How many CCA is needed to start a car?

[twastheglow]

I have to purchase a smaller battery so I can run my intercooler piping. I'm looking at getting a Deka ETX14 that has 200 CCA (cold cranking amps). I can pick up on of these batteries for $67 shipped... http://www.tristatebattery.com/product_info.php?products_id=975 Since this car is not driven in the winter, would that be enough power to start the vehicle without a problem? What are your thoughts guys?

[Evo8kid]

depends on the car. but 200? That number will only go down with age. If it works the first few times, it may not last long. im going with no

[TROLL]

Hey, sorry I meant to respond to your PM... I would contact eurotrashed on here... he gave me some good info about Braille and Deka, etc. and he should be able to give you all the info you need regarding that stuff.

[twastheglow]

I've been talking to him too. Basically as the story goes...the most popular Braille battery has 360 CCA with a price tag of $150. According to Eurotrashed, the battery is just a Deka battery that is re-labeled. The re-labeled battery is the Deka ETX14 (the $67 battery I linked to in the 1st post). According to Deka, they rate the ETX14 @ 200 CCA. I'm trying to find a economical alternative to the Braille battery. Eurotrashed is convinced that 200 CCA should be sufficient. I just wanted to make sure that other people agreed before I bought the battery. I mean, I could just pick up a ****ty ass Duralast battery from a Miata from Autozone. That runs $105 with a CCA of 370 iirc.

[TROLL]

I think I've read that the Deka is not intended for daily driven use, and use in the winter, etc. if I'm remembering correctly due to the low CCA. Thats where the ETX20 would come into play or an Odyssey battery.

[95nracer]

I've been running the ETX14 for over a year now. It has a plenty of power to crank my car over. I haven't had any major problems running one.

http://www.tristatetuners.com/forum/showthread.php?t=30376&highlight=deka



I definetly would be cautious running one during winter when its in the teens out and you don't want to leave any accessories on without the engine running for any period of time. I have only killed the battery twice since I've owned it, once during the winter trying to get the car started and the other time with the key in the "on" position (around 30 minutes) inputing a new ignition map.

[twastheglow]

Would one of these fair better then...more CCA's...
http://www.tristatebattery.com/product_info.php?products_id=978

or

http://www.tristatebattery.com/product_info.php?products_id=980

[twastheglow]

I've been running the ETX14 for over a year now. It has a plenty of power to crank my car over. I haven't had any major problems running one.

http://www.tristatetuners.com/forum/showthread.php?t=30376&highlight=deka



I definetly would be cautious running one during winter when its in the teens out and you don't want to leave any accessories on without the engine running for any period of time. I have only killed the battery twice since I've owned it, once during the winter trying to get the car started and the other time with the key in the "on" position (around 30 minutes) inputing a new ignition map.

Since my Nissan is a "spring, summer, fall" car...no winters, I shouldn't have a problem then, right? It probably wouldn't hurt to buy one of those booster packs either...just in case. lol

[95nracer]

I think you might be ok. I have left the alarm on the car for 3-5 days at a time and the car still started up. Do you know of any other 240 guys running them? I'm sure there is



I have one of those battery jump boxes at the house just in case. LoL..

[omgjacki]

A lot of guys relocated the battery to the trunk for this reason, but that's work. Required CCA really depends on the car and amount of power accessories. I know Acuras require like 550CCA but that's because they have navigation, and power EVERYTHING and if you have the radio on for 2 minutes, and I mean TWO, without the engine running, the battery's dead. I don't know how the 240sx is, but yeah, I'm pretty sure if you're only running it in like, 50*+ weather, then you should be okay.

[twastheglow]

A lot of guys relocated the battery to the trunk for this reason, but that's work. Required CCA really depends on the car and amount of power accessories. I know Acuras require like 550CCA but that's because they have navigation, and power EVERYTHING and if you have the radio on for 2 minutes, and I mean TWO, without the engine running, the battery's dead. I don't know how the 240sx is, but yeah, I'm pretty sure if you're only running it in like, 50*+ weather, then you should be okay.

Yeah, I fully intend on doing a relocation at some point, just not right away.

