Which Battery?

[Pazzo]

Think it depends on how much cca you need. Blue a little more expensive but yellow will do the job just fine. Plus you can mount them anyway you like as they don't leak.

[PhilMeUp]

Most taxis in Perth have moved to a computer system called MT-Data. One thing that we've had to learn with this system is that it drains the battery much quicker than the system that we used to use.

I did a bunch of homework earlier this year and ended up getting a Supercharge Gold MF50 (600CCA, 105RC) for $145. This is the same battery that is used in police cars in WA (ie they also have computers that drain the battery quick).

When I set up my girlfriend's taxi in April, we put a Delkor battery in. I can't remember the CCA and RC but they were higher than my Supercharge MF50.

Go find a taxi workshop and see what they have. Ask what they are using in taxis with the MT-Data system.

[turbotrana]

I never had much luck with Optimas. Out of 3 I have only 1 that still works. Like all batteries, they do require some level of care to get the most out of them. Whilst one optima did help with starting of the car when being left for a few weeks over a lead acid, if you have an alarm system activatied, any battery will drain.

Would I buy another optima ever again. No way. Just stick with a lead acid a get a good Ctek intelligent battery charger that properly maintains the battery. Dont use a cheap dumb battery charger.

[tab]

Completely agree with that, I never got more than 13 months out of a battery (would always die just out of warranty) in the past but have been whacking the ctek on every month or so and am still running the OEM battery...almost three years old.

...but having said that I've probably jinxed myself and will be hollering for a marshall within the next week. That'll be your fault trana.

[daztbo]

go yellow top optima there on ebay $290 delivered to your door I just got one and its awsome

[arronm]

Batteries are only as good as their warranty.

[turbotrana]

Further to the optima, I had a yellow top D34 in my Supercharged VT hoping that I would never have battery problems for a few years. Big mistake. This battery was not mistreated in anyway and became relatively weak very early on. I read somewhere that the optimas needs a little more voltage output from alternator to get fully charged compared to a lead acid battery. I modded the alternator regulator with a diode to get 0.5 more voltage out of it on charge (up to 14.9v from about 14.4. Whilst it helped, if the car was left for a few days, the battery couldnt start the car. THe bat was only a couple of years old before I retired it.

On the other hand in another car I have the D35 yellow top and its performed quite OK.

THe two that failed were the smaller D34.

You also need a proper charger to charge these types of batterys. An ordinary dumb charger wont usually charge it from a full discharge.

[GR8XR6]

Grab a century Ultra High Performance battery 67EF, this battery has a three year warranty and they replace it right up to three year with a BRAND NEW exchange. Get yourself a projecta AC250B $48 on ebay . Will keep you battery fully charged.

Thanks Arron. It looks like I will go down this path.

Thanks for all your input guys!