Replacement battery for classic

[benjj]

So the battery has split on the DS so I'm in the market for a replacement.

It is only losing a little bit of its contents at present so I've got time to order a decent replacement.

Couple of questions:

Mine is currently a 12v 069S battery (72 Ah/hr, 550 Amps crank). Is this a pretty standard size?

Secondly, are the gel filled racing batteries available in this size? The location of the DS battery tray means when it splits it drips/leaks onto some sensitive bits, hence why I am just rewiring my spotlights as the connections have all been melted

Ben

[leyorkie]

Hi,
The physical size is what you need and then you can find the right battery to fit in the space available with the correct power.
You can now buy gel batteries for standard cars, I think the race batteries are for starting only not running spotlights etc when you are stood.
Lots on the Internet with next day delivery, try eurocarparts and I can supply you a code for 25% off makes for a good price delivered to your door.
Yorkie

[benjj]

Wonderbar, thanks, I'll get the tape measure out!

Ben

[benjj]

It is

L - 257mm
W - 170mm
H - 198mm

Will have a look on ECP now. Cheers.

[leyorkie]

How about this?
http://www.eurocarparts.com/ecp/c/Citroen_C5_2.0_2...

Less ah but more crank power

Search on Bosch and then onECP

[lowdrag]

leyorkie said:

Hi,
The physical size is what you need and then you can find the right battery to fit in the space available with the correct power.
You can now buy gel batteries for standard cars, I think the race batteries are for starting only not running spotlights etc when you are stood.
Lots on the Internet with next day delivery, try eurocarparts and I can supply you a code for 25% off makes for a good price delivered to your door.
Yorkie

Well, I've had a Red Top dry cell battery on my D-type for ten years now, and it performs well, running everything I need either day or night. However, they are much smaller than a standard size battery so you'd need to modify the battery tray and fastenings, as we have done with alloy. Have a look here to see if anything will suit:-

http://www.varleyredtop.com/

[lotus-types]

Here is a handy little tool for looking for batteries by size....it works sometimes!
http://www.tayna.co.uk/car-battery-wizard.php

[benjj]

Thanks all, will have a look at those links.

I'd say less than 1% of driving time is spent with the full works on up front (main beams, high beams, Oscars) but it needs to be able to handle it.

Main thing is working in the cold as the car will be doing 3 long, cold rallies in Nov/Dec.

[lowdrag]

On that count my little Red Top has started the D-type at -17C. See the photos attached one of which also shows just how small the battery is. Small but incredibly strong. It was -17 that January morning and she started first time.

[benjj]

lowdrag said:

On that count my little Red Top has started the D-type at -17C. See the photos attached one of which also shows just how small the battery is. Small but incredibly strong. It was -17 that January morning and she started first time.

Hmm, that does sound the ticket, Tony.

It also means I could re-jig that corner of the engine bay. On the last rally I came across a chap with a breathtaking XK120. He'd done 20,000 miles in it over the last 3 years. In his engine bay he had a selection of tools on magnetic fittings for most eventualities. I've wanted to do that for some time but space is limited but the little red top could help solve that.

[lowdrag]

I also forgot to mention that it's 10 yrs old and counting.