Car battery - Which one, where from?

LSKobb on 19/08/2013 - 16:41

Haven't got heaps to spend. And don't know the difference between a cheap SuperCheap Auto battery and a Century.

Car is a 92 Carina ED (4 door, luxury Celica), with an amplified sub, and in the near future amplified speakers (currently running stock speakers from headunit).
I would like to be able to listen to music with the engine off on ocassion, so that's why I'm a little worried about which battery to get.

So I'd like to know the difference between batteries, best value under $150(would prefer to spend closer to $100), and a good store to get them cheap.

Automotive

Comments

  • Windows7forever on 19/08/2013 - 16:50
    +1

    I used sit in my car and listen to the stereo with my ignition off for hours…until I completely killed my last battery prematurely, never again!

  • tonyjzx on 19/08/2013 - 17:00
    +1

    if you want the battery to end all batteries… Optima yellow top

    you can run them for hours on big doof doof systems and they will recharge to full capacity every time

    $150 gets you a basic lead acid

    a bit more for a calcium

    close to $300 for a spiral wound thingo like an optima

    cant kill optimas

    • Karlos101 on 20/08/2013 - 11:04
      +2

      i used to work at a batteryworld store for 7 years. i saw quite a few people kill optimas from neglect. but they are pretty damn hardy. saw one which came out of a rally car that had a crack clean through the case (would immediately kill 98% of other batteries) and it still started the car.

  • sraymond on 19/08/2013 - 20:07
    +1

    $15 trade in at battery world and they use Century I think. Plus they were chucking in a free terminal cleaner.

    http://www.batteryworld.com.au/show-your-car-some-love

  • r2160 on 20/08/2013 - 08:25
    +1

    Dont buy a battery from Super cheap. You dont know how long the batteries have been sitting there for.
    Find a battery shop that buys them on a regular basis. That way the batteries are fresh

  • backpaqer on 20/08/2013 - 08:45
    +1

    I just get RACV to swap them over for me…they come to me and do all the work and then take the old one away. Last battery was free because it died within the 3 year warranty (car just sits in the driveway…probably died thru trickle-down lack of use).

    • Karlos101 on 20/08/2013 - 11:02
      +2

      the reason your battery would have died is because when lead acid batteries sit without usage for 2 to 3 months, they start to sulphate - which basically means due to the chemical inactivity, you get crystals forming on the lead plates inside thus leaving less lead surface for the charged particle to rest on. usually this will kill a battery indefinitely.

  • Karlos101 on 20/08/2013 - 11:00
    +3

    Hey SKobb - just to break it to you softly - what you are asking of your battery and then saying you'd only like to spend $100 is a big ask.
    with car batteries, price is actually a fairly accurate indication of quality.

    what state do you live in?

    also, for your application you may want to look at a marine battery. i know in the case of the century batteries - the marine grade ones have much thicker lead plates in them which means it is good for running electronics off them for extended periods without having much voltage drop as well as leaving enough juice for starting afterwards (within reason). standard car batteries are designed usually for high current draw for short periods (e.g. starter motor).

    supercheap batteries can be a bit hit and miss - last i remember, they were philippino made.
    Century are made up in queensland
    RAA/RACV/NRMA batteries are cheap imports and arent worth a pinch of dog doo doo.
    Exide batteries i think are still made here in australia.
    and like mentioned above Optima Yellow Tops or Odyssey batteries like these http://odysseybatteries.com/battery/pc1400series.htm
    are really good too, both american made.

    but like i said earlier if you have a fairly decent stereo system in your car - skimping on a battery is not what you should be doing. you'll pay for it later.

    so to round up

    BEST: Optima Yellow or Blue top (not Red top) or Odyssey
    Great: Century Marine (fit the biggest one you can in, it will last much better in the long run)
    good: anything else that is australian made - marine grade, or deep cycle would be better than a standard starter battery.

    final note: if you end up buying a battery like century - which is a wet cell, meaning has liquid sulphuric acid in it, make sure it is accessible. you'll find that by topping up the liquid regularly with distilled water will actually make your battery last twice as long (not exaggerating here)

    hope this helps,

    feel free to ask any questions.

  • SKobb on 20/08/2013 - 15:26

    Cheers for the lengthy replies guys!
    Might consider a nicer battery if it's considerably better than the lower range ones.

    http://www.ebay.com.au/itm/OPTIMA-FRESH-STOCK-D34-YELLOW-TOP…
    Seems legit?

    Not sure what size battery I need to get thouugh.. Currently have this in there http://www.kmart.com.au/product/masse-car-battery-lm50c/1194…

    • SKobb on 20/08/2013 - 15:37

      Just measured it up, it's roughly.. In cm, LxWxD - 23x17x18 (didn't measure to top of terminals).
      There's room in the tray for a battery with more length, but there's a fuse box there which could get in the way.. Although, I'm sure the car wasn't made with a battery tray that wouldn't fit a battery that size.

