Varley Red Top Batteries - Need some advice please.

Firegod

Firegod

Firegod

Soldato
Joined
12 Sep 2003
Posts
11,263
Location
Newcastle, UK
How do! :)

Does anyone have any info that could help please. I think the battery on my car (Fiesta ST) may need replacing soon. Starting is sometimes a bit iffy, and the battery in the car is the original. So that has been in 3 years now.

I read awhile ago about light weight Varley Red Top batteries. I'm just wondering what one I would need for my car? All the info on the site means nothing to me. :o

For example, this is what I found about the Red Top 15 from another site....

Varley Red-top 15 racing battery.
C/10 Capacity: 14Ah
Terminations: M6 Male
Weight: 5.0Kg
Dimensions (mm) L x W x H: 200 x 77 x 140
Cranking current @ 20°C for 5 secs: 550A

However, the Capacity is very low, I think normal batteries are ~40Ah. Is this something to take note of? The cranking current seems nice and high though... is this important?

Thanks for any help or advice! Are these batteries a good choice, or should I just go to Halfords? :)

Cheers!
 
Don't go to halfords. Or at least if you do take your own vaseline.

Euro car parts are good on price for batteries. If you do feel like spending money get a Varta. I look at the battery as an "If it works it's Ok" item.
 
SoliD said:
IF you have a trade card halfords can be very competitive with pricing.
Click to expand...

But if you don't you get a very sore bottom ;)

there is no reason to use halfords for items like this. You can get better quality ones for less. I bought one from there a couple of years ago - I could have got a Banner one for £20 less from GSF
 
it will be flat if you leave it for say a week or so.

good weight saving, from memory the standard battery in the 200sx was about 25kg and this one was about 6-8kg. but the penalty is that you had to jump start the car if it was left for any length of time.
 
Thanks everyone. :) Hmmm I don't like the idea of it going flat...

What's a good make/name battery to go for, say if I went elsewhere such as Euro Car Parts?
 
Varely Red Top/Odessey batteries have very low impedance which is why they have such high cranking current ratings for their size. They are intended to be used by competition cars where the size and weight are a big advantage, and typically these cars have fairly simple electrics so the low capacity is not a problem.

It's a waste of money for a standard road car as 15Ah will be too low, you will need to buy/make a bracket to fit it, modify the battery clamps to fit and it will cost double what a standard battery would.
 
Bosch and Varta are the two known ones. GSF sell batteries made locally by a company caller Banner which are on a par and considerably less expensive.
 
Thanks people. :)

I found that National Tyres sell the Varta Silver for my car, 600A as well. Seems quite a beefy unit. £82.00 but with 10% off if bought online. Will most likely get this one. :)
 
You must log in or register to reply here.
Back
Top Bottom