12V for Dummies

This is a great thread! I finally had to brake down and buy a new battery for the SWR. My yellow wal mart Maxx finally died this summer after 6 years.

I spent days researching and finally decided on the Bosch Blue Top AGM. The reviews that I have read show people claim to be getting 10 years or even more out of these batteries.

The AGM style battery was actually developed for military use and harsh conditions.

It comes with a 4 year Free replacement warranty/ and 90 months. These are very hard to find. I found it on the Pep Boys website but they don't even stock it, it's an order to be delivered to your local store. They messed up my order twice. The first time they had a one year old battery to give me. The second time they tried to give me a six month old battery.....of course I sent corporate headquarters my comments.

When I bought it online I got a 15% discount which I thought was fun. Then after all the problems they gave me another discount for my trouble and it brought this Bosch AGM down to only $122 bucks! I am a happy camper!


http://www.pepboys.com/product/deta..._accessories/automotive_batteries/?quantity=1


BOSCH-BATTERY-24-710BAGM.jpg





Bosch Platinum Series AGM Battery Group Size 24
Bosch Premium Power car batteries are specially designed for long life. Through over 80 years of applied technological innovation, Bosch delivers unsurpassed quality and best in class performance. This car battery is constructed to dispense maximum cold cranking amps that will meet or exceed your vehicles OE specifications. Even in extreme temperatures, the Bosch Premium Power Battery provides dependable starting power you can rely on.◦The Bosch car battery, Group Size 24, is designed with a corrosion resistant grain structure to prevent sulfating and prolong life time.
◦Advanced Absorbed Glass Mat (AGM) technology provides like new performance longer under the most extreme driving conditions.
◦If you are in the market for a battery replacement, the Bosch Premium Performance car battery is 100% maintenance free!
◦Bosch replacement batteries provide dependable power under extremes of heat, cold and high demand every time!
◦Bosch car batteries provide full coverage for upper class domestic and imported car segments.
◦The Bosch car battery line offers a 4-year free replacement.
◦Need a jumpstart? Bosch Premium Performance car batteries promise a 3-year FREE emergency jumpstart!
◦To prolong the health of your automotive battery, don't forget to pick up your Battery Terminals, Battery Testers & Battery Vent Tubes.
◦The Pep Boys Say: "Bosch batteries represent the pinnacle of technology, delivering all the power you need when you need it. Quality reputation, starting power and long warranty make Bosch the best choice in a premium battery."




.
 
Last edited:
One more fun bit of 12 volt trivia....

If you have a 1st generation 4Runner, your back seat has a pocket. You can pull this pocket out and install a 12 volt plug without destroying anything and have power available to the rear. Weather your seat is down or up. I actually originally put that there so my son could watch TV and play video games on our long road trips to the dirt. To keep him occupied.


2006_1112auxplug0001.jpg


2006_1112auxplug0002.jpg



This was the most fun little 12 volt mod I ever did. And it was so simple. It's a direct line from the battery with a fuse.

I am certainly no 12 volt wizard! But I find all of this very fun.


......Carry On!.....:aliens:aliens
 
I run 4 Blue top batteries on my boat and don't have any problems at all and I run 2 yellow tops on my adventure trailer No problems.
 
Team Balls Out said:
I run 4 Blue top batteries on my boat and don't have any problems at all and I run 2 yellow tops on my adventure trailer No problems.
Click to expand...

Folks should be aware that ever since Optima moved their plant to Mexico (Thanks NAFTA!), their batteries have been crap. If you're lucky enough to have one manufactured here, and it's still going, do your best to keep it going!
 
I've seen fits and spurts of Optima quality coming back up. Not consistently, unfortunately. And still not where it was prior to the move.
Last batteries that I bought are Die-Hard Platinum Odyssey clones - or so its said. Almost a year into them, no issues.
 
Though I just love my new Bosch Blue Top. And the projected longevity and warranty. The install did not go as well as I would have liked. Although my battery is a standard group 24 battery. The Bosch is a bit more narrow and short. This caused my mounting bracket to not clamp down and hold it tight. And you never want a battery to bounce around. So here is my solution. And after all I went through, I was not about to take it back! OMG!

I cut a thin piece of cardboard to place underneath to raise it up and protect from shock. The battery needed to be higher and closer to my stock Toyota clamp.

Then I cut a thick foam packing strip, and placed it under my stock clamp. As I tighten down, there is no fear of harm to the top of the battery.

The built in side L shapes in the long top clamp, do not fit this battery either, to hold it from side to side.

I have no idea why there is a difference in the dimension of a group 24 battery, other than it came from Germany and is in European specs. But don't let that stop you from buying this most totally amazing battery!

