Batteries: What is the difference between MCA and CCA?

**dmdigital** · 21st November 2006, 05:30 PM

I've just got two nice shiny CAT batteries for the Defender. Due to freight issues I couldn't get 2 identical ones as they only had one of them in stock.

The first battery is a CAT 175-4370 835CCA, 100Ah Deep-cycle, dual purpose MF battery. This is my main starting battery

The second (cause they didn't have 2 of the first) is a CAT 250-0480 Marine 710CCA, 888MCA, 100Ah Deep-cycle dual purpose MF battery. This will be my Auxiliary battery.

Now I understand marine batteries tend to be built for more complete discharge (i.e. more aligned to the Deep Cycle) but what is the difference between CCA (Cold Cranking Amps) and MCA (Marine Cranking Amps)?

**isuzurover** · 21st November 2006, 06:06 PM

From Odyssey website:

Define the difference between MCA and CCA.
The marine cranking ampere (MCA) rating of a battery is very similar to the CCA rating; the only difference is that while the CCA is measured at a temperature of 0°F, the MCA is measured at 32°F. All other requirements are the same — the ampere draw is for 30 seconds and the end of discharge voltage in both cases is 1.20 volts per cell.

**dmdigital** · 21st November 2006, 06:14 PM

Merci.

So it looks like the Marine is actually the better battery in some respects. The trick is going to be getting them in to the defender battery box. They will fit but I will need to move the fuses and relays to the rear wall of the box and also the dual battery bits. I'll post pic's when done on the Project/dual battery thread.

**isuzurover** · 21st November 2006, 06:27 PM

Originally Posted by dm_td5

Merci.
So it looks like the Marine is actually the better battery in some respects.

Why do you say that? The first battery would have an MCA around 1000A

**dmdigital** · 21st November 2006, 08:03 PM

Yes, I realised that after I posted the last comment

**LandyAndy** · 21st November 2006, 10:38 PM

DONT LEAVE YOUR LIGHTS ON OVERNITE!!!!!!!!!!
You will suffer so much embarresment to admit the lights were left on you will tell the boss the bloody thing wont start even jump starting from a truck,that the batteries are totally stuffed.
2 new batteries fitted,grader goes,surprise surprise

.
Best bit is,me and Baz score a perfectly good CAT battery each off the dead battery heap

Wizzes a TD5 or a Tojo HZJ motor over wicked.
Andrew

lokka · 21st November 2006, 11:33 PM

im runin a similar bat its a ac delco brand and has a cca of around 830 amps and it takes a bit of abuse to kill it but it also takes a while to charge it back to full potential cant complain about em tho i picked up 2 f em for 5 bucks at the local scrap yard and they are both in top shape i keep 1 on a maintance charger in the shed and 1 in grumpy havent yet set up the dual bats but will soon wont have any more batery probs then
cheers

chris

**dmdigital** · 22nd November 2006, 05:51 AM

Originally Posted by LandyAndy

DONT LEAVE YOUR LIGHTS ON OVERNITE!!!!!!!!!!
You will suffer so much embarresment to admit the lights were left on you will tell the boss the bloody thing wont start even jump starting from a truck,that the batteries are totally stuffed.
2 new batteries fitted,grader goes,surprise surprise

.
Best bit is,me and Baz score a perfectly good CAT battery each off the dead battery heap

Wizzes a TD5 or a Tojo HZJ motor over wicked.
Andrew

Good find. The CAT distributor should have engraved the receipt no and purchase month/year on the batteries. A to M for month and last digit of year (eg L6 = Nov-06). Worth checking as they have a 5 year warranty and may still be covered if anything goes wrong

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