what is the correct battery specification for a 2000cc turbo diesel townace?
- (#12066) RON COE, 11 Jul 04 09:22
No need to shout Ron.
85 or 95 Amp hours is best.
This is classed as a leisure battery and you may find one at a caravan shop rather than a car shop.
- (#12066) dave Bright (Bournemouth), 11 Jul 04 09:29
Don't use a leisure battery! They're designed for a slow and deep discharge, whereas a car needs a high cranking capacity which will then be followed by a partial recharge...
Ron, go to your local factors and have them look in their cross- reference book. Thay'll find that all diesel Toyotas (Corolla, Carina, Liteace, 12v Landcruisers)use the same battery, the only caveat being some of the landcruisers have another battery with the terminals opposing- but even that one will fit, the leads will be a little short for comfort tho.
So just as for a toyota diesel battery in whatever grade/ price range you fancy!
- (#12066) David Miller, 11 Jul 04 10:08
when i wanted a new battery, i found that the real problem was the size of most of the 80/90 amp/hour batteries, ie, the physical dimensions which could be accomodated in the townace battery compartment and, also, the layout/design etc of the terminals. even the local toyoto dealer could only come up with a 70 amp hour of the right dimensions. i ended up with an exide ex1017se of 88 amp hour capacity. this has all the "beef" i wanted and has performed perfectly over the last 18 months. even with this battery, it is a shoehorn fit into the battery compartment and it entailed sawing off the two projecting lifting lugs and fitting two nylon lifting straps. exide also do a 95 a/hour unit, code ex1017te.
- (#12066) John Davis (Leics), 12 Jul 04 00:39
I had thought that batteries were graded according to their Amp hour rating. Around 20 to 30 Amp Hour was normal, 50 to 60 was heavy duty, and 80 upwards was classed as a leisure battery. If that's wrong then sorry for the bum info. I'll try not to do it again.
- (#12066) dave Bright (Bournemouth), 12 Jul 04 01:40
Dave, apart from the current draw/discharge issues as highlighted by David...different battery types also have different charging needs.
If you have a Maplin catalogue some of this is illustrated.
You may note that leisure batteries are very cheap when compared to vehicle ones....guess thats why.
Great things to have in the boot though...to run the cool box/fridge etc. when the engine is idle
- (#12066) chris turner, 12 Jul 04 04:07
Just to put my oar in, paraphrased from Exide Web site.
Leisure or Deep Cycle battery. Any battery may be termed deep cycle as all batteries may be fully discharged and charged. However, a true deep cycle battery, is capable of thousands of these hard cycles during its life without losing its capacity. True Deep cycle batteries will perform well as cranking batteries, however, cranking batteries will not survive deep cycle use.
Deep cycle batteries can be used in any application and exhibit a long service life, while cranking batteries are limited to starting applications only. Cranking batteries exhibit poor service life in cycling applications.
So by reading that, a Leisure battery is ok for cranking (car) use, a car battery is no good for use as a caravan power plant. Is that right?
I got a replacement 95 A/H battery from the Bristol Battery Co, that fits in with no problem and has nice big plastic fold flat handles should I ever need to get it out. Did not ask nor was told if it was a leisure battery.
Clive
Stands back and waits for the sparks to fly ;-)
- (#12066) Clive (Bristol), 12 Jul 04 04:19
For most car uses you'd be correct Clive. But the current demand to turn over a diesel is appreciably higher than a petrol engine- ergo the average petrol engine has a starter between 600 and 1200W, the Townie's is a 2KW brute. Starting batteries tend to have a lower internal resistance, giving a higher CCA (cold cranking Amperes) value.
And you're right about using car batteries in a 'van, BTW
David
- (#12066) David Miller, 12 Jul 04 10:02
So it's CCA value and not just A/H that we should be looking for? What would be a suitable CCA to use with the 2KW starter?
Note, the Exide quote was from the US site where most engines are petrol.
- (#12066) Clive (Bristol), 12 Jul 04 11:25
Bugger. Had a nice reply all typed out and the computer crashes...
Yes, Clive. The bigger the CCA the better. Whilst the CCA increases along with the A/h rating, better- quality batteries and the newer silver/ calcium types all have higher CCAs than tyre-shop specials.
- (#12066) David Miller, 12 Jul 04 13:18
Came across this quite by accident...
click on 'faq' if required for the battery grading info....
http://www.sterling-power.com/
what can I say......
- (#12066) chris turner, 15 Jul 04 11:26
Well I have just read something about starter batteries having thinner plates to allow the starting current out quicker.....and leisure variants having slightly thicker plates... which can warp if used for starting.
At least I think it was that way round.
Anyway, lots of battery info below...
http://www.uuhome.de/william.darden/index.htm
- (#12066) chris turner, 19 Jul 04 07:38
So to round this off,
Cold cranking battery thick plates for car use, can be used in a caravan but not it's intended use nor will it last long.
Leisure battery thin plates no good for cranking may work but not for long, ideal for other uses and can take recharging several 100s of times.
Deep cycle battery used in fork lift trucks old milk floats and the like, no use at all even if you could afford one.
- (#12066) Clive (Bristol), 19 Jul 04 07:44
no other way round clive, thin large plates for high crank, small thick plates for longer life. local battery place agrees with this, also said that high ampage leisure batterys are fine for townace as has not got a very high current pull on start up compared to new 2.8/3 liter diesel engines that use 95 amp hour batterys.
- (#12066) neil (torbay), 19 Jul 04 12:20