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Bret Young
Samba Member
Joined: August 26, 2006
Posts: 756
Location: Turlock, CA
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 Posted: Sat May 25, 2013 8:09 am Post subject: What battery to buy? |
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So I've got my bus pretty much rewired and its time to buy a battery (bus didnt come with one), and im trying to determine what battery I should buy. I searched, but didnt find any model numbers specifically. I have dealt with WalMart batteries in the past, but haven't had great luck with them, and was thinking about splurging for a Optima due to the warranty and them being a little heavier duty. I don't know if bus batteries sizes changed over the years, but my bus is a 64 and is 12V.
If anyone has any incite to which Optimas fit properly in busses, I would be greatly appreciative. I don't know if red tops or yellow tops are better, but I would take part numbers for either one.
Thanks in advance! |
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campingbox 
Samba Member
Joined: November 14, 2000
Posts: 10196
Location: Petaluma, CA
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| Posted: Sat May 25, 2013 8:25 am Post subject: |
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I've bought a few of these from Amazon and they fit and work fine.
8002-002-FFP
You can't use a stock battery cap but you can get the strap to work if you shim it with a small block of wood. |
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flemcadiddlehopper
Samba Member
Joined: December 05, 2011
Posts: 2332
Location: Kelowna, BC. Canada.
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| Posted: Sat May 25, 2013 8:50 am Post subject: |
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The dry cell and gel cell batteries have very different charging needs as do the new gen of lithium ion batteries. Not a battery for the home DIY guy. Some will not even stand to be boosted by jumpers.
Just buy a traditional battery with the biggest cold cranking rating you can fit in the space provided. I would stick with name brand batteries that have a 7 year pro-rated warranty, as most batteries only last 5 years, one that they build expecting 7 should be better quality. A little bit more money spent on a good battery now, is less spent on a tow truck later.
Gordo.
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Everybody Dies....Some Never Live.
Retrograde Garage. Vintage Aircooled, and others. |
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Bruce Amacker
Samba Member
Joined: December 26, 2007
Posts: 1786
Location: Cleveland, Ohio
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| Posted: Sat May 25, 2013 8:59 am Post subject: |
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| flemcadiddlehopper wrote: |
The dry cell and gel cell batteries have very different charging needs as do the new gen of lithium ion batteries. Not a battery for the home DIY guy. Some will not even stand to be boosted by jumpers.
Just buy a traditional battery with the biggest cold cranking rating you can fit in the space provided. I would stick with name brand batteries that have a 7 year pro-rated warranty, as most batteries only last 5 years, one that they build expecting 7 should be better quality. A little bit more money spent on a good battery now, is less spent on a tow truck later.
Gordo. |
I agree on avoiding an Optima as they are expensive overkill for most VW applications.
The highest CCA you can fit is also overkill and will actually work against you. To get CCA means thinner plates and thinner plates many times will not last as long as thicker plates in a lower CCA battery. I think more than 600-700CCA in an ACVW is overkill.
Look for a sale with a good (3 yr replacement) warranty. Costco is cheap and made by Interstate, they're about $70 here for 650ish CCA.
Good Luck!
_________________
'66 Deluxe Bus
'65 Standard Bus
Build threads:
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'65- http://leakoil.net/forum/viewtopic.php?f=23&t=4263 |
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EverettB
Administrator
Joined: April 11, 2000
Posts: 69798
Location: Phoenix Metro
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ttullo1
Samba Member
Joined: December 22, 2005
Posts: 120
Location: Russellville, Arkansas
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| Posted: Mon May 27, 2013 11:27 am Post subject: |
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| If you look at Consumer Reports they have named the Walmart ones the best. I have been running one in my SC for a while with no issues |
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Bret Young
Samba Member
Joined: August 26, 2006
Posts: 756
Location: Turlock, CA
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| Posted: Mon May 27, 2013 11:37 am Post subject: |
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| ttullo1 wrote: |
| If you look at Consumer Reports they have named the Walmart ones the best. I have been running one in my SC for a while with no issues |
Did not know this. That's interesting. I believe that Walmart and Costco would be up there with the best warranties since they sell so many of them.
But I am with Everett. Parts/model numbers are always appreciated. |
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Culito
11010101
Joined: December 07, 2006
Posts: 5865
Location: Columbia Missourah
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| Posted: Mon May 27, 2013 12:06 pm Post subject: |
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| ttullo1 wrote: |
| If you look at Consumer Reports they have named the Walmart ones the best. I have been running one in my SC for a while with no issues |
I also have a walmart battery in my SC. No problems here, even when it sits for months at a time. I'll see if I can find a number on it...I just picked it off the shelf.
