Battery Recommendations

[93_Clubman]

BTW My original Panasonic now has given 14 years service!

That would be a record or close to it for a Panasonic, but don't you have a 2002 NB8?

[93_Clubman]

Not pushing any barrows here, but the $99 Supercharge Gold

You wouldn't happen to know the model number by any chance?

MF43 by the look of it:
search.php?keywords=supercharge&terms=all&author=bigdog&sc=1&sf=all&sk=t&sd=d&sr=posts&st=0&ch=300&t=0&submit=Search

Panasonic: 235mm (L) x 160 (H) x 125 (W), & 9.5kg

MF43: 235x170x135 (LxHxW)

MF40B20DF: 195x202x128 (LxHxW)
From memory, both are slightly heavier than Panasonic, but it's on their website. Worth checking the battery post fitting & configuration as well.

[Silvia]

BTW My original Panasonic now has given 14 years service!

That would be a record or close to it for a Panasonic, but don't you have a 2002 NB8?

You're right - only 11 years.
Was shocked by Pamex reference to the "dead Silvia"

[NitroDann]

Because I dont care for all the hoopla over using specific parts, I just get whatever works and is good value.

I gave my last battery a VERY hard time killing it a few times and charging it by push start and letting it idle I went to the local battery shop, was a supercharge shop, asked for a used battery, they bench tested it, it was good, paid 50.

Bolted it in and low and behold the one in it was a supercharge gold that was labelled 2004 sell date.

The one I bought was a year old return. It is a supercharge silver.

All been good.

Honestly people just put a battery in it.

Dann

[93_Clubman]

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

Sorry but I posted the same link twice - and got the NB one wrong.
This is the correct link;
http://www.ebay.com.au/itm/BATTERY-N43-FORD-HOLDEN-HONDA-LOTUS-MAZDA-MITS-RENAULT-TOYOTA-COROLLA-SECA-/290888700821?pt=AU_Car_Parts_Accessories&hash=item43ba515395#ht_4970wt_1165

Not sure if you're just setting the record straight or looking for a response, but I'd go for a battery that MX5 forumites specifically have been able to provide you longer term feedback on.

[Pamex]

Silvia: Don't panic! It was for a Nissan S13 I got working and sold for a friend.

Although, if you have swallowed a Supercharge battery, we'd like to know. Winter is coming and I am worried that I may need to upgrade to higher cranking ability to get out of bed in the mornings. That might just do the trick!

[93_Clubman]

The SuperCharge Gold MF43 seems to be the current no nonsense choice.

It's a shame there are no breather tube outlets or AGM though.

If I feel I must have those it seems the next best option is the FullRiver HC20 AGM with some fitting modifications required.

BTW - do I have go to a Mazda dealer if I wanted and OEM Panasonic?

Supercharge GT12-35HR is AGM, but no attachment for breather tubes, however if it doesn't malfunction there's no need for breather tubes on the GT12-35HR.

Depending on NA6, NA8 or NB8, & MF43 or MF40B20DF, some people have found they also need to make minor mods.

Last I read Mazda dealers in the US stopped selling the Panasonic some years ago. But Big G seems to have bought one in QLD in Oct 2012. Not sure if there are alternative suppliers for the Panasonic.

[KevGoat]

Honestly people just put a battery in it.

Dann

When I first got Mexie, the battery died. Looked online at all the info about what to fit. In the end, it all became too hard so I just went down to Autobahn and purchased a SuperCharge for $99 with a 2 year replacement warranty. Figured I'd buy the correct battery once the car was fully functional and being used...well, 18 months later, often sitting for periods unused and with an alarm running, that cheap battery is running great. Heaps of start power every time. Still have 6 months for it to fail so I can go get my freebie replacement

All I do is check inside the boot occasionally and around the battery, check the terminals, check for any smell.

It's all I'd fit next time ...

[bear2230]

I use in Scooby a Odyssey pc1200 mjt.
You won't find a better battery. Ive had mine for 3 years now and car sometimes sits for 2-4 weeks without being dríven and powers a serious audio system.
Not cheap but I called these guys up and haggled and got delivered for a little over $320 I think.
http://www.ebay.com.au/itm/Odyssey-PC12 ... 622wt_1071
Its really heavy though at 17kg. So if weights a concern, maybe not the best choice. Fits like a beauty in NB cavity.(just)

SPECS
1200 cranking amps for 5 seconds
60% more starting power
Deep discharge reserve power
2 year storage life
8-12 year design life
Can be mounted in any orientation1090 cranking amps for 10 seconds
900 cranking amps for 20 seconds
Short circuit current over 2600A
44 amp hours
78 minute reserve capacity with 25amp load
Female brass terminal w/M6 SS bolt
Metal jacket
Length 7 11/16"
Width 6.5"
Height 6 5/8"
Weighs 37.5 lbs

A lot of high end car audio guys run this Odyssey or the Stinger spv44. You can buy the Stinger from FHRX studios. I have one of these in my Subaru but the Odyssey is better.

