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Suggestions on Battery and Battery Cables?

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mjobrien

mjobrien

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Team Healey!

OK down to two minor details, I now need to go get a Battery and source some Battery Cables for the BN1. I was thinking Optima Red Top for the battery. I have two 6V's but thought keep them for showing when and if I do.

On Cables, Moss does not have the main from battery to solenoid so not sure if that's a Autoparts store visit or a make it yourself job....

All insights welcomed.

Michael.
 
I don't know squat about the 6V batteries. One question comes to mind though, are the terminals on the 6V and the Optima compatible? If you plan the switch back and forth that may become an issue.
 
I think, and I've been told to stop doing that, that you can get a "Tar Topper" that goes over the Optima battery. The Tar Topper makes the battery look vintage. I think, there I go again, Moss sells it.

Happy motoring!
Roger
 
Michael:

I have opted to keep the two six volts with my 100 since I probably put on 1000 miles per year..I see no real value in switching (i may be real wrong)...All my cables are new with the correct caps (they came with the car)...so if MOss doesn't have it try Healey Surgeons or other suppliers..your car is too nice to use some cobbled up cables!!!


Pete
 
I have elected to keep the original two 6-volt batteries arrangement in both of my Hundreds. It's probably a personality disorder, but therapy is expensive.

One, the show car, has those ghastly expensive reproduction vintage Lucas batteries. I keep them on a Battery Tender and they do a good job of starting the engine once a week during my "conjugal visits." (The car is stored across town at a rented garage.)

My driver 100, stored with the show car, has a pair of 6-volt batteries that I bought from Moss. They are also kept on a Battery Tender, and they also get used at least once a week during said visits. They are very weak, despite being on a charger. I'm not sure if the problem is the batteries or the starter or something else. However, the car does start reliably, even if it always seems like it barely makes it. In cold weather it did fail to start once.

I have wondered if anyone has ever used two 12-volt batteries connected in series. Seems like a good way to guarantee lots of cranking power. I hate balky, weak starting. Anyone?
 
I seem to suffer from the same personality disorder!
2 x 12 volts is series will give 24 volts! That will crank the motor mightily but may also blow something as well.
 
I bought my six volts from NAPA....made sure they were the smallest battery that had the highest cranking power..which when I think I compared with the original batteries it was significantly greater....the fit nicely and have held a charge so far for the winter... believe they were 65 apiece??

Pete
 
Editor_Reid said:
I have wondered if anyone has ever used two 12-volt batteries connected in series. Seems like a good way to guarantee lots of cranking power. I hate balky, weak starting. Anyone?
Click to expand...
With the proper relays it "could" be setup to put two 12v batteries in series for 24v starting & the two batteries in parallel for 12v running & charging.

It will "crank the motor mightily". The problem, other than complexity & cost, is that two batteries being charged in parallel will never have exactly the same internal characteristics & will not receive their optimum charges. This will result in relatively short life for the batteries.

Converting the starter to 6 volt operation on the 12v system would accomplish the same thing. Over time the starter's life would be somewhat shortened.

I think you have ruled this option out, but a 12v "gear reduction starter" will give very good cranking on the original battery set up. It draws much less current & has more torque.
D
 
Michael,
Forget the 24 volt stuff. If you are not very careful with 24V systems you can smoke a wire in a nano second. I think you ment in parallel anyway. I don't think that the Optima batteries will fit in the space for the (2) 6 volt batteries that were on either side of the driveshaft/differential in the BN-1 and 2 (that being said, they are spectacular performers and I use them for ground-power supply for the turbine helicopters I work on, starts and everything). What I did is blasphemy for most folks, but it was an elegant solution to my problem of not wanting to be stuck relying on the original Lucas terminals, or the very expensive batteries that will fit in this space. I Have 2 "lawn and garden" tractor batteries (available at any auto parts store, in any town around the world that has lawns). They are 12V and in parallel. Plenty of cranking power, regular automotive terminals, small, and readily available as a pair for about $60. I did have to fabricate trays and hold down clamps for them, but that was not a big deal. Obviously this is not something that would be easy to set up for showing either. Might not be what you want, but it works well for me.
 
Yes, I did mean <span style="font-weight: bold"><span style="font-style: italic">in parallel</span></span> - two 12-volt batteries in parallel. Anyone done this?

I would not rule out installing a gear reduction starter, but would like to keep things looking original. Do they make gear reduction starters that can use the original case?
 
Great input from all - Now I just need to pick a direction and get going! I'll get back any let you know how it goes.

This is what's really great about this site, I had a quesiton in Chicago this morning and by the time I get to Tampa I have 10 opinions!

BTW, Got the Exhust and seats back in over the last weekend so getting close for sure....

Michael.
 
Editor_Reid said:
Yes, I did mean <span style="font-weight: bold"><span style="font-style: italic">in parallel</span></span> - two 12-volt batteries in parallel. Anyone done this?

I would not rule out installing a gear reduction starter, but would like to keep things looking original. Do they make gear reduction starters that can use the original case?
Click to expand...

Really not much to be gained with parallel 12v batteries.

No gear reduction starter in the original case, to my knowledge.
D
 
Michael,

If you want originality (Lucas helmet style) Sports and Classics in Stamford Ct (203)348-2226. They have all the cables, battery to battery, and battery to solenoid. Make sure you bring your wallet they are not cheap!
 
Dave,
As I understand, 12v in parallel keeps 12v but doubles the available amps, 12v in series doubles to 24v but keeps the amps the same, so with my minute knowledge about this I would be thinking the parallel would give a large increase to CCA, not sure about the duration of delivery tho!
 
You are right about the double available amps with new batteries but remember the down side of double available cranking amps. You also need double the capacity charing amps as before to replenish the charge in both batteries to the same state of charge as with one battery installed. Since our cars came with relatively low output generators, ( compared to modern alternators ), then it is unlikely that two batteries would last very long unless you also installed one of the alternator conversions.
:cheers:
 
My point is, having double the "available" amps won't help much if the starter only draws a certain amount of current.

The only time that parallel batteries would help much is if you were trying to start the car in very cold temperatures. This would be an advantage because all batteries lose much of their capacity at very low temperatures.
D
 
Speaking of batteries, last week I had to replace the Interstate 12 volt in my BT7. It ONLY lasted 8-1/2 years. Started everytime. Guess what brand I put back in?
 
Getting a little more technical Ohm's Law is I=V/R (current equals voltage divided by resistance). Starter motor torque increases with starting current. A starter motor stall resistance is fixed so you can connect many batteries in parallel and not increase starting current (or starting torque) unless you'v reduced battery voltage drop. Battery voltage drop is reduced by more battery current capacity i.e higher cranking amps from a single battery in good condition, warm battery or batteries connected in parallel. Charging batteries connected in parallel can be a problem since charging current will flow proportionally more to the battery with weakest charge and lowest internal resistance. As a consequence a weak battery will tend to degrade a good battery so it's important to have matching batteries in both design and condition. I think it's best to get a high capacity single battery and assure low resistance in cables, connections and the battery shutoff switch. A small 0.1 ohm resistance in cables and related connections in a 12V system robs significant cranking torque. Disclaimer, I've had some wine tonight and proceed with great risk of ridicule.
 
Stretch,
You are right on about one battery being better than two. Some years ago, I had a diesel with two batteries and whenever I had battery/charging trouble, I would always seem to have to buy both batteries plus the alternator all at once.
Ed
:thirsty:
 
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