80 AH Batt for a p38?

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K

Kigali Rover

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Kigali, Rwanda
I have a diesel p38 and my battery has just died. I'm in Rwanda, and for the moment I can't get the right battery for it - manual says I need a 664 (presume this is CCA), 107 AH

I'm currently borrowing a mates battery but can't keep hold of it for much longer. I can get a 670CCA, 80AH battery until new delivery of VARTA comes into supplier.

Is this OK? What could the problems be?
 
Kigali Rover said:
I have a diesel p38 and my battery has just died. I'm in Rwanda, and for the moment I can't get the right battery for it - manual says I need a 664 (presume this is CCA), 107 AH

I'm currently borrowing a mates battery but can't keep hold of it for much longer. I can get a 670CCA, 80AH battery until new delivery of VARTA comes into supplier.

Is this OK? What could the problems be?
Click to expand...

it might be a tad underpowered for a diesel p38.but i'm sure someone will be along soon to either confirm or not my thoughts on this.:rolleyes:;)
 
Kigali Rover said:
I have a diesel p38 and my battery has just died. I'm in Rwanda, and for the moment I can't get the right battery for it - manual says I need a 664 (presume this is CCA), 107 AH

I'm currently borrowing a mates battery but can't keep hold of it for much longer. I can get a 670CCA, 80AH battery until new delivery of VARTA comes into supplier.

Is this OK? What could the problems be?
Click to expand...

The problem would maybe cranking power. If your vehicle starts on the button then you drive for an hour or so the system should replenish the battery. Problem with the 80 amp battery maybe that if you do lots of stop starts the system will not have time to recharge so you will get a gradual decrease in cranking power. The reason P38s need a large capacity battery is because of the high load systems they run, ABS pump EAS pump and all the electrical systems, lights at night Etc. So base line would be with a 80 amp battery more would be taken out by cranking the motor to start, then because of the high load systems the alternator would take some time to replenish it. The 107 amp battery (mine runs a 120 amp battery) has a reserve of power, the 80 amp one does not have the same reserve for use on short stop engine, start engine use. And you would maybe get to a stage were you just got a click from the starter. Having said all that, IF the 80 amp is in good nick, and your vehicle starts on the button, and you are not going to be driving short distances at night using all the lights then stopping and starting. Then i see no reason why it would not be ok to use.
 
Thanks,

you'e probably right.

My basic understanding of these things is that the AH rating relates more to the amount of energy stored than the ability to start the engine. i.e. how long it will crank the engine for rather than whether it will or not.

The cold cranking ampeage CCA appears to be the amps that can be maintained at 0 degC for 30 seconds. In the case of the 80 AH batt this is 670 A which seems like it would be enough given that my car generally starts in about 5 seconds or less.

But as I said, this is my very basic analysis of the thing. I know that there are many more demands on a p38 battery than just starting. However I am only looking at this as a short term solution - 6 months max.

Anyone care to enlighten me further, I'm afraid auto electrics a bit if a dark art to me. If you can't hit with a hammer or put a spanner to it I'm lost.

Cheers
 
It drops to a chilly 18 degC early in the morning sometimes.

Thanks for the responses - wammers we seemed to have crossed responses there,

I do a mixture of short and long runs, mostly in the day, but with a lot of revving as Kigali is very hilly. We do use the aircon, so maybe while we have the smaller capacity batt we may lay off this and just wind the window down.

Any more views very welcome.

I can't tell you how helpful all this is when stuck out here. I think there are only about 10 p38's in Rwanda
 
There is a post either on here or on RR.net titled 'why only the rich can afford cheap batteries', in it there's a link to a pdf which does a brilliant job of explaining all aspects of car batteries. I have it downloaded on my computer at work otherwise I'd attach it here. HTH
 
Thanks for all the replies. I have fitted 80AH Korean battery brand 'Atlas'. It was the most expensive one I could find with highest AH that would fit my car. So far so good. Starts on the button and everything else seems to work too.

I will however head the advice given and replace as soon as I can with a 95AH Varta once the shipment arrives, still in Antwerp apparently - I never thought I'd say this but 'How I long for Halfords'.

I agree - only the rich can afford cheap batteries - the Atlas cost me £100.
 
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