coozer
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| posted on 22/10/09 at 03:29 PM |
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Cheap Battery?
Spotted TIHS
battery at Toolstation and can't help thinking its a bit of a bargain.
My Redtop 25 is 12v 16ah and cost 4 times that one.. would it be OK for a small car or bike??
1972 V8 Jago
1980 Z750
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Findlay234
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| posted on 22/10/09 at 03:54 PM |
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Ive been using a REALLY OLD golf cart battery in mine and its been fine, bit more than 12Ah though... think mine is 17Ah but it is at least 10 years
old or more. Doesnt hold its charge all too well, couple of weeks at least but I think im going to look for another golf cart battery. 22Ah for about
£45..
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MikeRJ
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| posted on 22/10/09 at 03:56 PM |
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No, these are very different from the Redtop racing batteries. They use a gel electrolyte that means internal resistance is higher (lower peak
current) and they have quite fussy charging requirements.
They are designed for standby applications, e.g. burglar/fire alarms, UPS. It would probably work for a while, but they simply aren't design to
cope with the kind of current a starter motor pulls.
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flak monkey
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| posted on 22/10/09 at 04:17 PM |
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Nope, normal lead acid batteries arent designed to take 200+amps when cranking. You'll just melt it....
Redtops are still gel electrolyte. Its more down to the design of the plates inside than anything else AFAIK
Sera
http://www.motosera.com
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Rosco
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| posted on 22/10/09 at 05:10 PM |
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I notice that Rally Design now have an RMD branded battery for about £50. No idea if it's any good. But looks be out half the cost of a Red
Top.
Anyone tried it?
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MikeRJ
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| posted on 22/10/09 at 06:08 PM |
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quote:
Originally posted by flak monkey
Redtops are still gel electrolyte.
They aren't true gel batteries like the burglar alarm ones; they use a standard liquid electrolyte which is absorbed into glass mat between the
plates.
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martyn_16v
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| posted on 22/10/09 at 08:06 PM |
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These types of battery also don't like vibration at all, the plates tend to be supported at one end only and have a habit of shattering after a
little abuse, drastically reducing capacity.
In my case, 'a little abuse' meant using them to power some kit onboard a rollercoaster car. It only took a month for them to be down to
about 25% of their rated capacity 
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