Finding a 6v battery for a Split bus?

[Hoehleneule]

One trick setup would be to buy 9 Enersys "Cyclon" 2 V 25 Ah cells, and then wire them in three parallel strings of three, to get a 6 V 75 Ah (10 hour) battery. The stocker flooded battery was 6 V 77 Ah, 20 hour, so you'd end up with a bit higher capacity. Also, as far as I know, all the Cyclons are made at a plant in Missouri.

Enersys used to be Hawker, and before that Gates - the same Gates as the belt and hose people. I believe Gates either invented or patented the spiral-wound AGM cell in the US, in the late 70s or early 80s. At some point in the past, Gates hived off the car battery business to Optima, but kept the single-cell business.

The flaw in the slaw with this idea is that those 9 cells would cost you about $74, each, if you just buy enough for one Bus... the battery would end up costing you $663 plus some fabrication of wires and a mount. Oh well.

[pedantic]Also, a "dry cell" is a primary, non-rechargeable cell, like an alkaline or carbon-zinc D, AA, etc. Optimas (and similar makes) have liquid acid in them, but it's soaked up in fiberglass sheets between the lead plates - "absorbed glass mat".[/pedantic]

I am not affiliated with any companies mentioned.

Hoehleneule

[Lind]

here is a how I mount a 6 volt optima.

I put a small piece of a 2x4 under the lid so that the edges don't cut into the battery body. I use a stock battery strap (or a fuel tank strap), and bend it over the latching part of the strap at the proper length to hold the battery tight. It holds the battery in pretty good, and it is the original holding system, just adjusted to fit the wierdly shaped battery.

On the stock battery strap, it is spot welded after the bend. I don't bother doing this, and they don't seem to come loose.

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Wanted:
Idaho VW license plate frames or other dealership items.
VWoA literature and early dealership or distributor literature/pictures/information
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[swiss_bulli]

I was wondering if someone is using those?

http://www.bosch-classic.com/en/internet/bosch_cla...ser_1.html

[aa390392]

Buy an optima on amazon...they gurantee, and send you a new if it goes bad, no questions asked, fits right in.
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getting grumpy & less tolerant!


55 ragtop
56 delux sedan
56 Kabriolet

[guatebus]

I got my Optima in 2009 and it's still going strong.
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'64 standard microbus
'69 deluxe microbus

[62DoKaGuy]

[BarryL]

Interstate still sells the 19L. Use the cover that Lind posted and the hold-down. I put the rubber covers over the terminals to prevent molecular and electrical contact. Advance Auto Parts also has the 19L by Carquest.

[BulliBill]

...and less than an hour ago I "on-line" ordered a Duracell Ultra BCI Group 19L Starting Heavy six volt battery to be sent to my local "Batteries Plus Bulbs" outlet for my pick-up for $117 (after a 10% on-line ordering discount).

I could not get the Interstate web site to show any Group 19L six volt batteries at all, I don't doubt you BarryL, but it was a 'no go" on their site.

I was on the fence about jumping up to the six volt Optima Red top from Amazon (currently at $168 with free shipping), and I probably will shortly as another of my four six-volt VWs might be needing a new battery soon. I dig the way Lind mounted his with the VW tie-down hardware, great idea! It does spook me a little to turn any battery sideways... but I'm assured they are well sealed and won't leak. Hmmmmm...

Bill
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I'm looking for these license plate frames for my fleet:
Coeur D'Alene - Lake Shore Volkswagen
Mission VW - San Fernando
Thornton VW - Stockton

Thanks for any help!

[BarryL]

[Lind]

[Hoehleneule]

[BulliBill]

Okay, so I order a Duracell 6 volt Group 19L from Batteryplusbulbs. I picked it up, and then threw a charger on it. Then I threw a battery tester on it to check it out. With no load, the tester showed the battery in the middle of the Green "good" area. Then under load for ten seconds the tester meter showed the battery dropped into the "weak" mode. I was not happy that under a full charge and brand new that the battery didn't stay in the green zone "under load". I just returned it.

When I mentioned possibly buying a six volt Optima, the battery guy told me that Optima battery's were originally designed and made by Odyssey battery. He said that a few years ago Odyssey sold the Optima line and technology to a company who now makes Optima's in Mexico, and that they use less "pure" lead and that they don't hold up like they did before the company sale. He said Optima batteries sold before the sale to Mexico production last much longer, since then not so much. He showed me the tiny "made in Mexico" marks on new Optima's and suggested looking into other Odyssey products (not sure yet if they make a 6 volt battery worth considering).

Does any of that sound right, and are buyers of recently made Mexican-made Optima six volt batteries's having any issues? I gotta find something that'll last and not break the bank! I'm wondering if the salesman was correct? Thoughts?

Bill
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I'm looking for these license plate frames for my fleet:
Coeur D'Alene - Lake Shore Volkswagen
Mission VW - San Fernando
Thornton VW - Stockton

Thanks for any help!

[Lind]

[oakman]