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SBL74
Samba Member
Joined: November 25, 2013
Posts: 125
Location: Treasure Island, FL
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 Posted: Sat Oct 20, 2018 4:59 pm Post subject: cannot find battery |
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My 1986 came with an auxiliary Interstate battery, which must be old because I cannot identify a model number (see picture). It might be a "60DA" but I do not see that as an Interstate battery. The PO used heavy duty cables with standard automotive connectors, so I do not want to change the configuration as this will be a huge pain. But I need a new one.
However, the + side is on the "front left" as shown, and I cannot find a deep cycle battery (lead) like that. The + side could also be on the "bottom right" and then I would of course just turn it around. Cannot find that either. The old battery is bad (resting voltage 11.5 v with nothing attached), so I need a new one, hopefully something I can find around town. It measures 12 inches left to right and 7 inches front to back, FYI.
steve |
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davevickery
Samba Member
Joined: July 16, 2005
Posts: 2887
Location: Fort Collins, CO
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| Posted: Sat Oct 20, 2018 6:15 pm Post subject: Re: cannot find battery |
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With the 41-50 marking it looks like it is a group 41, 50 month battery. The melted in numbers 60DA or whatever that says are probably code for production date.
You can find that same group size 41 everywhere, or some people like the smaller T5. But they are both just regular starting batteries and don't last as long if you discharge them very much, very often. If it is just light use then a lot of people are happy with them. |
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djkeev
Samba Moderator
Joined: September 30, 2007
Posts: 32634
Location: Reading Pennsylvania
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SBL74
Samba Member
Joined: November 25, 2013
Posts: 125
Location: Treasure Island, FL
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| Posted: Sat Oct 20, 2018 6:58 pm Post subject: Re: cannot find battery |
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| I think that my point was not clear. I am not looking to replace this battery per se, as I too figured it was not deep cycle. Problem is I cannot find a flooded, deep cycle, battery with the + post on the left front. |
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scubaseas
Samba Member
Joined: May 24, 2013
Posts: 442
Location: ME & Texas, in a Bus or on a boat somewhere
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SSWesty
Samba Member
Joined: August 20, 2008
Posts: 732
Location: Bellevue
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| Posted: Sat Oct 20, 2018 7:25 pm Post subject: Re: cannot find battery |
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| If the Walmarts, Costcos and FLAPs of the world fail you then you could try an interstate battery dealer, they should have options . You may get lucky and find someone there that actually knows something about batteries. There are plenty of options so you should come out a winner. It's not like tracking down a part that is no longer made. |
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scubaseas
Samba Member
Joined: May 24, 2013
Posts: 442
Location: ME & Texas, in a Bus or on a boat somewhere
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| Posted: Sat Oct 20, 2018 7:35 pm Post subject: Re: cannot find battery |
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You might want to consider using a group 41 AGM. AGM has a good 50% discharge cycling life, charge/recover very fast and are very low self discharge. They work fine as deep cycle house batteries.
Diehard Sears Gold used to be AGM. Interstate and NAPA also have AGM group 41 and group 40 I think. A group 47 will also fit but it;s a bit smaller foot print.
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08/1970 T2a Westphalia owned since 1980
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Wildthings
Samba Member
Joined: March 13, 2005
Posts: 50353
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| Posted: Sat Oct 20, 2018 11:36 pm Post subject: Re: cannot find battery |
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| davevickery wrote: |
With the 41-50 marking it looks like it is a group 41, 50 month battery. The melted in numbers 60DA or whatever that says are probably code for production date.
You can find that same group size 41 everywhere, or some people like the smaller T5. But they are both just regular starting batteries and don't last as long if you discharge them very much, very often. If it is just light use then a lot of people are happy with them. |
The group 41 batteries are getting much harder to find, two years back it took me a bunch of phone calls to find one and I had to wait for that one to be shipped in. Quite a few places didn't even have a listing for them any more. 
To get my Vanagon going I took the Group 41 battery out of my Bay and put it into the Vanagon and bought a T6(?) for the Bay. |
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djkeev
Samba Moderator
Joined: September 30, 2007
Posts: 32634
Location: Reading Pennsylvania
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SBL74
Samba Member
Joined: November 25, 2013
Posts: 125
Location: Treasure Island, FL
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| Posted: Sun Oct 21, 2018 6:28 am Post subject: Re: cannot find battery |
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Yes a flooded deep cycle group 41 battery behind the driver's seat as the AUX battery.
