Beach Buggy .Info

Beach Buggy Help Zone => Beach Buggy Electrical Help => Topic started by: Zip Buggy on September 14, 2016, 01:43:50 PM

Title: Varley Red Top or Odyssey
Post by: Zip Buggy on September 14, 2016, 01:43:50 PM
I need a new battery for the bug to finally get it finished and am not sure which battery to buy. Due to daft reasons and a narrow battery box, I need to buy a Varley Redtop type battery. I don't know how many cold cranking amps are needed for a 1600? The Varley redtop 30 has 450 CCA whilst the redtop 40 has 500CCA - will either do? Also I have seen an Odyssey PC1100 with 500 CCA and it's a fair bit cheaper. Can anybody help me make the final decision?
Title: Re: Varley Red Top or Odyssey
Post by: HUDGE BUGGY on September 14, 2016, 02:05:05 PM
Sounds like one for Chad , he's the king of electrickrry
Title: Re: Varley Red Top or Odyssey
Post by: Zip Buggy on September 14, 2016, 02:17:58 PM
Thanks for that - I thought there might be an expert lurking! How do I get in touch with Chad.
Title: Re: Varley Red Top or Odyssey
Post by: HUDGE BUGGY on September 14, 2016, 02:25:11 PM
Quote from: Mark Darby on September 14, 2016, 02:17:58 PM
How do I get in touch with Chad.

Go to members find Chad e-mail option, or from the home page @ the bottom ( Users online green symbol) PM from there, and by the way he is online and probably reading this  ;D ;D ;D ;D ;D
Title: Re: Varley Red Top or Odyssey
Post by: snoopy on September 14, 2016, 03:58:58 PM
Unless you have a high compression performance engine fitted any will do 360 crank amps wil do a beetle
Title: Re: Varley Red Top or Odyssey
Post by: Zip Buggy on September 15, 2016, 01:19:35 AM
Thank you Snoopy. The engine is a 1600. Lightened and balanced etc, built by Andy Storer - should be around 100bhp'ish. Don't know about compression though. Do you think 360 cca will still do it?
Title: Re: Varley Red Top or Odyssey
Post by: snoopy on September 15, 2016, 06:24:11 AM
All three you have listed will do it my 2L twin cam motor has used a standard beetle motor and battery for years.
  It now has a beetle automatic starter fitted as  reconditioned ones came up for sale as mine was slowly dying with age these have an extra 1/2 hp to compensate for the load imposed by the fluid transmission mine is also parked outside and used every day the only time it has failed to turn over fast enough was during the -20C mornings of the other winter

Most folks on here will have a bog standard beetle srater with all sorts of engine sizes and power outputs.
Title: Re: Varley Red Top or Odyssey
Post by: Zip Buggy on September 15, 2016, 12:19:09 PM
Snoopy you are the font of all starter motor knowledge! Thank you  :)
Title: Re: Varley Red Top or Odyssey
Post by: snoopy on September 15, 2016, 04:09:42 PM
No, just been doing this sine 1974 so loads of practice and trial and error.
Title: Re: Varley Red Top or Odyssey
Post by: davydoff on September 15, 2016, 08:11:54 PM
I have a red top in my buggy, no problems

The only thing to watch is they don't like to be fully discharged so keep it topped up
Title: Re: Varley Red Top or Odyssey
Post by: ben_w on September 15, 2016, 08:19:09 PM
Bog std battery.

Kicks over the Porsche 928 starter on my Corvair with ease
Title: Re: Varley Red Top or Odyssey
Post by: Zip Buggy on September 16, 2016, 03:30:34 PM
Thank you everybody. Making decisions on bits to buy is so much easier now I've joined here. Decided to go for the Odyssey as it is a fair bit cheaper. Am I mad? This is it: https://www.tayna.co.uk/Odyssey-PC1100-Extreme-Series-Battery-P9444.html
Title: Re: Varley Red Top or Odyssey
Post by: Zip Buggy on September 16, 2016, 04:12:47 PM
Quote from: Mark Darby on September 16, 2016, 03:30:34 PM
Thank you everybody. Making decisions on bits to buy is so much easier now I've joined here. Decided to go for the Odyssey as it is a fair bit cheaper. Am I mad? This is it: https://www.tayna.co.uk/Odyssey-PC1100-Extreme-Series-Battery-P9444.html
Should I stop fannying around and just order it?
Title: Re: Varley Red Top or Odyssey
Post by: HUDGE BUGGY on September 16, 2016, 06:06:14 PM
Seems a lot of money for a battery for not such a special starter motor, why not just a Halfords special with a 3 year guarantee. IMHO :D
Title: Re: Varley Red Top or Odyssey
Post by: Zip Buggy on September 16, 2016, 06:16:58 PM
Completely agree! Problem is that the battery box is mounted on the central tunnel under the dash and it's made to take a redtop style battery as it's a narrow space.
Title: Re: Varley Red Top or Odyssey
Post by: HUDGE BUGGY on September 16, 2016, 07:26:11 PM
Understand Mark, location.location,location-  but, would it cost 60 odd quid to move it somewhere else ??? ??? ??? ??? ???
Title: Re: Varley Red Top or Odyssey
Post by: GBHgpJON on September 16, 2016, 07:31:49 PM
Just order it...you know you want to! After all, its your motor, and it will look mighty perty sat under the dash......as opposed to a bog standard Varta.......
Title: Re: Varley Red Top or Odyssey
Post by: Zip Buggy on September 16, 2016, 10:25:12 PM
I know Hudge - my fault really. There really was nowhere else to put the battery. probably due to the way we've done the back seats. So close to the finishline now I don't want to muck about anymore. It's not that I've got money to burn (I wish :) ) but I just want the bug (yet to name it) on the road and then modify as I go along.

Title: Re: Varley Red Top or Odyssey
Post by: Zip Buggy on September 16, 2016, 10:26:09 PM
Quote from: GBHgpJON on September 16, 2016, 07:31:49 PM
Just order it...you know you want to! After all, its your motor, and it will look mighty perty sat under the dash......as opposed to a bog standard Varta.......

Yup :)
Title: Re: Varley Red Top or Odyssey
Post by: Doon L001 on September 17, 2016, 10:51:52 AM
More weight at the front is a good thing as well, get on with it
Title: Re: Varley Red Top or Odyssey
Post by: evilsea on September 17, 2016, 02:03:25 PM
Give me a shout when your going to fire it up........ ;-)up
Title: Re: Varley Red Top or Odyssey
Post by: Zip Buggy on September 17, 2016, 03:51:12 PM
Quote from: evilsea on September 17, 2016, 02:03:25 PM
Give me a shout when your going to fire it up........ ;-)up
Sure will! Although you'll probably hear it in Stamford when it fires up :)
Title: Re: Varley Red Top or Odyssey
Post by: Zip Buggy on September 17, 2016, 03:55:17 PM
Quote from: Doon L001 on September 17, 2016, 10:51:52 AM
More weight at the front is a good thing as well, get on with it
Yes boss :). Battery being ordered Monday. Fuel pump and regulated coming next week too. Fingers crossed next weekend?
Title: Re: Varley Red Top or Odyssey
Post by: 93fxdl on September 17, 2016, 09:27:02 PM
And there's me paying 10 quid for small batteries and 20 for large ones from the local breakers, this living in Scotland must be having an affect on my wallet security system.
Ttfn Glenn