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MG MGA - New Battery

My twin 6v batteries have finally give up.
Id like your opinions my options please. I assume replacing g with twin 6v has no advantage and is very expensive. So Yuasa have a 063 battery 50ah 480CCA at a reasonable price. What about twin 202 12v batteries in parallel as sold by mg specialists? but again expensive. I would value your expertise.
Ive also ordered and received new battery live and earth cables, they are 16mmsq rated 110amp they look slightly smaller than whats on there now. Any thoughts
Regards Paul
p anderton

Hi Paul
we had an "interesting" discussion on this subject in around September IIRC.

In it made the "mistake" of bringing up the subject of an alternative way of wiring up the batteries in parallel, maybe I should have kept quiet :)

http://www2.mg-cars.org.uk/cgi-bin/or17?runprog=mgbbs&mode=archiveth&archiveyear=6_2017.dat&access=&subject=6&subjectar=6&source=T&thread=20170911150239557

There should be something in there that you neeed.

Cheers

Colyn
Colyn Firth

I have used a single 12V all the time I have had my car - which is almost 30 years!
Dominic Clancy

I just realised that I didn't answer your question about converting to using either a single or twin 12v batteries.

A single 12v battery that fits the standard MGA battery tray is fairly small for the car but it should still be at least as powerful as the original twin 6v set up and far less expensive too. The Varta B35 390 battery seems to be highly recommended for this, it is a 42ah battery and is advertised at around £45 at the moment.

A lot of owners extend a battery tray slightly to allow the fitting of a slightly larger capacity battery with more amp/hours available.

I would try using a single 12v battery first (like Dominic has done) to see how it goes, you can always then convert to a twin 12v battery set up at a later date if you wish.

Also you mentioned that you had ordered new battery cables. These will work fine with a single 12v battery, you may just have to rotate the battery to get the cable ends to reach the battery terminals.

Don't forget that if you do decide to go for a twin 12v battery set up, you will need battery connectors that will allow for two cables to be connected to a couple of the battery terminals.

Cheers
Colyn
Colyn Firth

Hi Paul
I replaced my twin 6 volt batteries with a single 12 volt VARTA Blue Type 202 B36 supplied by TAYNA UK.

Still going strong after 6 years

Richard
R A Evans

No need for the expense and complexity of having two 12V batteries in parallel, never mind those old technology 6V batteries.

A respected local factors used to carry Yuasa and a 'Trade' brand in the more popular sizes. As far as I could see the differences were the price, length of guarantee, and stuck on labelling. The cases appeared identical.

But for the size suitable for the MGA they didn't have the 'Trade' brand. They suggested that for a car to be used regularly or with a maintainence charger the Yuasa would be fine, but if the car might sit unattended for lengthy ( whatever that means ? ) periods then a Bosch ( details forgotten, but pricier ) would be more suitable.
So I have the Yuasa YBX3202, £45 four years ago. Fits straight in the MGA battery tray ( base is 175 x 175 mm ) with connections well away from any chassis or body metalwork. Works well, with dynamo and original ( 1957 ) control box.

But ... contacts in the trade are saying that since a change of ownership Yuasa are not the quality they were, I don't know how significant that is.

The Varta B35 390 suggested by Colyn is also a good option.
J N Gibson

This is how a Varta B35 (now B36) compares to 2x 6v batteries.

Same footprint, but slightly shorter.

I fitted one in my brother's MGB and it worked fine.


Dave O'Neill 2

Thanks I think the single 12v is the way I’ll go. Both suggested batteries look ideal. Do you think the bigger Yuasa HSB 063 with better CCA and 50ah would be worth the extra few pounds? I have a trade card for Halfords so there’s a £20 saving. If not I’ll get one of the ones suggested.
p anderton

The Yuasa HSB 063 is a little longer Paul and so you will have to check the battery tray to see if it will fit.
Mine were extended before I bought the car and so I dont know the standard battery tray size.

Colyn
Colyn Firth

Halfords tell me it’s 175x175x207mm so think it will fit. I would double check before buying.
p anderton

Hi
I also fitted the Varta 202/002L (B36) 44Ah - fitted nicely
Graham
Graham V

I too fitted the Varta (in the offside battery tray) with a caddy storage box going in place in the nearside tray.

Only today I heard of an owner who has had problems with one of the two 'newish' 6v batteries.

regards
Colin


Colin Manley

Colin what’s a caddie storage box? Obviously a storage box of some sort. Now the near side is not going to be used some extra storage would be ideal
p anderton

Paul,
It's actually a small food recycling box that I never used. It's fastened with four fixings into the the battery frame and sits just below the height of the battery cover.

Regards
Colin
Colin Manley

Good opportunity to fit a battery isolator behind the passenger seat at the same time!
Graeme Williams

This thread was discussed between 19/02/2018 and 26/02/2018

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This thread is from the archive. The Live MG MGA BBS is active now.