Mitsubishi Delica Owners Club UK™

Pajeropah · Posted: Fri Jul 08, 2005 21:00 Post subject: Batteries?

Anyone know what the minimum Amp/hour should be for the single Deli battery? If its lower than it should be wil it cause any problems?

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Ginja Nutz · Joined: 11 Mar 2004 Posts: 347 Location: Norwich,

Hi

Info for suitable replacements is here............

http://www.MDOCUK.co.uk/forums/viewtopic.php?t=30

If you get anything smaller the main problem you will have is starting in the winter.
You could also have problems from overcurrent charging from the alternator from the mismatch between the alternator the battery load and problems running various combinations of onboard goodies (again more so in the winter).

Why would you want something smaller than required/standard Question

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HSTDoctor · Joined: 06 Jun 2004 Posts: 105 Location: Bristol

I can only help out with L300 specs, which are;

Single battery: AH (5 hr) = 64, Reserve capacity = 159, Cold Cranking Current = 622

Dual Battery: AH (5 hr) = 55, Reserve Capacity = 133, Cold Cranking Current = 582

If you have a battery with a lower amp hour spec. you will discharge the battery in a shorter time if you use accessories when the engine isn't running.

I suspect that a smaller AH battery will also have a lower cranking current,one problem will be caused by the fact that the more discharged a battery gets, the higher the current you can draw from it. So trying to start with a discahrged battery can reduce starter motor life, as the moter draws more than its designed operating current.

Pajeropah · Posted: Sun Jul 10, 2005 17:19 Post subject:

The reason I asked was because I have heard that the amp/hour rate should be around 90 and the one the dealer put in was 75 A/Hr. Would 75 A/hr give me problems starting? Didn't appear to have any problems last winter although I did end up changing the glow plugs cos I was pre heating 3 to 4 times before it was starting and as I stated elsewhere on the forum I'm having to pre heat 2 to 3 times with the temperature at around 12 ºC, this has just started to happen.

HSTDoctor · Joined: 06 Jun 2004 Posts: 105 Location: Bristol

Jimbob · Joined: 17 May 2005 Posts: 37 Location: Stamford

Sorry Doctor - not quite correct!
Embarassed

The AH or more correctly the AHC (ampere hour capacity) of a battery is its total useable energy. A 90 AH battery when fully charged will supply 90 amps for 1 hour or 1 amp for 90 hours or any combination of amps and hours that multiply up to 90.

Bear in mind the usual safe charge/discharge rate is about 8 hours so for a 90 AHC battery = 90(AHC)/8(hours) = 11(and a bit amps) so the safe charge rate is 11 amps. This is exceeded during starting though hopefully for a very short period.

:? The cold cranking rate (CCR) is the amperage a fully charged battery will supply for 30 seconds at 0 degrees Centigrade (the battery would then be fully discharged [flat] though cells would still give a reading of surface voltage of about 1.7 volts but wouldn't accept any appreciable load - just enough to make the ignition lights glimmer)

A useful link may be http://www.absolutebattery.com/faq.htm

Jimbob

Ginja Nutz link indicates that 90 AHC is the correct capacity. Exclamation

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Ginja Nutz · Joined: 11 Mar 2004 Posts: 347 Location: Norwich,

Handbook states 75 or 90 amps battery for 2.8 diesel - doesn't specify CCA
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numptys numnuts · Posted: Mon Jul 11, 2005 20:27 Post subject:

Mine is fitted with a 75 Amp battery and has been since we bought it. Starts first time everytime weather or temp irrelevant and that will be nearly 2 years come October. Was thinking of upgrading it but never got round to it. Am I tempting fate probably but then again if it ain't broke don't fix it.

Only time it gave us problems is when the fuel seals went then starting became somewhat of a struggle and would take 4 or 5 attempts to fire.
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Pajeropah · Posted: Mon Jul 11, 2005 22:12 Post subject:

Thanks everyone for your replies, put my mind at rest with the 75 A/hr battery, thanks Numpty!!
Looks like I'm back to a glow plug problem Crying or Very sad