Confused by batteries :(

[Jeddy]

I must be getting old, I no longer understand batteries!

The current battery is a Varta 005 541 10 01 95Ah 850A and is marked VRLA/AGM. The barcode also appears to have 017 on it.

The varta website suggests for the car Silver Dynamic AGM 595 901 085 as this good for cars with start stop (which I have) and regenerative braking - eh, do I have that, surely not, how can I tell? Also that is marked 019AGM rather than 017. I notice the Varta website suggests that the Blue Dynamic EFB range is good for cars with start stop without regenerative braking, although they don't have one at 95Ah.

Any suggestions for what I need or where to buy appreciated.

Thanks,
Jeddy

 

[Wighty]

Try getting a price straight from Merc , they can often be quite competitive , and you know you will get the right battery when you give them your VIN number

 

[Jeddy]

Try getting a price straight from Merc , they can often be quite competitive , and you know you will get the right battery when you give them your VIN number

Thanks, yes I'll try that tomorrow, but then I need to know what others are selling it for to know if they are competitive.

 

[EmilysDad]

....

Any suggestions for what I need or where to buy appreciated.

Thanks,
Jeddy

I find a direct comparison on t'internet e.g. Grangemouth MB, e-mail a link to my local MB parts dept & ask if they'll price match it. They've yet to fail

 

[Jeddy]

I find a direct comparison on t'internet e.g. Grangemouth MB, e-mail a link to my local MB parts dept & ask if they'll price match it. They've yet to fail

So go to MB, ask them for a price and exact battery the car needs and hope they oblige with that information rather than a vague 'it's the right battery for the car', find online and go back to them asking for a price match.
Got to be honest, while I'm happy to ask for a price match I'd rather know what battery I'm after first.

 

[LostKiwi]

You won't have regenerative braking unless you have a hybrid or electric vehicle.
Try another website (tayna are usually good) to see what battery they recommend.

 

[Jeddy]

You won't have regenerative braking unless you have a hybrid or electric vehicle.
Try another website (tayna are usually good) to see what battery they recommend.

Thanks, although that suggests Xtreme Start Stop Series XR1750 AGM Battery 92Ah 1750A at £180 or 019 Enduroline Car Battery 100Ah at £90 althought the latter doesn't even mention start stop.
I just seem to keep getting the choice between a non start stop and a full regenerative start stop - neither of which seems appropriate (although the latter would obviously work - at a cost). Never heard of enduroline.

 

[sonic]

Has the battery world really changed that much?
Previously It was the AH capacity, physical size, & the battery posts are round the right way.
What difference does stop start make to the battery required?

 

[LostKiwi]

The reason I suggested them was to get another check on the size which again came in at 019.

The physical size of 017 and 019 is the same but the 019 has a higher CCA and Ah rating.

For Start/stop you need AGM in most cases.

 

[Jeddy]

The reason I suggested them was to get another check on the size which again came in at 019.

The physical size of 017 and 019 is the same but the 019 has a higher CCA and Ah rating.

For Start/stop you need AGM in most cases.

Thanks, may I ask where you got that information please? I was struggling to understand what the various 0xx ratings actually meant.
I read somewhere that if you have an AGM it's supposed to be replaced with the same.
I'm struggling to find a decent AGM 017 battery, they all seem to be 019. Maybe a 017 would be a similar price anyway so there is no point in making them. It just feels a bit like I'm going to be paying for something I don't need.
I have a feeling I'm going to end up with the Varta 019 AGM - oh well, I guess it's only the same as 3 tanks of fuel, plus fitting.

Life used to be so simple when I started driving, replace the battery with one of similar Ah which fitted / could be made to fit! Mind, maybe it wasn't so simple, no longer the old refrain 'sorry I'm late, my car wouldn't start'.

 

[LostKiwi]

Specs are here:
https://www.puretyre.co.uk/car-battery-specification-chart

 

[Jeddy]

Specs are here:
https://www.puretyre.co.uk/car-battery-specification-chart

Thanks, exactly what I was after. I now feel wiser.
I'm currently tempted by Yuasa which seems to be a well respected battery which has a 5 year guarantee.

