Date:         Sat, 20 Aug 2005 08:52:14 -0400
Reply-To:     Edward Maglott <emaglott@BUNCOMBE.MAIN.NC.US>
Sender:       Vanagon Mailing List <vanagon@gerry.vanagon.com>
From:         Edward Maglott <emaglott@BUNCOMBE.MAIN.NC.US>
Subject:      Re: optima vs 27DC-6?
In-Reply-To:  <6da5793405081913304add0ce6@mail.gmail.com>
Content-Type: text/plain; charset="us-ascii"; format=flowed

I think this is the Walmart deep cycle battery I tried recently.  It was
$40 and 90 Ah, iirc.  I took it back after a week because it was too tall
to fit under the driver's seat.  I don't have  a swivel on the driver's
side, and the tall battery prevented the seat from sliding back to where I
want it.  I usually keep the seat nearly all the way back despite being
only about 5'7" tall.  With the battery installed, the seat was forward
enough that  the angle of my ankle felt less than 90 degrees, and got
uncomfortable even on a 2 hours drive.  I also like the seat farther back
so I am that little bit farther back from the impact in a front end crash.

I traded the battery for the group 41 regular battery.  Fits nicely in the
battery compartment, but is not deep cycle and surely will not work as well
electrically.

Edward

At 04:30 PM 8/19/2005, you wrote:
> >  The PO of my van put one of those in six months or so before I bought
> > it. Seems like a perfectly serviceable battery.
> >  John,
> >
> >  This thing fits under the driver's seat?
>
>I am now not so sure it's a 27DC-6. I don't have the van nearby so I
>can't check. I remember that part number distinctly, but now I think
>maybe my memory is playing tricks on me. Googling around, I see that
>"27DC-6" is the part number for an Exide battery very commonly used in
>solar and RV applications, and it's HUGE-- a group 27. The fact that
>I've recently done a lot of research into solar RV battery charging
>systems for a client at work leaves me with the sneaking suspicion
>that I am conflating a part number from my research with the WalMart
>battery in my van. I feel I must suspend my previous battery review
>until I do a sanity check on the actual battery itself on Sunday. I
>could swear I remember right, but it wouldn't be the first time this
>has happened to me...