Bigger battery possible?

[Gojeep]

I am un-happy with the standard sized battery that fits in the stock tray. Only 4 months old and already flat. Has anyone fitted a bigger one by modifying their battery tray? There is a kit from Piranha that lowers the battery and has a new tray but they charge too much for it so wondered if anyone has done there own?

[dxj]

Hi Marcus,

How about a second battery located elsewhere in parallel, like old yotas. Flat after 4 months sounds like a charging or battery problem. Did you run it flat?

I think a second battery will be much better than a few percent extra capacity of a slighly larger battery. Simplest connection is just two in parallel, you can install isolators etc for other options such as main/aux batteries etc.

No lead acid battery will last long if it goes below about 10% capacity. It is a chemical problem that exists even with deep cycle batteries, they are just better at it.

Other technologies such as nickel-cad or nm-h are suited to "run-flat" regularly if this is what is happening.

Gel lead acid batteries have discharge/charge current limits so should not be used as a starting battery.

[Gojeep]

I have not altered anything since the last battery which lasted 3 years and only died because of sitting in the car for a month while in the States. There is no way to fit another battery without removing some things that I already have in place and it would be an expensive way of doing it. There is a dry cell that will fit as the same size only taller so might be able to lower the stock tray or make a new one. The battery still had 11.6 volts but that was low enough to get the solenoid just to click. I have topped up the the new battery 3 times now as soon as I noticed it a bit slow to turn over and have a new automated charger that shuts off to prevent over charging which can do just as much damage. I might have to spend the $300 on a dry cell!

[dxj]

Hi Marcus,

Saw several guys at the Jambo who had fitted duwl batteries under the hood. Seems they made their own battery tray right in front of the brake master cylinder. One I saw had battery t same angle as original battery. Second one has 2nd battery parallel to motor. Seems to have required some changes to the A/C refrigerant lines to fit.

Several guys were using the Exide sealed lead acid in pairs. Seems they stack sideways just a bit longer than standard. Custom trays and some "minor" adjustments required. One of the guys is in SJC so if you need details I will see if I can get some photos at next SJC meet ( assuming he is there).

[Gojeep]

Had a look at the dry Exide Orbital ones and they will fit but their RC is no better than what I have. I have just downloaded the specs on the Optima ones and will check their size and RC.

Thanks for looking though.

[brizXJ]

Marcus....if your battery only lasts a few months then I would really think you have a problem that needs to be sorted out, I am assuming here that we are not talking about Target specials, a 4 x 4 battery is nessesarily constructed quite differently to a regular passenger car type. My last battery lasted 6 years. Even letting it sit for a month should not cause long lasting problems to a halfway decent battery. Perhaps you should check out the charging rate and the security of the battery.
A second battery would be handy, especially if you have high current draw items, fridges, winches and the like, locating it can be a tricky thing in a Cherokee however. A false floor in the back is a handy place.

[dxj]

Hi Marcus,

I think I read the exide orbitals as 650 CCA, about same as my DIN65L, when using two in place of the one larger usual Lead Acid you get 1300CCA. I am not sure what those guys did to get in the two Exides but I saw it done on quite a few Jeeps including Cherokees.

I am thinking I will ask around at SJC meet and get some Photos for you.