[twastheglow]

I think you might be ok. I have left the alarm on the car for 3-5 days at a time and the car still started up. Do you know of any other 240 guys running them? I'm sure there is



I have one of those battery jump boxes at the house just in case. LoL..

You think I might be ok? LOL Thanks. What do you mean you left the alarm on the car for 3-5 days? I don't know any other 240sx owners running them. They certainly would have been my 1st place to ask. :mrgreen:

Battery jump box ftw...until I'm not home and need it. :lol:

[95nracer]

Leaving the car parked with the car alarm on for a few days at a time. Thats what I meant.



I'm not going to say you are going to be ok. LoL.. Because I'm not sure. I don't want you to blame me if it doesn't work out, haha.


How about you should be alright?

[Action Park]

93
Turning it over should'nt be a problem. I'd be more concerned with the known high failure rate of deka(braille)/odyssey batteries. My odyssey only lasted 1k mi before taking a complete poop and I know I'm not alone. Perhaps there were a few bad patches and things have turned around but I'd trust a trunk mounted big ol' wet cell over those little tinkertoy batteries anyday. Not trying to take anything away from the peddlers of them, just putting it out there. Some are fine with em, some are'nt.
93 93/93

[twastheglow]

93
Turning it over should'nt be a problem. I'd be more concerned with the known high failure rate of deka(braille)/odyssey batteries. My odyssey only lasted 1k mi before taking a complete poop and I know I'm not alone. Perhaps there were a few bad patches and things have turned around but I'd trust a trunk mounted big ol' wet cell over those little tinkertoy batteries anyday. Not trying to take anything away from the peddlers of them, just putting it out there. Some are fine with em, some are'nt.
93 93/93

So do you guys think I would be better off buying a Duralast Miata battery from some place like Autozone then?

[240sxDann]

why dont you just put it in the trunk?

[russiankid]

Check out Oddyssey batteries. I know they make a small battery. Plus I think they are dry cell and I've heard they last for 10+ years.

[russiankid]

why dont you just put it in the trunk?

This would be the easiest way. Kits aren't expensive and only takes a few hours to do it.

[240sxDann]

yea all you really gotta do is run the power cable under the car or through the car, and then ground it to the body in the trunk. Just make sure you have an approved container for it.

[eurotrashed]

A lot of guys relocated the battery to the trunk for this reason, but that's work. Required CCA really depends on the car and amount of power accessories. I know Acuras require like 550CCA but that's because they have navigation, and power EVERYTHING and if you have the radio on for 2 minutes, and I mean TWO, without the engine running, the battery's dead. I don't know how the 240sx is, but yeah, I'm pretty sure if you're only running it in like, 50*+ weather, then you should be okay.

CCA has nothing to do with the reserve capacity of a battery.

I don't know where Braille gets their numbers from, I'm not going to get into much more about that subject though on a public forum though.

I'll remember to bring a spec sheet home from work. If I can remember right, the ETX30L is like 360CCA and the 8AMU1R is 300CCA or something but then the 8AMU1R has a higher reserve capacity.

If the car isn't driven in winter a ETX14 should be fine, just keep a battery tender on it in the winter or at least un hook it from the car. I found an 8A14LSHD at work the other day that I think is two years old and I tested it at 12 volts, it lost only like .75 volts.

[twastheglow]

Can anyone point me in the right direction as to where I can pick up a battery tray. I'd like to take a look at my other option. I'm still leaning towards just sucking it up and buying the ETX14. Worse case scenario, I'll relocate my battery this winter while it's garaged.

[omgjacki]

why dont you just put it in the trunk?

He already said he's going to do a battery relocation, just not yet.

[TROLL]

I'm thinking of getting an ETX14 on the Supra... or maybe one step bigger. I'm planning on relocating to the rear of the car either way though to clean up the cluttered engine bay. I figure for a car that I drive every day year round that has to get me to and from work reliably, better play it safe and go with something bigger, but for the fun car a smaller battery should be ok.

[twastheglow]

I think I'm just going to take the $67 plunge and hope for the best. LOL

[eurotrashed]

twastheglow, I sent you a PM,check it before you buy.