Thread: Best Primary battery for Defender?

Hmm, this is a good question!!! I have just(yesterday) replaced my main batt with exide calcium mumbo jumbo bull bull. I had to try and find one with the correct height, width and length to so side by side with the aux (not deep cycle) The exide that i found was a low maint. type with 550 cca(cold cranking amps and a reasonable rc (reserve capacity)105amps. The model is an x56c if this helps.

I really would have prefered a larger battery but the under seat box is too low and short for any thing decent. There are others that have moved the a/c etc out of this box and have managed to squeaze in bigger bats.
Exide IMHO are the best for the price, alot are chinese and from else where, I think the exide is local plus it has a 36 month warrantee.

I wanted a spiral cell(exide or optima) but the cost over $300 each! and they wont fit without surgery.

I am sure there are others out there with good advice as well.
Good luck
Mal

N70z specification.

I go for atlas batteries but century get the tick at work

Jut a thought. I use the Mack batteries in everything. Defender truck ect

Have used them for years and they last well in the truck with all the vibration

N7022H I think they are abt $189.00
Plate lockdesign to reduce vibration
Glass mat separator to reduce vibration and extend battery life.

The one in the defender is 3 1/2 years old. They are australian made
don't know what brand they are under the Mack sticker.........Mark

Hi

I tend to also go with century.
Had great reliable results.

I go to the outlet and see what is biggest to fit in any given space.

Try to get long warranty and replace as soon as any doubt arises.
My second battery is slightly smaller but do same.

They have great back up and lots of truckies use them. I figure good enough for them, good enough for me.

I like the spiral cell batteries myself. They are not the cheapest option, but they are more versatile and can be used for starting as well as deep cycle work.
With two of them I have approx 1500cca. With a manual battery switch, I can share the work between the two batteries. They are service free, sealed and can even be mounted on their side or upside down.....great for those times when you roll your Defender and would normally have battery acid dripping on you
I have an Optima and an Exide Orbital. I've had the Optima for just on 5 years with no sign of any problem. It will start the 3.9 Isuzu on it's own no worries (750cca) as will the Exide, but if the Optima ever dies, I'll replace it with another Exide. Aside from the fact they are great batteries, I work next door to Exide and get a pretty good deal.

They are not a physically big battery, but I did away with the metal lid to the battery box as they are just a little bit too high at the back. Instead of the metal lid, I use a thick piece of rubber sheet over the top.
These are in my County. I'm not sure if there is room in a Defender battery box. It might be possible to position them so they fit under the lid.

Cheers, Murray

Originally Posted by GyroLandy

Hi,

I have a '94 Landrover Defender Tdi and need to replace the primary battery. I don't have a dual bettery system but will be putting one in over the coming months.

What is the best battery to buy that will fit into the space under the seat and allow for another battery to be fitted later? Who are the top three battery manufacturers and what size (physical and output) would I need?

I thought of getting a nice strong battery while I'm at it which I can use to run something like a fridge and lights off until such time as I put the dual battery system in?

Thx

My Defender (2004) has a Supercharge MF31-931 from new. 5 years old and still OK (touch wood!).

I will be facing the same problem as you soon, as I will be putting in a second battery. The Supercharge site recommends, for the primary battery, a MF88H, which is slightly smaller in capacity, and is more importantly, lower in height, which makes it a little easier to fit in the underseat box.

I am hoping I can retain the old primary to use as the second battery, and use an MF88H as the new primary. With a bit of juggling I am hoping to fit both in.

AULRO members used to able to get a discount on Supercharge batteries - I'm not sure whether this is still the case. I have had a couple of them over the years, and they have been good. Better than the Exide which was original fitting in my wife's Magna, and only lasted barely 3 years!

Optima's and Exide Orbitals look good but are horribly expensive!

By the way, you should use a sealed (maintenance free) battery under the passenger seat for safety reasons.

Cheers,

Lionel