Richard.

[manga_blue]

You've done the opposite to what I do. I went to the little HC20 primarily to gain space. Smaller batteries free up an amazing amount of usable space in the NA boot, especially for long items. I'm not sure if it's the same for NBs though. If I'd had the time to research and find it then I should have bought something like this and installed it in the deep cavity in the boot just behind the driver:

It started my car a dozen times in a row, after disconnecting my fuel injector fuse it cranked
the car for 30 seconds straight.

Mine Weighs 900 Grams. The Hard part was done by a Mechanic Friend of mine.

Has done three track outings and seems fine.

viewtopic.php?f=19&t=45988&p=589782&hilit=battery#p589782

I was an instructor in that car for most of a track day and it started well every time (probably 20 or 30 times in fact). For a daily driver that was getting regular charge top-ups it would have been fine.

[aSimpleLife]

Excellent thread. Really appreciate the information. Followed up that suggestion by Pam and rang Allmaz in Clayton. Advised me to go direct to Centre Road Batteries in Springvale (they were so quick I didn't get to tell them Pam sent me - sorry). He said he had a 2 year warranty sealed non-AGM with breather tubes outlets for $115 and he throws in a free long clamp arm in case it's needed (turns out that must be for an NA and don't need it in an NB). When I picked up the battery saw it was a SuperCharge calcium Silver SMF43 (assume it's the same dimensions as the Gold MF43 - didn't ask if he could have put the breather tubes in a Gold as it was too late) and he adds the 2 breather tube outlets himself along with 2 lengths of tubing if you need them. I was very happy with the service. So have now got a fairly cheap sealed battery with breather tubes. Have paid a premium for the breather tubes but am happy with that. If it doesn't work out I'll next try the AGM FullRiver HC20.
As for installing in the NB, it was just a little too wide for the plastic base, and I split that trying to make it fit and for now have nothing under the battery but metal. With the bracket across the top of the battery was just able to squeeze that on and it's all secure and clamped down. The existing cars breather tubes slid on the outlets, although turned one outlet around so they both faced the same way and re applied the silicone. Have included a few pics in case that helps anyone else.

Battery showing added breather tubes.

MX5-battery-new-01.jpg

SuperCharge Silver battery & split plastic based

MX5-battery-new-02.jpg

Installed

MX5-battery-new-05.jpg

Complimentary clamp arm

MX5-battery-new-06.jpg

[Pamex]

Excellent! Glad they were able to help. :-)

[KevGoat]

How do they add the breathers? Do they just drill in to the top of the case and add the tube or is there more to it?

Sent from my GT-I9100T using Tapatalk 2

[aSimpleLife]

How do they add the breathers? Do they just drill in to the top of the case and add the tube or is there more to it?

As per the top picture, from what I can see they have drilled into the top of the case and tapped in 2 plugs then siliconed each to seal. The tubes are added to these plugs. I did not see them do this. I am assuming they are doing the job properly (not that I would know if they weren't). He did say that SuperCharge were aware of what he was doing and had no problems with it. That is as much as I can add.

[rpost77]

Just to add mine to the list of batteries to recommend.

My MX5 is a 1990 NA6.

Battery used is:-

Delkor 22NF330D

On my second one of these - bought in 2009 to replace previous one that lasted for about 7 years.

Can be obtained for around $130 (I got mine from eBay shipped to my door for same price as cheapest store price).

Slightly different size to stock battery so had to get a different holder (taller I think). Also only one breather hole so needed a modified tube.

It is a Calcium no maintenance battery.

Have had issues with the current one due to some vampire circuit somewhere (think it's the remote door locks) so if I don't drive the car for about 2 weeks (happens frequently) the car won't start.

Connect it up to the charger and all good - have done this about 8 times in the last year and the battery is still fine - upgraded to a CTEK MSX10 charger for added security and from the chargers readouts etc. the battery is still good (and the hydrometer display still looks healthy after charging).

Will eventually fix the vampire drain - but when the battery is due for replacement I will get another without hesitation.