Which battery

[crankedup]

I need to replace the 12v battery on my Vauxhall 14/40 - 2300cc four cylinder engine (1926) The existing battery has no readable stickers on so I am unsure of the ampage rating I need for decent performance. I also don't want to over specify. I would like an sealed battery as access is not easy for topping up the acid. Thanks.

[davepen]

I fitted the biggest I could get in the box - actually it was the same one as in the TVR S, so I could swap if necessary. Why are you worried about over specifing?

[MX7]

I'd have a look to see what other 2.3 four pot cars use. The Volvo 740/940 probably wouldn't be too far off.

[crankedup]

Thanks for replies, the only reason I didn't want to over specify was simply cost basis. Seems an large variance in prices for batteries and don't want to pay more than is really necessary (life on pension).

[bigblock]

MX7 said:

I'd have a look to see what other 2.3 four pot cars use. The Volvo 740/940 probably wouldn't be too far off.

A bit of a difference between the power requirements of a 1926 era Vauxhall and a modern 740/940 Volvo even if they do have a similar size engine.

[MX7]

bigblock said:

MX7 said:

I'd have a look to see what other 2.3 four pot cars use. The Volvo 740/940 probably wouldn't be too far off.

A bit of a difference between the power requirements of a 1926 era Vauxhall and a modern 740/940 Volvo even if they do have a similar size engine.

So what would you use as a guideline?

[crankedup]

Battery completely dud this morning so I thought use the cranking handle be jeeezus the old girl has some compression I won't try the handle again.

[Hybrids]

I wouldn't be too concerned about a sealed battery.
The majority of modern batteries are maintainence free even if not a sealed lid type.

You can enter you battery dimensions on this site and get a generic battery part number that you can use at a Motor Factor or Spares shop

http://www.ukbatteries.co.uk/catalogue.asp

[crankedup]

Great stuff, thanks Hybrid.

[bigblock]

MX7 said:

bigblock said:

MX7 said:

I'd have a look to see what other 2.3 four pot cars use. The Volvo 740/940 probably wouldn't be too far off.

A bit of a difference between the power requirements of a 1926 era Vauxhall and a modern 740/940 Volvo even if they do have a similar size engine.

So what would you use as a guideline?

Well I would require to know the cold cranking amperage required and the amps/hour discharge rate when in use. Both of these figures for a 1926 14/40 will be significantly less than required by a modern Vovo given the difference in compression ratio and ancillary electrical equipment.

The OP specificaly said he did'nt want to over specify the battery on cost grounds so if he followed your comparison with the Volvo he would be purchasing a much more powerful and expensive battery than he requires.

I don't have the right anwser to his question but that does'nt mean I don't know the wrong anwser when I see it.

[MX7]

bigblock said:

Well I would require to know the cold cranking amperage required

You could try looking at a Automotive Battery Cold-Cranking Amp Estimator, and enter the details in there. Funnily enough, the criteria are the engine size and the amount of cylinders.

I didn't claim that the Volvo was necessarily the correct battery, just that looking at similar engines would give some insight as to what would be suitable.

[bigblock]

MX7 said:

bigblock said:

Well I would require to know the cold cranking amperage required

You could try looking at a Automotive Battery Cold-Cranking Amp Estimator, and enter the details in there. Funnily enough, the criteria are the engine size and the amount of cylinders.

I didn't claim that the Volvo was necessarily the correct battery, just that looking at similar engines would give some insight as to what would be suitable.

I see you own a Volvo 740 which is why you may have been biased towards a Volvo battery

Actualy when I used the above calculator it gave a battery rating of 280amps for a 4cyl 2300cc engine so this might help the OP in his search.

[RichB]

Take a look at Lincon Batteries, http://www.lincon.co.uk/classic_car_batteries.html they'll make up a battery to your spec and are period in appearance.

[MX7]

bigblock said:

I see you own a Volvo 740 which is why you may have been biased towards a Volvo battery

Only because it was the first example of a widely commercially available battery for a 2.3 four pot that came to mind which isn't overladen with electronics, unlike modern cars, which would obviously be a much higher load due to their luxuries. Even the 240, which goes back to the 70's, and has the same engine, has the same battery.

New cars, and I mean electric everything, do require a larger battery, but I can't see that a car with only the fundamentals needs a drastically different battery. I could have said that he should look at batteries from a VX4/90, but you can't get one of them from Halfords.

I think crankedup was looking for suggestions as to what specifications he should be looking for. I was just suggesting that the engine size/cylinders isn't a bad place to start, and I was trying to think of something accessible, hence cheap.

bigblock said:

Actually when I used the above calculator it gave a battery rating of 280amps for a 4cyl 2300cc engine so this might help the OP in his search.

Which is what it also what it recommends for a 240/740/940, hence I thought that was a good place to start. CCA isn't the equivalent of a usable battery, as cars, especially like this one, could be left for weeks, or longer. Loading a battery to it's fullest every time you start a car isn't sensible as it will have a short life, and if it doesn't fire first time, it leaves you stranded.

I think you were right, you don't know what the answer is.

[crankedup]

Thanks guys I didn't expect the subject to bring forward such an interesting discussion, and its all good information. I have now found an small sticker on the duff battery which says 595 CCA, I now understand that this means cold cranking amps and its for an diesel car! Somebody has just bunged on any old battery it seems.

[Hooli]

About 600CCA was the right sort of size for my old XR4i IIRC.
Diesel cars have higher CCA batteries than petrol because a diesel needs more amps to start, it's not a different type of battery - just more powerful.