Is a battery a battery?

cormie

About 3 years ago I got a nice 700amp heavy duty battery for what worked out to be about €70 up the North for use in a Ford Transit. I think the same here was costing about €140. Unfortunately the crowd I got it from no longer stock them.

I never heard of the brand before, Tungstone and did a google and there doesn't seem to be anything on them either, but did see another Heavy Duty 700amp on Ebay for about £50.

Just wondering if at the end of the day, a battery is a battery and it's quality will only be determined by the ampage, voltage etc or would brand make any difference? Would I be getting pretty much the same thing I got before if the amp and voltage were the same?

Also, while I'm at it, could a heavy duty one work in a regular petrol car if I was to get more than 1, or would it be overkill? I checked the space for the battery and it mightn't even fit, but power and connectivity wise, is it all the same?

Also, I seem to recall my old Luton Transit with a tail lift had 2 batteries, but the newer Luton I have seems to only have the one. Can two batteries be used for extra back up (if I've stuff going in the van like a DVR camera etc)?

Lastly, I saw on another forum some chap got offered a few quid for his old batteries. Is there a market for old batteries here or is it best just to leave them off in my local motor factors who take old batteries for free?

Any feedback appreciated

listermint

In short, no.

The quality of batteries is not determined by the voltage or amperage or cca. Different manufactures will put warrantys on the lifespan of batteries etc, so the key here is mostly as with anything you will get what you pay for.

Some of the leading manufacturers here (and the ones with decent warranties) are Bosch and Varta.

Obviously you can get cheaper ones but they generally will not last as long or have sizeable warranties included. Your paying for the tech.

listermint

Oh and on your second question there is a market for old batteries but youd need a large quantity of them for it to be worth it, (above 15) you can get reasonable cash current pricing im not 100% on.

but if its 1 or 2 storing them isnt worth it.

cormie

Thanks a lot for the reply. To be honest, I know sfa about batteries, ampage, voltage and all of that so was hoping to be told a 700amp will be good and just go with it But thankfully, the Varta brand you mentioned is indeed the one I mentioned coming across on Ebay so I might go for that! http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/12V-80Ah-700-AMPS-VARTA-CAR-BATTERY-HEAVY-DUTY-BATTERIES-12-VOLT-/160724737779?_trksid=p5197.m1992&_trkparms=aid%3D111000%26algo%3DREC.CURRENT%26ao%3D1%26asc%3D14%26meid%3D1418918870486347298%26pid%3D100015%26prg%3D1006%26rk%3D1%26

does it look like a decent battery/deal?

Who would I be trying to sell batteries too? Motor scrapyard? Metal scrappers? Even if I had them in the van and could get a fiver for them if I was driving by somewhere..

listermint

cormie wrote: »

Thanks a lot for the reply. To be honest, I know sfa about batteries, ampage, voltage and all of that so was hoping to be told a 700amp will be good and just go with it But thankfully, the Varta brand you mentioned is indeed the one I mentioned coming across on Ebay so I might go for that! http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/12V-80Ah-700-AMPS-VARTA-CAR-BATTERY-HEAVY-DUTY-BATTERIES-12-VOLT-/160724737779?_trksid=p5197.m1992&_trkparms=aid%3D111000%26algo%3DREC.CURRENT%26ao%3D1%26asc%3D14%26meid%3D1418918870486347298%26pid%3D100015%26prg%3D1006%26rk%3D1%26

does it look like a decent battery/deal?

Who would I be trying to sell batteries too? Motor scrapyard? Metal scrappers? Even if I had them in the van and could get a fiver for them if I was driving by somewhere..

Yeah that battery appears to be alright,cant see anything wrong with the spec and it carries a 3 year warranty (says from the seller) so look into how a returns process would occur.

Alas i think batteries are generally done by weight, so dropping off one at a time will not happen for you. sold by the tonne. maybe like 200 Euro per tonne figure.

cormie

Good stuff, I might go with two of them ones so! You don't think I'll have any troubles putting that battery into a Transit or Opel Astra, should be fine in either?

200eur a tonne, so maybe a tenner for two, still a tenner I guess

listermint

cormie wrote: »

Good stuff, I might go with two of them ones so! You don't think I'll have any troubles putting that battery into a Transit or Opel Astra, should be fine in either?