I can only say the the previous starter battery that was there is no longer working. It has has been there for at least 10 years I believe. It probably has just run through its expected lifespan. |
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Team WorldTour
Samba Member
Joined: September 02, 2010
Posts: 2426
Location: Der Vaterland
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| Posted: Sun Oct 21, 2018 8:33 am Post subject: Re: cannot find battery |
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Use a Yellow Top Optima, and lay it on it's side....
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davevickery
Samba Member
Joined: July 16, 2005
Posts: 2887
Location: Fort Collins, CO
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| Posted: Sun Oct 21, 2018 8:52 am Post subject: Re: cannot find battery |
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You will have to modify your list of requirements a little bit I think. The closest thing is a group 41 regular battery. Or a smaller T5 with nearly the same specs.
I like the specs of the VMAX batteries. The 50Ah fits upright or on it side, it is an AGM (which I like) but has the screw in type terminal type so you would have to switch out your ends or put on adapters. The VMAX 75ah would fit on its side in that spot. If you really need deep cycle I would get one of the VMAX batteries. https://www.vmaxtanks.com/MR86-50-Deep-Cycle-High-performance-AGM-Battery_p_83.html
https://www.vmaxtanks.com/XTR34-75-12Volts-75AH-Deep-Cycle-XTREME-AGM-Battery_p_164.html
A group 34 AGM will fit on it's side. The Optima and Odyssey batteries people have put there are usually group 34, although some have stuffed a group 65 in there with some challenging mods. You might have to make space around where the terminals are or change out your wiring ends to make it safe and tidy. I have a Bosch AGM grp 34 as my starting battery.
There is no simple no brainer solution other than the starting battery group 41 or T5. But that isn't a bad way to go especially if it has a good warranty. The universal 44 and 50 Ah batteries are a fairly cheap and also fit the compartment but I like the specs on the VMAX 50 for the extra money.
Last edited by davevickery on Mon Oct 22, 2018 10:38 am; edited 1 time in total |
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SBL74
Samba Member
Joined: November 25, 2013
Posts: 125
Location: Treasure Island, FL
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| Posted: Sun Oct 21, 2018 7:13 pm Post subject: Re: cannot find battery AN INTERESTING SWITCH |
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Yes I am beginning to come to the same conclusion. I did see a gold flooded AGM today that looks like it will fit, $189 at Advance Auto.
While pulling the old battery out, I found some interesting wiring. First, the AUX wiring is the same gauge as the starter battery (except for relay wires). Then I found a switch that has a momentary on position that activates a relay (looks like an isolator) under the seat. This made me wonder what the PO was up to, then it dawned on me. I connected the AUX battery and disconnected the starter battery. Of course, the starter would not turn over. Then I held the momentary switch in the on position, activating the relay, and the car started using the AUX battery. So, he was trying to have the AUX battery help with starting, in the case of an emergency dead starter battery. This may even be why a start battery was there instead of deep cycle.
I believe that the isolator is under the car, near the rear passenger side (see pic #1 and 2). And that this leads up to the OE device in pic #3. Interesting.
Anybody ever seen THAT before?
steve |
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djkeev
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Joined: September 30, 2007
Posts: 32634
Location: Reading Pennsylvania
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danfromsyr
Samba Member
Joined: March 01, 2004
Posts: 15144
Location: Syracuse, NY
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| Posted: Sun Oct 21, 2018 7:35 pm Post subject: Re: cannot find battery |
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that blue box is a DUAL Battery Isolator and sometimes requires/required an modification to the Bosch voltage regulator.
was the solution back in the OEM vintage days.
https://www.google.com/search?q=rv+battery+isolato...mp;bih=626
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PDXWesty
Samba Member
Joined: April 11, 2006
Posts: 6247
Location: Portland OR
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| Posted: Sun Oct 21, 2018 8:07 pm Post subject: Re: cannot find battery |
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I’d pull that old blue isolator out of the system. They can go bad and it will leave you stranded. There are much better options today with bi-directional voltage sensing relays that will keep your auxiliary battery charged and starter battery topped off. Yandina or Blue Seas are what most people use. Rewire your alternator back directly to your starter then run a new charge wire to your aux. battery using a modern relay.
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dobryan
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