Just wondering if anyone in the room has one or has any experience of them. My Cooper will be on the road in a few weeks and needs a new battery and I have heard that whilst expensive, these gel batteries are the beez kneez.

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1964 Cooper UK 970 S 'CZ 4289'

Haven't experienced it with cars, but I had a CBR600 motorbike that was a bit of a garage queen and everytime I went to ride it I would flatten the battery cranking it before it started. I put an Absorbed Glass Mat (AGM) battery in and didn't have a problem after that - they have less cranking power but discharge more slowly so retain their charge longer.

I solved my problem long term by buying a new fuel injected bike, but when it needs a new battery I will put an AGM in. However, for the 2-3 months between putting the AGM battery in, and trading it in it started everytime.

A fellow rider was doing a round australia trip in stages leaving his bike at various friends and relatives houses for up to 3 mths at a time. He had a fuel inj. bike and AGM battery. When it came time to fire it up after 3 mths in my garage, it fired up on the second attempt (I think he deliberately failed the first time, to trick the computer into fuelling it up more for the second attempt).

I can't speak highly enough about them.
KB

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My brother runs one in his "commode' (aka mobile toilet) and its a good thing.......when i next need a batery i will be making the investment (600 - 750 cca.....gotta love the extra grunt)

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http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=nDMkVq1jRGU

Thanks KB & Ballistic.
I have just been doing some Googling and the AGM battery looks like what I am after. I will let you know what I caome up with.

bam.

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1964 Cooper UK 970 S 'CZ 4289'

Its a good way to minimise the rust on the battery tray. I believe one of the guys running Toyota power on here uses an Odyssey.

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One should never skimp on the zip ties.

Yea Ben, I switched the Odyssey to Em's mini and run an an Optima Redtop in mine now.

The Odyssey's are good, but i've found the Optima a better battery that feels stronger when cranking as these are specific starter batteries.

It's got about 720CCA

I use a trickle charger as well on mine just to be safe when the car sits there for months.

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Starlet Conversion:
http://www.ausmini.com/forums/viewtopic.php?t=15484

Ive used two Delkor batteries in my mini in 12yrs. I also recently put one in the XR. The Mini sits for months and months without being started but always cranks strong and has plenty of current left for the subwooooofers. The XR also sits for weeks on end and still cranks no worries.

They are not gel, just calcium MF. Have been good to me so far.

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http://www.youtube.com/user/Hanras

Cant go past an optima but they come are expensive

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If you want more inches, stroke it
Life's a garden.... Dig It!
http://www.ausmini.com/forums/viewtopic.php?t=20746

i recommend the yellow top optima over the red top.
it's a deep cycle battery, so if you get it flat it won't ruin you expensive battery. this is especially important if you don't drive your mini very often.

and they will start a new motor with no issues. as well as winch a full 120 feet of cable without the motor running on its own.

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I got sick of replacing batteries every 2 years and had heard stories of Optima batteries lasting 8-10 years. I bought a yellow top (deep cycle) battery and it lasted 3 years. Poor value at $400. I contacted Optima and they didn't seem surprised that it only lasted that long.

I am back to using a standard battery and bought a smart trickle charger to keep it topped up when not in use. Guys on the forums in the USA where they can have cars laid up for more than half of the year reckon it can double or triple the life of a battery keeping it topped up.

I'll let you know how it goes in 5 or 6 years time.

Pete

No idea about gel batteries, but my friend has a boat, and he always had battery problems, he put a solar panel on his shed, so while its packed away all winter, the sun tops up the battery, no problems since then.

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Cool stuff!!

The only vehcile at my joint that sits in the one spot long enough to go flat is the ride on mower.
After I got sick of jump starting it every I wanted to use it, I grabbed a new battery and a cheapo solar panel and no worries since.

But as for AGMs, most of my bike riding mates use Odysseys including myself. I've had mine for about 5 yrs so far. Well worth it.

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'72 English Van...'72 Export Moke ...63' 850...KZ 750E1...'74 P76

you must have got a dud, or your charging system was over charging?
i've had mine for 5 years no a worries. and it's had a hard life.
i used it in my 4x4 for 3 years as the only battery, to run the winch, starting and keep everything else going. as a winch battery, it was abused. and its still alive.

but still i haven't heard great things about the red top, very sketchy reliability.

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Same here but I just drilled one of the battery terminal holes out larger and fitted the red key type battery isolater switch directly to the battery . Finish mowing and take the key out , no more flat batteries . It isn't the battery losing charge by itself , it's a slight draw by something in the mower that does it .

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So, what sort of solar panel would look good on a roundy????

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1964 Cooper UK 970 S 'CZ 4289'