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Sourcing a Battery In Australia other than from a Dealer. .

Old Jan 9, 2012 | 01:05 AM
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Sourcing a Battery In Australia other than from a Dealer. .

I did not wish to be over a barrel & having to buy from the dealer when my battery failed, so I have found another source.

http://www.federalbatteries.com.au/AGM/STARTING/

The Absorbed Glass Mat Federal 70 A/H battery is $335 & the OEM Varta 70 A/H is $455. Half the price of buying from a dealer.

They will tell you who is their local agent in your locality.
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Old Jan 9, 2012 | 05:38 AM
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I always find it interesting that Benz fits 70Ah batteries to diesels that need greater starting torque but 100 to 100+ Ah batteries to petrol vehicles.
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Old Jan 9, 2012 | 02:17 PM
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Could be lower A/H because of the milder climate ? .

The diesel cranking time is very short . Maybe the modern diesel is easier on a battery than their petrol cousins!

The weight differential between the 70 & 90 A/H is not that great either, 5.9 kg for Federal & 4 kg for the Varta.
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Old Jan 9, 2012 | 04:00 PM
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From: Llandudno, Cape Town, South Africa
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Originally Posted by Carsy
Maybe the modern diesel is easier on a battery than their petrol cousins!
I think this is the reason
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Old Jan 11, 2012 | 03:14 AM
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There are all manner of lead acid battries, and the type used in most cars is called an SLI, or Starting, Lighting, & Ignition battery. The plate structure, separators, connections, and sediment isolation is very different from other common types like electric vehicle, marine, and stationary power plants.

The amp-hour rating of a battery has little to do with its ability to start the engine. The Ah rating has every thing to do with the lighting, ignition, and other consumers in the car like the stereo, windows, and heated wheel and seats.

The reason diesels can use a 70 Ah battery is because they have no ignition consuming 30 Amps like petrol (Gas for our North American friends) engines. This is why cars with a sparky motor have 100 Ah battries.
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Old Jan 11, 2012 | 04:30 AM
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Moviela,

Wow , 30 amps should make a pretty ferocious spark!! Spark plug gaps must be set at 1" !

I wonder whether petrol cars have a larger capacity alternator too ?
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Old Jan 11, 2012 | 06:41 AM
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From: Llandudno, Cape Town, South Africa
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Thanks Movie - great input as usual. You are of course absolutely correct regarding cranking which I had overlooked.
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Old Jan 11, 2012 | 02:52 PM
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Originally Posted by Moviela
There are all manner of lead acid battries, and the type used in most cars is called an SLI, or Starting, Lighting, & Ignition battery. The plate structure, separators, connections, and sediment isolation is very different from other common types like electric vehicle, marine, and stationary power plants.

The amp-hour rating of a battery has little to do with its ability to start the engine. The Ah rating has every thing to do with the lighting, ignition, and other consumers in the car like the stereo, windows, and heated wheel and seats.

The reason diesels can use a 70 Ah battery is because they have no ignition consuming 30 Amps like petrol (Gas for our North American friends) engines. This is why cars with a sparky motor have 100 Ah battries.
Moviela,

I would be grateful if you could enlighten me on why the modern petrol vehicle pulls such a large current to provide spark to the engine.

There is a 42% increase in amp/hour battery performance over a battery in a petrol Vs diesel car. Cold Cranking Amps are 760 Vs 850.

I understand that there is a small coil to each plug etc but still how is so much current used?

Both cars have fuel pumps, diesels have electronic injectors, computor load should be the same ?.

The extra load would be only there when the engine is running so why not increase the alternator output instead of putting a heavier battery in?.

Looking forward to being educated.

JC
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