Is battery, the larger the better?

[Kelpie]

Hi all,

 

Looking at changing my battery soon. Thinking aloud to upgrade the stock 45Ah to 55Ah, was told by the seller that it has the exact dimension as the stock one.

 

From hearsay, I was told the larger the Ah, the longer it takes to fully charge the battery hence the stress on the alternator. Is this true or just a myth?

 

By the way, how much should I be looking at for a 55Ah battery? Any good and reliable brands to recommend?

 

Thank you very much.

 

Regards,

[Rb26dett]

Hi all,

 

Looking at changing my battery soon. Thinking aloud to upgrade the stock 45Ah to 55Ah, was told by the seller that it has the exact dimension as the stock one.

 

From hearsay, I was told the larger the Ah, the longer it takes to fully charge the battery hence the stress on the alternator. Is this true or just a myth?

 

By the way, how much should I be looking at for a 55Ah battery? Any good and reliable brands to recommend?

 

Thank you very much.

 

Regards,

 

oddessey batteries are good.full 2 years warranty.lightweight.

 

[Yuan]

Hi all,

 

Looking at changing my battery soon. Thinking aloud to upgrade the stock 45Ah to 55Ah, was told by the seller that it has the exact dimension as the stock one.

 

From hearsay, I was told the larger the Ah, the longer it takes to fully charge the battery hence the stress on the alternator. Is this true or just a myth?

 

By the way, how much should I be looking at for a 55Ah battery? Any good and reliable brands to recommend?

 

Thank you very much.

 

Regards,

 

I am not sure whether the larger the better but I understand that the capacity of the battery should not exceed the maximum limit of the alternator.

 

As for brands, I think Varta and Amaron are reliable. Amaron will be my next brand to change. My Varta lasted me 18 months before it decided to go to bed.

[Kelpie]

oddessey batteries are good.full 2 years warranty.lightweight.

 

Lightweight is equal to how many kg?

 

Regards,

[Kelpie]

I am not sure whether the larger the better but I understand that the capacity of the battery should not exceed the maximum limit of the alternator.

 

As for brands, I think Varta and Amaron are reliable. Amaron will be my next brand to change. My Varta lasted me 18 months before it decided to go to bed.

 

 

How do we know what is the max limit of the alternator? The manual only states the use of a 45Ah.

 

Amaron has a few variants leh, which model are you looking at? They have the Green model, wonder how good is this one?

 

Regards,

[Yuan]

How do we know what is the max limit of the alternator? The manual only states the use of a 45Ah.

 

Amaron has a few variants leh, which model are you looking at? They have the Green model, wonder how good is this one?

 

Regards,

 

I think you have to check your car manual. It was stated in mine.

 

As for Amaron, I guess got to hear from more feedback from this forum.

Edited April 19, 2009 by Yuan

[Sir8]

If larger capacity also means heavier than is no no.

Charging is to replenish what has been used. A larger capacity batter don't mean higher usage. So, no - a larger battery doesnt mean longer charging.

 

The usual problem is we often don't drive long enough to recharge what has been used, esp morning start. So a larger battery helps to tahan longer (not forever).

[Kb27]

The alternator is rated based on amperage it can put out, not AH.

Check your manual, it may range from 90A to 120A.

 

A bigger battery means it can store and release more charge per hour basis, if alternator stops charging.

 

It depends on your car usage. If it's less than 30A, then 45AH should be good enough.

If you put 55AH battery, it doesn't make a difference in the usage or charge time based on your travelling pattern...provided both batteries start from full charge.

 

But you're most likely going to carry a heavier battery.

 

What capacity you don't need, becomes just dead weight.

 

 

[Kelpie]

If larger capacity also means heavier than is no no.

Charging is to replenish what has been used. A larger capacity batter don't mean higher usage. So, no - a larger battery doesnt mean longer charging.

 

The usual problem is we often don't drive long enough to recharge what has been used, esp morning start. So a larger battery helps to tahan longer (not forever).

 

Usually a higher Ah means a heavier weight right? So there is no adverse effect of going with a higher Ah? By looking at the manual, a 45Ah can lasts for 20 hours of operation.

 

Regards,

[Kelpie]

The alternator is rated based on amperage it can put out, not AH.

Check your manual, it may range from 90A to 120A.

 

A bigger battery means it can store and release more charge per hour basis, if alternator stops charging.

 

It depends on your car usage. If it's less than 30A, then 45AH should be good enough.