I ruined the first walmart battery I had due to a bad voltage regulator. They exchanged it, no questions asked.
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'64 standard w/2.0L type 4
'62 bug
| johnnypan wrote: |
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ttullo1
Samba Member
Joined: December 22, 2005
Posts: 120
Location: Russellville, Arkansas
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| Posted: Mon May 27, 2013 12:07 pm Post subject: |
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| I will go down to my shop later today and get numbers |
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BulliBill
Samba Member
Joined: July 09, 2004
Posts: 4572
Location: St Charles, MO
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| Posted: Mon May 27, 2013 12:22 pm Post subject: |
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Can anyone post the same info for 6 volt batteries??? I know the local strip mall Interstate battery store has 'em for $125 (ouch!). Any other sources? I'm willng to order and wait for one too if size and price are right...
Bill
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Thornton VW - Stockton
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zozo
Samba Member
Joined: October 15, 2005
Posts: 5217
Location: South of Ol' San Antonio
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| Posted: Mon May 27, 2013 12:45 pm Post subject: |
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| BulliBill wrote: |
Can anyone post the same info for 6 volt batteries??? I know the local strip mall Interstate battery store has 'em for $125 (ouch!). Any other sources? I'm willng to order and wait for one too if size and price are right...
Bill |
I ordered a 6-volt optima through Amazon for around $90. The price has gone up, but still comparable to the "norm".
http://www.amazon.com/Optima-Batteries-8010-044-St...lt+battery
Last edited by zozo on Mon May 27, 2013 5:51 pm; edited 1 time in total |
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C.Moore
Samba Member
Joined: June 01, 2008
Posts: 75
Location: Willits, Ca
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| Posted: Mon May 27, 2013 1:00 pm Post subject: |
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| I've been running 6V optimas for years in my 6V VWs and have had no problems. They are costly. |
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Stocknazi
Samba Member
Joined: June 18, 2004
Posts: 5150
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| Posted: Mon May 27, 2013 5:46 pm Post subject: |
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| BulliBill wrote: |
Can anyone post the same info for 6 volt batteries??? I know the local strip mall Interstate battery store has 'em for $125 (ouch!). Any other sources? I'm willng to order and wait for one too if size and price are right...
Bill |
i just bought a 6 volt battery at advance; higher cca than the autozone 6volt. i believe it has 800 cranking amps and 650 cca
price was 95.00 plus tax
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WANTED:
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"When the people are afraid of the government, that's tyranny. But when the government is afraid of the people, that's liberty."
"Resistance to tyrants is obedience to God."
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obus
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Joined: March 08, 2001
Posts: 11063
Location: just off Garden State Parkway Exit 81
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flemcadiddlehopper
Samba Member
Joined: December 05, 2011
Posts: 2332
Location: Kelowna, BC. Canada.
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| Posted: Mon May 27, 2013 6:44 pm Post subject: |
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CCA probably not as important in California, as it would be in the colder climate areas. But for me, the biggest battery you can fit in regardless of cold cranking.
Gordo.
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Retrograde Garage. Vintage Aircooled, and others. |
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andk5591
Samba Member
Joined: August 29, 2005
Posts: 16757
Location: State College, PA
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| Posted: Tue May 28, 2013 3:42 am Post subject: |
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I use Optimas red tops in several of my bugs. Oldest one has been in for 5 years and 20,000 miles.
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ToolBox
Samba Member
Joined: January 27, 2004
Posts: 3439
Location: Detroit, where they don't jack parts off my ride in the parking lot of the 7-11
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| Posted: Tue May 28, 2013 9:56 am Post subject: |
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| BulliBill wrote: |
Can anyone post the same info for 6 volt batteries??? I know the local strip mall Interstate battery store has 'em for $125 (ouch!). Any other sources? I'm willng to order and wait for one too if size and price are right...
Bill |
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Bret Young
Samba Member
Joined: August 26, 2006
Posts: 756
Location: Turlock, CA
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| Posted: Tue May 28, 2013 12:22 pm Post subject: |
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| Any more info on the 12V Walmart / Costco battery part numbers guys and gals? |
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TinCanFab
Samba Member
Joined: April 04, 2006
Posts: 2743
Location: Waterford, California
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don.ville
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