battery charger on it!

Despite this, I am tempted to fit a Shorai on the Commando due to the ridiculously low weight. Think I'll weigh the Odyssey first though...
 
Yes,weigh it ,it's a heavy battery and that's a big consideration , Ill be moving to lighter one day...
 
Status
Not open for further replies.

Similar threads

998cc
  • Locked
Quick question: Battery Size '71 Commando
Replies
7
Views
2,385
MexicoMike
MexicoMike
peculierboy
  • Locked
Battery question
2
Replies
34
Views
2,803
Bernhard
B
MikeG
  • Locked
yet ANOTHER battery question
Replies
2
Views
891
comnoz
comnoz
Nielsen
  • Locked
stupid (?) question about battery charging
Replies
18
Views
1,619
Hobot
Hobot
C
  • Locked
Green Wire & Battery question
Replies
1
Views
590
maylar
maylar
Back
Top