Which CAT battery to choose?

[8r0wndo9]

After reading the past battery threads I've decided to go with a Caterpillar start battery for my TD5 D2a. Allegiances seem divided between:
p/n175-4370 825CCA start/deep cycle and
p/n 115-2422 1000CCA start only.
There's only ~$30 in it, so has anyone a definitive reason / experiences to select one over the other?
My thoughts were that for slightly fewer CCA (still plenty for a starter), the deep cycle characteristics would be a nice bonus to a single battery setup?
Any comments appreciated...thanks!

[winaje]

I went for the 1000CCA 115-2422 as I knew I was installing a second dedicated deep cycle. Fits the battery compartment perfectly, and starts the TD5 like a cattle prod to a grasshopper :). I personally prefer to have items that fulfill a designed purpose rather than hybrids, if possible.

[s7000]

115 here... Massive thumbs up.

[Mundy]

Bear in mind the 175-4370 has stud terminals not SAE. If you want that battery and SAE posts you'll need to buy these: Group 31—Charging Posts for Stud Terminals—Part # 4C-5637, from caterpillar. Cost about $7 or so.

[8r0wndo9]

thanks for the comments guys! I agree, 'hybrids' are typically a compromise at both ends and not particularly good at either. I was curious if anyone has had a really good run with them?
Thanks for the tip re terminals Mundy.

[onebob]

I went for the 1000CCA 115-2422 as I knew I was installing a second dedicated deep cycle. Fits the battery compartment perfectly, and starts the TD5 like a cattle prod to a grasshopper :). I personally prefer to have items that fulfill a designed purpose rather than hybrids, if possible.

what he said :D:D

onebob

[twr7cx]

I went the 115, can't see the point in a deep cycle for your main starting battery.

[Mundy]

I went the 115, can't see the point in a deep cycle for your main starting battery.

X2. It seems to me the degree of discharge that makes using a deep cycle worthwhile would kill the ability of the battery to start the engine. It might be worthwhile if it is your second battery and you want to use it as backup for your main cranking battery.

I bought the 175-4390 (should have bought the 115-2422 with SAE posts) a month ago for $149 plus GST. Great value for money IMHO.

[Franz]

Bear in mind the 175-4370 has stud terminals not SAE. If you want that battery and SAE posts you'll need to buy these: Group 31—Charging Posts for Stud Terminals—Part # 4C-5637, from caterpillar. Cost about $7 or so.
I bought the stud terminals and have not been able to close the battery cover on my D2a since. The post makes the battery just too tall for the cover to lock down. It's still on, just not locked down.

[winaje]

I bought the stud terminals and have not been able to close the battery cover on my D2a since. The post makes the battery just too tall for the cover to lock down. It's still on, just not locked down.

For what it's worth, this does not happen with the 115-2422 battery. So something else for the OP to consider.

[Franz]

For what it's worth, this does not happen with the 115-2422 battery. So something else for the OP to consider.
I should have added that I have the 175-4370 and it's a deep cycle battery - I wanted a deep cycle to cope with frequent discharges from winching etc.

[northiam]

I bought the CAT 115-2422 just after this time.
The battery has failed in just 3 years 3months :mad:
This D2 is a daily driver. Not happy:mad:

[Roverlord off road spares]

I bought the CAT 115-2422 just after this time.
The battery has failed in just 3 years 3months :mad:
This D2 is a daily driver. Not happy:mad:
3 years is about the norm for batteries these days.
They are a consumable item.

[Tombie]

3 years is about the norm for batteries these days.
They are a consumable item.



I find them hard to chew. [emoji13]

[Tombie]

I bought the CAT 115-2422 just after this time.
The battery has failed in just 3 years 3months :mad:
This D2 is a daily driver. Not happy:mad:



What's the average journey length?

3 years of domestic triangle isn't a bad lifespan.

[Slunnie]

3 years is a shocker. I was getting 2yrs from the factory battery, prob 7-8yrs from an Optima and probably 10-12 years from Lifeline.

[87County]

Recent CAT batteries I have purchased have 5 year pro rata warranties which suits me.

[northiam]

D2 does 10k kms/yr mostly short trips 5 to 30kms
Would have thought a so called quality battery would have lasted more than 3 months past the 3 year warranty.

[jwb]

I agree 3 years is not acceptable.

