Battery Recommendations

[Silvia]

Mine is still going strong but 11 years old, so it's good to know where to look for a replacement.....thanks.

I searched their site previously, and if you put in " MX5" , you only come up with the $245 battery replacement!

[slees]

I am going through the process (confusion) of choosing a new boot located battery for my 1998 NB.
It currently has an RACV 2340 from Jul 99 which for the last year has not been holding a charge well.
If I take it for a run once a week it just holds on. If I go a day or two longer it's a recharge. The NB is just an occassional car at the moment.

From what I have read so far, the battery really should be;
- Sealed
- Vented to the outside (ideally into the 2 small tubes)
- Hi cranking
- AGM (absorbent glass mat)

RACV still sells the 2340 model at $246 for members delivered and installed.
It is an AGM for any who are wondering.
Interestingly it is only 2 years warranty - where it was once 3 years - wonder if they have changed the supplier - my old one was made in the USA.

I have been trying to work with my local Autobahn to get a SuperCharge Gold as per the many posts about them.
Either model MF40B20DF, GT12-35HR or MF43. SuperCharge today have said that NONE of their batteries suit an MX5 boot location.

I have not yet followed up some of the other likely suggestions on these forums like;
- Federal 8AMU1R AGM
- Fullriver HC20 AGM PC680

But I have seen this 3 year warranty NB battery on Ebay from a 100% reviewed supplier AutoLink Online;
- Bond Ultimate N43 (or 8AMU1R or 425CCA) $125 + $9 Vic metro delivery
http://cgi.ebay.com.au/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?ViewItem&item=290887820622&ssPageName=ADME:X:RTQ:AU:1123
- or this for NA models NS60S (or 480CCA) $145 + $9 Vic metro delivery
http://cgi.ebay.com.au/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?ViewItem&item=290887820622&ssPageName=ADME:X:RTQ:AU:1123
They are NOT AGM - they are silver calcium sealed - with dual vent outlets.
Their ebay spiel seems very confident.
Has anyone tried one of these and if so what was your experience?

[slees]

Some further research and I am pretty certain the RACV AGM battery 2340 model at $246 is a rebadged Westco 12V31M
The good news is that seems to be an excellent battery, although it doesn't seem to be available in Australia.
http://www.tayna.co.uk/31M-Westco-MX-5-MX5-Car-Battery-Reviews-2811.html

Just as an aside, that 8AMU1R part number on the Federal is the same as the Dekar.
So is the Federal an Australian rebadge of the Dekar?

[Old Dude]

I have the federal battery in my mx5 and it has worked fine . It also has the 2 breather tubes to the outside and I have had no problems. My daughters bot friend on the other hand has an old BMW that also has a boot mounted battery that someone previously put a normal battery in and the corrosion is massive!!!

Cheers
Dale

[Steampunk]

If you're not on a budget then just go for whatever you found to suit as it's obvious you did good research. I deduce the reason why SuperCharge said none of theirs suit an MX-5 boot might be because they think the boot is accessible from the cabin like sedans, hence danger of fumes.

I would have no hesitation buying SuperCharge again because I was seriously jilted by the Odyssey I bought which lasted a little over two years.

[Silvia]

I found Battery World had the best deal on AGM for MX5

[93_Clubman]

I have been trying to work with my local Autobahn to get a SuperCharge Gold as per the many posts about them. Either model MF40B20DF, GT12-35HR or MF43. SuperCharge today have said that NONE of their batteries suit an MX5 boot location.

Supercharge advised me that if their MF range Calcium battery became faulty it would no longer be suitable for the boot of an MX5. Supercharge GT is of course a non-vented AGM battery.

manga_blue has been using a Fullriver AGM for over three years. Caff also recently bought one for his NB8B:
viewtopic.php?f=77&t=55444&hilit=battery
viewtopic.php?f=55&t=55595&hilit=battery

Another option is the SSB vented Calcium battery from MX5 Mania for $135: http://www.mx5mania.com.au/product1875.htm

[manga_blue]

I've had a couple of Supercharge batteries, one in the 5 and one in the ute. Nothing special about them: average performance and very average life. Both died after a couple of years, so overall fairly poor value. They're just cheap chinese batteries with a Supercharge label on them. If you look around you might find a dozen different brands/labels on the same range of cheap cadmium chinese batteries.

Strongly recommend you stay with AGM. Far less fume problems and with something the size of the Fullriver HC20 it frees up a lot of room in an NA boot, enough to get in a set of full-sized clubs with the buggy.

I found Battery World had the best deal on AGM for MX5

x2

[slees]

Thanks very much for all the feedback.

Another option is the SSB vented Calcium battery from MX5 Mania for $135: http://www.mx5mania.com.au/product1875.htm

I wonder if that is the Super Start Battery model SS43M?
Would anyone know if there is a supplier in Melbourne?

I do like the sound of the FullRiver HC20 but needing to make a frame without a workshop and tools at the moment is a hassle.
If anyone had a pic of how they did it that would be much appreciated.
The best price I can find for Melbourne seems to be on Ebay at $130 + $20 freight

[manga_blue]

If anyone had a pic of how they did it that would be much appreciated.

It took me about an hour to do this. The original top bracket was replaced with a piece of shelf bracket, cut and drilled, and the original bottom holder has been moved forward about 80 mm. You need a decent drill and a hacksaw or angle grinder - that's about all. Parts were an old shelf bracket and one extra nut and bolt.

[Mr Morlock]

cheap batteries will not last as Manga says and I reckon he is right about the AGM but cost is an issue esp for those not keeping a car. Insofar as brackets are concerned its easy to buy aluminium angle or slotted metal angle.

[wozzah1975]

Depending on how serious you guys are about saving weight, especially in your race cars, I have Braille batteries in stock.

The ideal size for the MX5 would be the ML7C which is Carbon Fibre and Lithium Ion. They are tiny, and at 900grams the ultimate light weight.

Cheers
Warren

[Pamex]

Slees, I just remembered now. When chatting with Allmaz in Clayton, they mentioned they get MX5 batteries. Maybe give them a call. Good guys. Mention Pam sent you. The reason I mention it is they're good to look after you and are usually a reasonable price.

[bigdog]

Not pushing any barrows here, but the $99 Supercharge Gold I fitted six years ago (and inadvertently started the whole battery COW) is still going strong with zero issues. I will fit another one if and when it dies quite happily if they are still price competitive.

[Silvia]

...and I imagine some morning starts in the Blue Mountains could be quite challenging for a battery...

BTW My original Panasonic now has given 14 years service!