If you put 55AH battery, it doesn't make a difference in the usage or charge time based on your travelling pattern...provided both batteries start from full charge.

 

But you're most likely going to carry a heavier battery.

 

What capacity you don't need, becomes just dead weight.

 

I see, so the real concern would really be the extra "parasite" weight. In that case, I'll go find a 55Ah that is of almost the same weight as the stock 45Ah. Thanks!

 

Regards,

 

[Kb27]

I see, so the real concern would really be the extra "parasite" weight. In that case, I'll go find a 55Ah that is of almost the same weight as the stock 45Ah. Thanks!

 

Regards,

Another thing is the size. If the same size battery comes in 45AH, 55AH, 60AH, then the 60AH is going to have more lead plates. Since the size is the same, they have to squeeze the plates closer together or sometimes make the plate thinner.

 

So generally, a higher AH battery weighs heavier and may have thinner lead plates.

 

Imo, choosing a 55AH should not be a real concern, unless you're talking about > 65AH kind of capacity. It might be easier to find than a 45AH.

[Kelpie]

Another thing is the size. If the same size battery comes in 45AH, 55AH, 60AH, then the 60AH is going to have more lead plates. Since the size is the same, they have to squeeze the plates closer together or sometimes make the plate thinner.

 

So generally, a higher AH battery weighs heavier and may have thinner lead plates.

 

Imo, choosing a 55AH should not be a real concern, unless you're talking about > 65AH kind of capacity. It might be easier to find than a 45AH.

 

The stock battery is a Furukawa Hi-Dash 45Ah, can't find the model number on the battery surface. Wondering whether there is so called a "lightweight" 55Ah battery of other made?

 

Regards,

[Rb26dett]

The stock battery is a Furukawa Hi-Dash 45Ah, can't find the model number on the battery surface. Wondering whether there is so called a "lightweight" 55Ah battery of other made?

 

Regards,

 

 

you can find the specs here.

http://www.odysseybatteries.com/battery/pc680mjt.htm

[Qr25vet]

it shouldnt be a problem if u wanna upgrade by a small abt...but dont go too big if not yr alternator wont be able to charge the battery fully in fact u might even have to end up replacing both of them in the worst case scenario...

[Itsec]

you can find the specs here.

http://www.odysseybatteries.com/battery/pc680mjt.htm

 

 

hmm..any idea how many amp is that?? and cost and yrs of usage...

[Rb26dett]

hmm..any idea how many amp is that?? and cost and yrs of usage...

 

 

i have no idea the amt of amp .but i do have friends running them on various different rides. and among them , the one that uses the longest was a period of 3 yrs and still running it now.

cost i believe is beyond 300 bucks .personally i am sure i would be buying one in few months time .the thing that i like about it is its size as my engine bay is very packed now and hopefully i can make way for

other things

[Yeobh]

Yr current battery power is 45 x 12v= 540watt ( 0.72 HP) & if you replace with a 55 x 12v= 660watt ( 0.88HP) so there will be an increase of 0.16HP. This energy will have to come from yr fuel.

For city driving, its best to replace stock battery with a slightly bigger amp hr unit as most of the time starting , stopping and short distants drive will only generate enough amp to power ignition and acc and no balance to replace the power loss during engine cranking.

You can go ahead to replace yr existing battery with as much bigger amp hr battery available in the market ( not limited by yr alternator output max amp capacity )yr limiting factor is the battery mounting bay size and depth and offcourse the slightly more weight to carry around and slightly more few consumption.

Few decades a go the US military have developed a AGM ( battery plates that are insulated by Absorbed Glass Material) which is 100% sealed, can resist high engine bay temp, smaller in size ( amp to amp comparison) much better high starting high amp discharge, no maintenance and can be mounted either upright or on lay on it side. The set back on this battery is high cost. If you want to get the best then AGM battery seems to be the answer.

 

Hope this helps

[Dwoon]

Odeyssey batts are ~ $500- $600 the last I checked.

 

Lightweight is one thing (do you race?) but I also understand that their reservce capacity is not high. So if you're the sort that need to leave your car for say 5 days to a week when you're overseas....... whether the batt would be drained by then is the thing to consider.

 

I'm on the 70AH Amaron batt now (same brand & batt which I used for 3 years and just changed out). It didn't die on me but it couldn't retain charge sufficient for me to crank after 4 days (guss it was old already). So it didn't suit my purpose........ but it was still very much alive and daily starts have no issues.