200eur a tonne, so maybe a tenner for two, still a tenner I guess

chances of anyone taking them off you for cash are slim.

cormie

Ah fair enough, I guess that's what the motor factors do so, just wait till they have loads and cash them in. Thanks again, I'll go with 2 of them, nice with the 3 year warranty and familiar name too. Will give it a go in the Astra and see what happens and maybe I can somehow use the transit one I'll be replacing as a back up too for tail lift/dvr camera etc..

brembo26

was gettin near €500 a ton of batteries about 6 months ago. Im sure the price has gone down since though...

Spook_ie

cormie wrote: »

About 3 years ago I got a nice 700amp heavy duty battery for what worked out to be about €70 up the North for use in a Ford Transit. I think the same here was costing about €140. Unfortunately the crowd I got it from no longer stock them.

I never heard of the brand before, Tungstone and did a google and there doesn't seem to be anything on them either, but did see another Heavy Duty 700amp on Ebay for about £50.

Just wondering if at the end of the day, a battery is a battery and it's quality will only be determined by the ampage, voltage etc or would brand make any difference? Would I be getting pretty much the same thing I got before if the amp and voltage were the same?

Also, while I'm at it, could a heavy duty one work in a regular petrol car if I was to get more than 1, or would it be overkill? I checked the space for the battery and it mightn't even fit, but power and connectivity wise, is it all the same?

Also, I seem to recall my old Luton Transit with a tail lift had 2 batteries, but the newer Luton I have seems to only have the one. Can two batteries be used for extra back up (if I've stuff going in the van like a DVR camera etc)?

Lastly, I saw on another forum some chap got offered a few quid for his old batteries. Is there a market for old batteries here or is it best just to leave them off in my local motor factors who take old batteries for free?

Any feedback appreciated

http://www.ukbatteries.co.uk/brands/tungstone

cormie

bad news, the two batteries were going to cost me £80 (ex UK vat) but shipping was working out at £120 to Dublin :eek:

I also notice the same seller has a 950amp for only £20 more. Would there be much difference in these? By the way, I seem to remember something about a battery under the driver seat needing certain safety features. Do these batteries linked to have them? Something about something or other being covered...

osheen

cormie wrote: »

bad news, the two batteries were going to cost me £80 (ex UK vat) but shipping was working out at £120 to Dublin :eek:

I also notice the same seller has a 950amp for only £20 more. Would there be much difference in these? By the way, I seem to remember something about a battery under the driver seat needing certain safety features. Do these batteries linked to have them? Something about something or other being covered...

As far as i know they need to be sealed (maintanance free) as they can give of flammable gas on the older type

galwaytt

cormie wrote: »

bad news, the two batteries were going to cost me £80 (ex UK vat) but shipping was working out at £120 to Dublin :eek:

I also notice the same seller has a 950amp for only £20 more. Would there be much difference in these? By the way, I seem to remember something about a battery under the driver seat needing certain safety features. Do these batteries linked to have them? Something about something or other being covered...

....tbh, I'm surprised that you didn't think that something as heavy as a 700A battery wouldn't cost a fortune to ship to you from UK - are you not in the, ahem, courier business yourself... ? Quite apart from Sterling....not to mention, VAT. If you buy a battery from a garage here and get them to fit it, there's only 13.5% VAT on it (and it's a 5 minute job), where as VAT in the UK is 20%...........

Then, there's warranty.......how would you use it if you needed it, from UK ?

Finally, all batteries are not created equal, and Tungstone have been around for years: did you try your local Farmer's Co-Op ?

Not everything in the UK, or on eBay, is cheaper or better, than here.

We fit camera's and tailiftst to vehicle at work all the time, and a camera pulls very little juice - and you can't just bung in a 2nd battery and hope for the best..........I'll ask the guys who do it, tomorrow.

eth0

There are some poor enough batteries out there. Wouldnt take much notice of amp/Ah ratings on the unknown brand yokes, usually a pack of lies stuck on by a Chinese manufacturer.

Also batteries that might be unused but sat idle for a long time wont last as long.

cormie

Thanks again for the replies.

I know they are heavy alright galwaytt, guess I just get a little upset when shipping is more than the item itself!

Do you sell Tungstone batteries in your place galway? I assume you're in Galway?