I suspect the next question is going to be if there are any gotchas in replacing a battery - I've seen reference to using a charger to keep power to the car via the battery leads while you change it. Sound about right?

 

[LostKiwi]

Personally id use a jump start pack rather than a charger.
Smart chargers may not provide an output once the battery is disconnected or may not regulate voltage correctly.

 

[Jeddy]

Has the battery world really changed that much?
Previously It was the AH capacity, physical size, & the battery posts are round the right way.
What difference does stop start make to the battery required?

Apparently yes! Have a look at https://www.varta-automotive.com/en-gb/technology/start-stop-system.
Extract:

Driving & Accelerating

An advanced energy management system decouples the alternator during acceleration and under normal driving conditions. This means more of the engine's power is available to the wheels. The alternator is only recoupled again when the battery's state of charge falls below a predefined threshold.

Battery requirements:

Battery is being discharged and charged and must supply all electronic devices on its own.
Video Player
Braking

Regenerative braking partially allows the vehicle's kinetic energy to be converted into electrical energy, which is then fed back into the battery.

Battery requirements:

The battery needs to be recharged quickly and have sufficient capacity for the additional energy. The battery must be capable of functioning at a lower state of charge.
Video Player
Stop & Engine Off

When the vehicle comes to a stop, the start-stop system switches off the engine.

Battery requirements:

Even when discharged, the battery must still supply the starter motor generator with sufficient starting power to start the engine again.

 

[Jeddy]

Phoned up my MB specialist who could do a MB battery inc. fitting for marginally more than I could buy a Yuasa 019 battery. I'm guessing it's a 017 (although I can't see that designation on it). Hopefully that sorts the problem out. Curious I was unable to locate a 017 from Varta, Bosch, Yuasa. I'm guessing 017 are now only being made for manufacturers. I'd still have quite liked a yuasa for the 5 year guarantee, but I guess this keeps the car 'genuine' and hopefully will last 5 years.
Thanks for the information above - it's been an education.
I have a feeling that should I buy a hybrid / electric car in future that'll be an even bigger education.
Jeddy

 

[rorywquin]

You won't have regenerative braking unless you have a hybrid or electric vehicle.
Try another website (tayna are usually good) to see what battery they recommend.

Do you have any idea what system I have in my car??? I have the fuel consumption bar / charge bar that switches from "consumption" to "charge" when I decelerate and or brake and shows a green bar under the charge part -- how does that work??

 

[LostKiwi]

Do you have any idea what system I have in my car??? I have the fuel consumption bar / charge bar that switches from "consumption" to "charge" when I decelerate and or brake and shows a green bar under the charge part -- how does that work??

Its regenerative if it switches to charge. Essentially a motor and a generator are the same things. Feed a generator power and its a motor. Take power off a motor and spin it and its a generator. Simply switching the motor from driving to driven and applying a load on it is how regenerative braking works. The greater the load the greater the braking effect.

 

[rorywquin]

Its regenerative if it switches to charge. Essentially a motor and a generator are the same things. Feed a generator power and its a motor. Take power off a motor and spin it and its a generator. Simply switching the motor from driving to driven and applying a load on it is how regenerative braking works. The greater the load the greater the braking effect.

Thanks ---yep understand the electrical concepts - not sure where the "charge" is coming from --- now guessing that while cruising the system will disconnect the alternator (who possible) to provide better consumption/emission and when braking etc will engage the alternator to put an added load on the engine to help with braking.....

 

[LostKiwi]

Thanks ---yep understand the electrical concepts - not sure where the "charge" is coming from --- now guessing that while cruising the system will disconnect the alternator (who possible) to provide better consumption/emission and when braking etc will engage the alternator to put an added load on the engine to help with braking.....

Is this on your SL or on a Hybrid?

 

[rorywquin]

Is this on your SL or on a Hybrid?

On the SL !