      • Karlos101 on 20/08/2013 - 16:34

        no worries SKobb.

        you may need to look for this one if your current battery is a tight fit.
        http://www.federalbatteries.com.au/D35/

        but the best thing is take the battery out and measure the size of the tray that fits in there.
        like i said, the bigger the better for you. fuse boxes shouldn't be too hard to move.
        also, do you have enough play in your battery leads to stick one in with the terminals around the other way. (or you could stick it in with the positive terminal on the same side it currently is, but you would just need to stretch the terminal and cable the width of the battery so its at the front not the back, or vice versa.)
        if you do, this one is a good alternative if you cant afford to shell out over $200.
        http://www.bcf.com.au/online-store/products/Century-Car-Batt…

        i wouldnt necessarily buy it from BCF, but its the only one i could find coz the century site is down at the moment.

        What state do you live in currently?

        if you are in SA i know a place that sells very cheap Century batteries.

        • SKobb on 21/08/2013 - 13:07

          Yeah I'm in SA. As the Optima batteries look to be pretty good, I'm considering spending a little over $200 for one.
          But if I can get a decent battery much cheaper I might have to go with that.. Car needs new tyres ASAP as well, so I'm a bit tight on cash.

        • Karlos101 on 22/08/2013 - 10:32
          +1

          http://www.batterydiscounters.com.au/pages/Marine_battery_pr…

          The Century Marine NS70M would be a good choice. normally in other retailers, these batteries cost $199 - $220 if not a bit more.
          * Dimensions: 258mm x 172mm x 225mm

          if it doesnt fit,
          you could call them and ask them for a price on a 57M
          Dimensions: 239mm x 172mm x 210mm

          but the thing with these two batteries like i said earlier have the positve and negative opposite to what your currnet battery is.

        • SKobb on 24/08/2013 - 16:21

          What is the difference between Marine and the Ultra High Performance car batteries again?
          Is it that the Marine batteries are deep cycle, therefore better for aux power?

          I ask because, I'm pretty sure height could become an issue. I took the battery out today and measured the tray. I got 270x170x180 (LxWxH).
          If I made up a new securing bracket (the one that clamps in on top), I could maybe get in another 2-3 cm. But if we're talking 3-4cm I think that's pushing it a bit.

          The normal car batteries are 184 in height which would just slot right in.

        • Karlos101 on 26/08/2013 - 10:50
          +1

          The Marine batteries have thicker lead plates in them which gives them better aux power usage while still providing enough power for cranking.
          if you head to a battery world store, they should stock an assortment of battery clamps - it would be worth a look anyways.

          height is gonna be your major issue, you may have to for the the 57M marine. or if you can get a yellow top optima they generally have lower profiles then the standard century batteries.

          57M by century i think are rated around 55 - 65 amp hour in capacity with around 550 Cold Cranking Amps (approx)

          the Yellow top optima is rated at 55amp hour but has 750 Cold Cranking Amps.

          but like i said, if you head into any automotive shop and ask to see there battery hold down clamps, you may be able to get one that suits your need. but yeah, definitely check the heights of the batteries you go for - BUT make sure you check the height to the top of the battery terminals. last thing you want is it shorting out on the underside of you bonnet.

        • SKobb on 28/08/2013 - 14:04

          Thanks for all your help, I've found a decent deal on the Optima Yellow Tops so I'm going to just fork out the extra money for one.
          Unfortunately I don't think any of the Marine batteries will fit under the hood of my car :(

  • slg848wwg010 on 22/08/2013 - 09:05

    Dear Ozbargainers,
    This morning August 22 2013 I bought this X60C Exide Battery from Exide itself at 1-5 Wintherton Road Clayton for 115 AUD all in. KMart website sells it for 145 AUD! Cheers Happy Motoring. It comes with 3 year warrantee.

    Home Kmart
Search: exide X60C

    1 Items Found

    Displaying 1 - 1 of 1

    Exide Extra Car Battery X60C

    Exide Extra Car Battery X60C
    $ 145

  • slg848wwg010 on 22/08/2013 - 09:10
    +1

    It goes into my 2008 Ascent Corolla which was giving up on my battery for the past week's cold weather. I've used exides in my Camry three times and now the first for this 2008 corolla. My corolla, is heavy on acessory usage.
    Cheers. Buy from Exide in Adelaide would be a further 15 % cheaper, about sub AUD 100 for same model. It is made in Adelaide.

  • wa01 on 03/09/2013 - 05:39

    What might be good is a deep cycle battery suitable for car use with large RC or AH. So getting a 100ah deepcycle car-cranking battery, if you drain it right down it wont damage the cells, you just have to charge it before you can start the engine again.

    • Karlos101 on 21/10/2014 - 07:21

      Wrong. Even deep cycle batteries shouldnt be drained below 30% of thrir capacity. You kill it very quick if you keep dropping it right down.

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