I've got a CAT starting/deep cycle. It's less than 2 years old and is not holding charge but starts the Td5 as it is used most days and gets some charging.

I've had it in to CAT once and they tested it as OK although RACV report showed it should be replaced. I'm also not happy with this and will take it back to them before the 2 year replacement warranty runs out and get another 3rd party test.

The original battery from the new car was replaced at about 6 years with another OEM which went another nearly 6 years, were they Delco brand or something?

[onebob]

I bought the CAT 115-2422 just after this time.
The battery has failed in just 3 years 3months :mad:
This D2 is a daily driver. Not happy:mad:

My CAT 15-2422 was installed in August 2012 and is still going strong - my alternator output is 14.1V max. Overcharging will kill a batterry - what is the charging output of your alternator?

onebob

[Disco Muppet]

My 115 has been in about 16 months by my reckoning.
It got low once from leaving basically everything on for hours with the car off.
Not had any other issue.
Starts up quick smart.
Or at least it did before I pulled it apart :angel:

[Tombie]

D2 does 10k kms/yr mostly short trips 5 to 30kms

Would have thought a so called quality battery would have lasted more than 3 months past the 3 year warranty.



Your journey lengths are killing it....Even a quality battery needs a good charge...

Some time on a charger once a month would see you right.

You can not do short runs and expect it to top back up in time...

A starter pulls up around 200amp to start the vehicle..
The average Lead-Acid battery charges at somewhere around 10-20ah

So you start at 100ah and wipe say 5a off which requires 15-20 min to replace..(driving not idling).

Then you repeat this to come home... etc

Eventually that poor battery is getting nothing but surface charges on each run...

[northiam]

My CAT 15-2422 was installed in August 2012 and is still going strong - my alternator output is 14.1V max. Overcharging will kill a batterry - what is the charging output of your alternator?

onebob

I measured 14.3 volts at 2000 engine rpm 14.1v at idle
parasitic load was 360mA but reduced to 30mA after about 1 hour

My new battery will be AC Delco S31-901MF
ACDelco | Quality Automotive Products | Part Finder (http://www.acdelco.com.au/part-finder/)

or
http://www.rjbatt.com.au/wp-content/uploads/2014/01/Technical-Bulletin_Delkor-31-1000.pdf

[Tombie]

Get the cheapest of them - unless you change maintenance routine it will last about the same..

For the record the Cat battery I purchased for the D2 in 2006 is still going strong as a work bench power source after removing it from the D2 in 2010

[DiscoMick]

The original Varta in our Defender lasted 9 years, but any battery hates short trips and needs regular runs of at least maybe an hour to stay healthy.

Sent from my A1601 using AULRO mobile app

[northiam]

The above batteries have indicator lights for condition enabling easy checks.
I know it only indicates one cell but it should help guage whats going on there.
The handle will be helpful too!

The heated electric seats wouldnt help in winter either with those short trips :o
The Delco 900cca will cost $215 inc

The posts are centred which was the same as battery prior to the Cat (without 9 lives). Pretty sure the original battery were centre posts?



Thanks to all.

[Tombie]

Just FYI - Magic Eye charge indicators work on this...
https://www.aulro.com/afvb/images/imported/2016/12/354.jpg

Somewhere around 12.25v (65%) is still green [emoji6]

And a basic chart of cycle times
Note the closer to 50% SOC The life shortens to the equivalent of about 2 starts a day for 3 years [emoji41]

https://www.aulro.com/afvb/images/imported/2016/12/355.jpg

[Danmc]

I just joined to add info to this thread since this site helped a lot when I was looking. I bought the p/n175-4370 plus posts for my D2 because the deep cycle tolerance might suit my usage. My poor old beast sometimes gets left for a few weeks. Also it has air springs, they used to not leak at all but recently I think the compressor has been working harder when it's parked. Anyway, battery fits ok but the lack of handles makes it a finger pincher - someone else said the battery box lid won't lock with the screw terminals but no lid on mine. Anyway, the lack of handles is enough that had I been able to see the battery first I probably would have leant towards the other choices I guess. Still, not the end of the world. Cheers for the help from all your posts several years ago :) oh, last battery was some huge, used AC Delco junker I picked up for $80 off a mate. I think it lasted at least 4 years... Cheap motoring!