Seems to be working very fine so far.

Since I installed my Bosch, I have seen many Toyota threads about batteries not fitting. And the use of all kinds of bungee cords, and all kinds of implements to hold them down! OMG! Just relax. You can find your answer here.......carry on!


DSCF1624_zpsc0394c57.jpg



DSCF1623_zpsa52808c5.jpg



DSCF1625_zps8c0e6734.jpg
 
Last edited:
SWR, is that white packing foam you re-purposed as a cushion for the top of your battery?

If so, it appears from your pictures to be beaded polystyrene and that's an extreme fire hazard. Styrene is the primary raw material used in the production of extruded or expanded polystyrene, and is made from petrochemicals. The main flammability risk with Expanded Polystyrene Foam (EPF) is the gas used during the expansion process—EPF is largely air. Traces of pentane, a flammable gas that vents as the material cures, remain in the material until it is used by consumers and is flammable. Polystyrene is flammable and does not burn out but slowly melts and bubbles, releasing a dense black smoke that contains toxic substances such as Benzene. Benzene is great for increasing the octane of your fuel but if inhaled or absorbed over a period of time is known to cause several acute health issues in addition to being a known carcinogen.

I discourage its use in that application as well as other potentially flammable materials in the engine bay, like the cardboard you mentioned earlier, as a base to increase the height of your battery. I appreciate that most anything in the engine bay is potentially flammable, however these are 2 particularly combustible products not acceptable for sustained use in an engine bay.

My 2 cents...
 
Scenic WonderRunner said:
Every piece of Rubber or Plastic on your Entire Vehicle, originated from Oil.
Click to expand...
And some are far less flammable than others.

But if you want to line your engine compartment with exposed flammable materials, you just go right ahead. Don't let logic stop you.

Tango was merely trying to suggest finding a better material for your own good.

More pressing than styrofoam being flammable, I think, is that there is nothing holding it together. And after exposure to heat it becomes brittle, and brittle mixed with offroad = broken. That battery and the 1/2" to 5/8" of space the foam takes up now, when the foam finds its way out from under that bracket, and it will, that's a lot of space for a battery to bounce around.

Bosch or not, there ain't NOTHIN' "totally amazing" about a battery that doesn't fit properly. Personally, I would take it back for a real Group 24 battery that is actually made fit the specs it was designed within.
 
So should I drive it back up to Pep Boys and have them figure it out? They have free installation. I will invite anyone to my house for a free BBQ and some brews if you can figure this out.

Meanwhile....I have never heard of a battery arc....between two opposite poles setting a car on fire. If this were the case.....everyone's car would be on fire.
 
After I drive up to Pep Boys. For a proper installation.....I will be sure to give you a Picture Report....

I have no idea, how they are doing to make that happen.
 
Scenic WonderRunner said:
Every piece of Rubber or Plastic on your Entire Vehicle, originated from Oil.
Click to expand...

Please, by all means, do what you think is best for your vehicle. We'll be looking forward to your next installment on CAR-B-QUE's...

I don't believe Pep Boys does the custom fabrication you require to make a safe mounting system for your specific battery, however you're a clever fellow. Stare at it long enough, take a walk in your local hardware store, and you'll figure out a solution.
 
TangoBlue said:
Please, by all means, do what you think is best for your vehicle. We'll be looking forward to your next installment on CAR-B-QUE's...

I don't believe Pep Boys does the custom fabrication you require to make a safe mounting system for your specific battery, however you're a clever fellow. Stare at it long enough, take a walk in your local hardware store, and you'll figure out a solution.
Click to expand...

Feel Free to come to my House in Poway California......and teach me how to do it better......TangoBlue.

I will certainly give you my address! If you want to come teach me.

I am sure you know so much better. Now be careful with all of your Oil filled Parts on your Vehicle......

Mocker!
 
Scenic WonderRunner said:
Feel Free to come to my House in Poway California......and teach me how to do it better......TangoBlue.

I will certainly give you my address! If you want to come teach me.

I am sure you know so much better. Now be careful with all of your Oil filled Parts on your Vehicle......

Mocker!
Click to expand...

And you're done.
 
Batteries that are not secured properly are subject to movement, vibration, rattling, bouncing, etc. Under extreme conditions the battery could conceivably bounce high enough to allow both battery terminals to touch the underside of the hood at the same time causing sparks or arching. Excessive sparking or arcing can cause an under hood fire. Another result of a battery not secured properly is a broken battery case or housing causing battery acid to leak out of the battery and contaminate or corrode other areas of the engine compartment.
Click to expand...

It's not just our opinion, it's the facts.
 
You must log in or register to reply here.
Back
Top Bottom