How many CCA's do we really need?

[Begle1]

The book lists 1025 CCA's.

I've been running my truck since I got it with a battery half the size of the group 31's, I don't know what the CCA rating on it is but I'd bet that it's no where near 1025. I've never had the slightest problem cranking it up, it's had the ability to crank for a couple minutes straight with no slow-down, and it's survived me leaving my headlights on for a few hours at a time too.

Considering how well these things start, I'd imagine that the 1025 rating is much more due to the grid heaters than the starting.

So, how small of a battery can we get away with? Especially those of us who live out of the miserable snow and/or don't have grid heaters anyways. I'm also kind of limited in size due to my relocated battery tray, I'm thinking I'm just gonna get a Red Top in the ~750 amp range and see how that works.

http://i159.photobucket.com/albums/t130 ... ooler5.jpg

[Begle1]

675 CCA, 835 CA.

Those are the ratings on the battery that has served me faithfully for the last three years in non-freezing temperatures.

[redneckroot]

When I was working my way through college as a mechanic I worked with a 70 year old guy who had worked on cars since he was 11. I asked that question to him and he said: All batteries tend to be a little bit different regardless of what they are rated, a good rule of thumb is to turn the head lights on and crank it over if they don't dim or only dim slightly then it is correct for your application. If I was going to try to get away with what you are doing I'd get one of those plastic battery boxes, some longer cables and mount the thing some place else, then the size wouldn't matter so much.

[RumbleFish]

i ran a reconditioned 850cca in my old 91.0 for almost a year. it was fine in teh summer, but a couple days at -20 or more (less?) in the winter left me with a truck that wouldnt start. it was close, but the grids sucked too much juice and it wouldnt crank fast enough. i stuck a new Dekka group 31 1100cca batt in it so it wouldnt happen again.

i suppose if i lived in sunny pheonix, i would use someting similar to what you have. i would go with at least 700cca, but you are close enough.

[Begle1]

I was under the impression that the grid heaters weren't required for starting at almost any temperature?


But no fears, I found a local dude who sells reconditioned Redtops for $100 a piece. I got one of them now, with a 1-year warranty.

[dpuckett]

Grid heaters become a necessity at about 0 deg. I started my Green Goober at -5 with the grids coming on, and with a weak fuel system, it still kicked over. Filled the block with white smoke...... I always get the highest CCA rating I can find. Last battery was $35 from a local rebuilder. One year warranty.

Daniel

[fergavs]

I live in Canada and it gets real cold. Like -40deg cold. So I use a monster of a battery and sometimes double heat the grids. I dropped in a 2400 amp competition type battery. Thing starts the engine like nothing no matter the temperature. Great investment for cold climates.