Another leisure battery query

[captain Byrne]

Has anyone come across a 275ish x 175 x 175 leisure battery with a decent Ah? I can't fit a battery much longer than 275mm as I've got a 12v cig lighter socket to the right of the box & the guts of it takes up a bit of space in the battery box. I'm loathed to remove the said 12v socket as it's pretty handy. I've found a couple of batteries with the right dimensions but are only rated at 75Ah so could do with at least 80 possibly 90.
Ta.

[captain Byrne]

To follow on from above query. Has anyone used a Bosch S5 007 or a Varta E38 for a leisure battery? Looks like they're the same battery with 74Ah.

[bigbadbob76]

AH capacity is a function of battery plate area so a certain ah battery is going to be a certain size, give or take a few mm.
even if you find a small battery with high ah capacity then the manufacturer is being liberal with the specification.
Heavy duty or leisure batteries have thicker plates so are longer than light duty/low cranking amps car batteries.
I'd be looking at moving the cig lighter socket Capt'n.

[captain Byrne]

AH capacity is a function of battery plate area so a certain ah battery is going to be a certain size, give or take a few mm.
even if you find a small battery with high ah capacity then the manufacturer is being liberal with the specification.
Heavy duty or leisure batteries have thicker plates so are longer than light duty/low cranking amps car batteries.
I'd be looking at moving the cig lighter socket Capt'n.

Point noted, but a slightly wider 205mm battery gets you 80Ah http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/171258461691" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;
Can there really be a noticeable difference between 74Ah & 80Ah?

[bigherb]

To follow on from above query. Has anyone used a Bosch S5 007 or a Varta E38 for a leisure battery? Looks like they're the same battery with 74Ah.

They are, Bosch don't make their batteries they are usually made by Varta.

Can there really be a noticeable difference between 74Ah & 80Ah?

.
Not much, due to manufacturing tolerances there may no difference.

[Oldiebut goodie]

It would be more helpful for the majority of people to have them marked or listed in the usable capacity. ie not 80Ah but 40Ah which isn't a lot considering what people seem to want to run in their vans with all the gizmos that are a must have nowadays.

[captain Byrne]

It would be more helpful for the majority of people to have them marked or listed in the usable capacity. ie not 80Ah but 40Ah which isn't a lot considering what people seem to want to run in their vans with all the gizmos that are a must have nowadays.

I'm always annoyed when makers show the 100hr rating, conning everyone into thinking it's a far superior battery when actually it isn't.

[bigbadbob76]

Totally agree OBG.
Manufacturers always make the spec look good until you get the technical details.
Ie: 80Ah = 40Ah as you only discharge to 50% unless you want to kill it.
Then you need to reduce the capacity again if you're going to dishcharge it in less than 100 hrs.
So 74Ah is really less than 37Ah.
And 80Ah is really less than 40Ah.
not much difference now.

[captain Byrne]

Gonna go for a Varta E38. I've already got one as my starter & it's performed really well. £78 posted from Tanya Batteries.
E D I T - bigbadbob - ever been to Coll & Tiree? We're of thinking of going there in June for a week or so & wondered what it was like.

[bigbadbob76]

Sorry, can't help you there Capt'n.
Been to Arran, Mull, Rhum, Eigg and Canna but never Coll or Tiree.
Maybe I should put them on my bucket list too.

[captain Byrne]

Sorry, can't help you there Capt'n.
Been to Arran, Mull, Rhum, Eigg and Canna but never Coll or Tiree.
Maybe I should put them on my bucket list too.

No worries, it looks great but flat & I do like the odd mountain to scramble up.

[bigbadbob76]

Rhum and Eigg aremore mountainous but you can't take a vehicle without prior permission, not much in the way of roads anyway.