Cheap SLAs

[allencr]

I only read this post to find out 'SLA'.
For a light weight battery, I'd look at all those portable jumper cable battery things, maybe even being sold as close as at the local supermarket or drugstore. Their terminals will probably be much weaker & not made with big lugs for rough handling, but their output/specs should be close. Any chance that the heavy one might do 2 things & be used to help ballast the car better then a light weight would?
If the starting system needs it, - then it's a battery with a bit more size& bling.

[adamaw11]

I got an odyssey 650 3 years ago (same dimensions as the x-cell x680) and it is now completely dead. It only lasted about 3.5 years!
It costed me $230 which I think is too much to spend on a battery every 3 years.

I thought odyssey dry cells were meant to last longer than normal batteries.

anyway, looks like I'll have to buy something similar if I want to keep my battery in the same (relocated) location.

I'm thinking about going for the x-cell now, since $170 doesn't sound too bad. but still only says 3-5 years service life.

Is it possible to make these things last longer by looking after them eg. not letting get discharged completely?

[cambelt]

Heat is biggest killer of SLA,s , if you insulate the battery and feed it some cool air you will get better results. If i were using a SLA id go the german ones and keep it cool = 6 years
Dave

[adamaw11]

any idea where I'd look for one of the Hitachi batteries?

[cambelt]

Just try to see where they are made first as so many things are made to a cheaper quality nowdays. I had a china genuine yuasa SLA fail at 12 months.
Find japan made or german .
Dave

[thechuckster]

Adam: tried Battery World? I know there's a store at Albion (the dude has sent the club promo stuff in the past) but there's bound to be something near/around Moss Street @ Underwood.

[adamaw11]

I ended up buying one off ebay, and it was delivered within a week.

its one of those X-Cell ones, have hooked it up and it cranks really well.

I'm gonna use a circuit breaker to disconnect it when the car is going to sit for a while, in the hope that will make the battery last longer.