Date: Fri, 12 Dec 2014 18:46:22 -0500
Reply-To: Dennis Haynes <d23haynes57@HOTMAIL.COM>
Sender: Vanagon Mailing List <vanagon@gerry.vanagon.com>
From: Dennis Haynes <d23haynes57@HOTMAIL.COM>
Subject: Re: Another Primary Battery Option
In-Reply-To: <548B1B7D.8020902@cfu.net>
Content-Type: text/plain; charset="us-ascii"
The H6 (yes a new numbering system is amongst us) replaces the BCI group 48
battery. Yes it is about 5/8" taller than the BCI group 41. Like most AGM
you will find over time the best part of the design is the advertising.
There life expectancy is all over the place and failure is usually sudden. I
have been around these things in many shapes and sizes including large UPS
and forklift applications. What they seem to like the least is temperature
changes. Anything that makes them vent makes them loose some electrolyte
until one or more cells dry up. That's it mate!
Getting 4 years out of a battery for intermittent or severe use is not that
bad. As for the Interstate the same battery at Walmart is a lot less and the
way treat the warranty is to refund what is left and you get that new
battery with new warranty. Works real well if you have failure during the 2
year free replacement.
Dennis
-----Original Message-----
From: Vanagon Mailing List [mailto:vanagon@gerry.vanagon.com] On Behalf Of
Max Wellhouse
Sent: Friday, December 12, 2014 11:45 AM
To: vanagon@GERRY.VANAGON.COM
Subject: Another Primary Battery Option
Folks: Just bought an Autocraft H-6 AGM battery for like $170 at Advanced
Auto in hopes I'll find a solution to cold starting up here in Iowa. I've
gone through two Interstates over the last 7 or 8 years and they are lasting
just about long enough that it's not worth using up the remaining warranty
trading it in on a new one.
The H-6 has the recessed terminals and fits in the Vanagon box just fine,
but is about a half inch too tall for the metal lid to properly close. I
drilled out the small rivets holding the hinge on the rear of the lid and
will make a small shim and reattach the lid as time allows.
If that doesn't work. I have a couple of wood and/or fiberglass options
that should work and still have clearance for the seat sliding
if the shim idea isn't workable. I keep a thin piece of conveyor belt
glued to the underside ofthe metal lid for extra protection in the positive
terminal side of the compartment. The facytory hold down clamp was modified
slightly so it could contact the battery housing properly
The $170 for the battery is a lot for someone on my budget, but the glass
mat technology intrigues me and having the 950 CA/760 CCA rating should help
out this time of year. I'm not saying for all of your to run out and buy
one just yet, but I will be monitoring how it performs this winter.
DM&FS
