Question re high performance battery

deandean

My 530D is fitted with a Webasto auxillary heater to which I have added an external run signal. It works great - on a cold morning you start the Webasto which warms the coolant; the dash defrost fans automatically switch on and after about 15 minutes I come out to a warmed, defrosted car without running the engine!

However the unit trips out after about 10 minutes, which after research is due to reducing battery voltage (heater stops <=11.5V). The heater will run as long as I want if a charger is connected to the battery.

The Webasto is rated at 3 Amps, and the dash blower fans probably use as much again.

The VARTA battery in the car is 2 1/2 years old and is a replacement for the OEM battery - i think 90AH and 650A or so. I wouldn't expect it to be shagged after just 2 1/2 years? Battery rest voltage is 12.3V.

I've looked around and there is a range of high performance betteries, the top of the pile seems to be the Optima Yellowtop. Optima doesn't seem to be available in Ireland though.

Has anyone any experience of high performance batteries, and are they worth the extra money (2 to 3 times the price of a normal replacement). Perhaps people with high power ICE systems and the like have similar problems when running equipment with the car stopped?

Also - any recommendations as to brand and supplier?

Thanks.

Melodeon

Hawker Odysseys are a big favourite of the 4x4/off-road winching crowd:
http://www.odysseyfactory.com/batteries.html

They have a couple of Irish distributors:
http://www.odysseyfactory.com/countries/ireland.html

5500

I used optima blue top's in many an ICE install, they can take a pounding and I only ever seen one fail. Another option thats the same and used in high end ICE install's are stinger batterys, they're a good dry cell and the same as Optimas.

Try EuroPower in Glasnevin for either (01) 830 0884