Biggest battery you can shoe horn in a diesel?

[jed the spread]

I am getting abit f**ked off with my temperamental battery, it let me down big time this weekend while wild camping and I just cant risk this happening again. A new one is on the cards so while I am at it, what is the biggest turbo nutter "bar-steward" starter battery you can fit in a T3?

jed

[Oldiebut goodie]

You must be running stuff from the starter battery instead of from the leisure one. The fact that you are camping shouldn't impinge upon the starter.

[jed the spread]

It would if the starter battery is f**ked and wont hold a charge that well. I need to get a new one and I want the biggest I can fit under the lid as I am getting a new one anyway. The lights on the westy run off the starter but are LED's anyway so use very little if any (i know of the swap over but I like them as they are due to the faster recharge)

jed

[Plasticman]

got a decent one from gsf, same fitment as golf tdi (mk111)£52 inc vat
muike

[DiscoDave]

Get yer sen down the battery shop and see what they've got and how big you can go. Or measure up and see what you can find online.

[..lee..]

if its in the engine bay jed you can get a pretty bigun in there. my doka one is huge. i`ll measure up tomorrow and ring my supplier to see what they list. give me a ring late in the day. mobile 07977 765 818. work 01554 772341.

[peasant]

Just after putting in a new battery myself.

If you want easy fitting, 175 mm width and height are the way to go.
Depending on manufacturer you can get up to 72 AH in that size ...280 mm long, I think.

Some people managed to get a 88 AH in there, but I'm told that one is a bit of a squeeze as it's usually higher (again depending on manufacturer)

Due to lack of choice at the local shop I myself ended up with 62 AH/570a (250 x 175 x 175) but for a daily driver that should do the trick nicely.

E D I T:
The 175 mm width is a must, unless you fancy fettling with the holder brackets. Height-wise there is a bit of room but you don't really want the terminals too close to the lid. Some batteries have raised terminals and that could cause an issue

[jed the spread]

if its in the engine bay jed you can get a pretty bigun in there. my doka one is huge. i`ll measure up tomorrow and ring my supplier to see what they list. give me a ring late in the day. mobile 07977 765 818. work 01554 772341.

Sorry So far chaps, the diesel vans battery is in the engine bay hence the, "Biggest battery you can shoe horn in a diesel?" thread. so the bigger the better.

I will give you a ring tomorrow Lee

jed

[jed the spread]

Just after putting in a new battery myself.

If you want easy fitting, 175 mm width and height are the way to go.
Depending on manufacturer you can get up to 72 AH in that size ...280 mm long, I think.

Some people managed to get a 88 AH in there, but I'm told that one is a bit of a squeeze as it's usually higher (again depending on manufacturer)

Due to lack of choice at the local shop I myself ended up with 62 AH/570a (250 x 175 x 175) but for a daily driver that should do the trick nicely.

E D I T:
The 175 mm width is a must, unless you fancy fettling with the holder brackets. Height-wise there is a bit of room but you don't really want the terminals too close to the lid. Some batteries have raised terminals and that could cause an issue

[jed the spread]

got a decent one from gsf, same fitment as golf tdi (mk111)£52 inc vat
muike

jed

[jed the spread]

Get yer sen down the battery shop and see what they've got and how big you can go. Or measure up and see what you can find online.

jed

[v-lux]

Have you checked what voltage you are getting from the alternator Jed? What sort of state are your connections?

I managed to get mine to charge twice as good just by replacing the crappy vw lead from the alternator to the starter battery. Its well worth having a good look at the wiring, it doesnt matter what battery you have in there, a chain is only as strong as its weakest link....

Ive replaced all of mine with 200A 25mm cable, certainly seems to have done the trick. If you measure up the cable, i can make one up for you and send it up with the stereo if you want?

[..lee..]

wel i checked with mu supplier today and he reckons the biggest battery you can get in there is a uk number "249" which is 100a/hr and 720 cold cranking amps. thats a biggy.

[jed the spread]

Have you checked what voltage you are getting from the alternator Jed? What sort of state are your connections?

I managed to get mine to charge twice as good just by replacing the crappy vw lead from the alternator to the starter battery. Its well worth having a good look at the wiring, it doesnt matter what battery you have in there, a chain is only as strong as its weakest link....

Ive replaced all of mine with 200A 25mm cable, certainly seems to have done the trick. If you measure up the cable, i can make one up for you and send it up with the stereo if you want?

I think I have some winch wire left over so that might do. I vaguely remember you telling me about that but I was abit well you know, at the time

Worth a go Its putting out over 13Volts but it settles right down quite quick and when the heater is on and the head lights etc. I did think it was the alternator but its not, it seems to be more like the battery not holding a full charge for very long. It wont do any harm getting a new one anyway as the one in the van is the one that came with it so god knows how old it is.

jed

[jed the spread]

wel i checked with mu supplier today and he reckons the biggest battery you can get in there is a uk number "249" which is 100a/hr and 720 cold cranking amps. thats a biggy.

I got your text message earlier on Lee. Thanks again

jed