Rep Power: 786

Will I really gain that much more reserve capacity if I swap my stock battery for a group 51 yellow top?

My car has been sitting a decent amount lately, and I have an alarm LED scanner and TV tuner antenna that are always on even when the car is off. If I don't drive my car for a couple of days, my battery dies.

If I switch to a group 51 yellow top, will it make that much of a difference? If the physical size is the same, how much more capacity could there really be?

 
Rep Power: 811

It's pretty similar to stock, only draining it won't damage the battery. That's why yellow top is recommended if you bump a stereo with the car off. cca is a bit higher than stock as well.

 
Rep Power: 786

Do you have any idea as to waht the specs of the stock group 51 are, or if the reserve capacity is much higher with the yellow top?

When it drains, it doesn't drain COMPLETELY, just enough to not start the car. Is that as damaging as being totally draiend or not as bad?

 
Rep Power: 811

The yellowtop has the same reserve as stock I think, with a bit more cca. It's very bad for the stock battery to drain below starting capacity. Over time, the battery will never be able to sustain a full charge. The yellowtop doesn't get damaged nearly as much from draining it. It also charges faster than stock.

 
Rep Power: 786

maybe I will look into it then

thanx for the bump I forgot about this thread

 
Rep Power: 328

you would be better off modding your battery tray and putting in a truck or SUV battery....group 60 or 61 I think. They have like 1000 CCA's and more reserve capacity than yellow tops.

 
Rep Power: 811

Yeah but cca is only for starting the car. Who cares if there's more, since it still starts. People with yellowtops have let their vehicle sit for months and have it start up just fine.

 
Rep Power: 786

How easy is the battery tray mod to do?

 
Rep Power: 811

Well you could just take it out. I needed room for my HID stuff, so out it came. You'll have to take off the top cover too if you get a bigger battery.

 
Rep Power: 786

I don't care about the cover

If I just take the battery tray out, what will the new battery sit on?

Will the factory air cleaner clear a larger battery?

 
Rep Power: 328

You have to play with it, built something to hold the battery in. Pipe strapping works. Ludlam is running a battery with I think 3x the reserve capacity of a yellow top.

 
Rep Power: 329

i think i rmember group 25 batteries being an almost identical size, but with more storage. 34/78 are also doable w/out much effort. most places where you'd buy batteries will have tiedowns too

 
Rep Power: 786

What kind of battery and how big (physically)?

I can just use a tie down can I not?

What will the battery sit on if I remove the tray, is it possible for it still to sit flat quite easily?