Battery: Ah, CCA and dimensions

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480s partner
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Battery: Ah, CCA and dimensions

Post by 480s partner » Tue Jan 19, 2021 6:42 pm

Battery on the 480 has died. Well, not completely but I can no longer satisfactory recharge it as the voltage drops very fast during the first hours of resting. Hopeless and infuriating...

So, I have been looking around but some questions have arisen in my mind!

Manual indicates 55Ah capacity, but when I query some sites they list 60+Ah.
What does this mean?
55Ah is the absolute minimum and greater capacity can be used with no issues?
(Is there a noticeable difference between a 55Ah battery and a 60Ah one?)
Also, I've read somewhere that lead-calcium batteries with bigger capacity may not be suitable for "older" cars' charging system. Is there any truth to this claim?
I guess if this means I can get away with the standard 55Ah, not only paying a little less but with the added benefit of keeping the rest of the system within spec?


On the other hand, what can we safely call a bigger capacity battery?
60Ah? 62Ah? 66Ah? More?
Is there any problem with using such batteries?
Or is the limit set by the battery-tray maximum allowed dimensions?


207x175x195 for a 55Ah and 242x175x195 for a 60Ah seem to be the recommended mm sizes but again some sites also
list some XXXx175x175 variants which seem suitable but when I look at them the poles seem smaller? They are of course not as tall as the 195 ones and logically should fit.


And of course, there's the CCA value. Higher is better, right?
But just how important is this?
I've seen batteries claiming 510, 520, 550, 560, 600, 620, 650.
A battery with 510 has to be able to start the engine just like the 650 one, and in case of discharging will that make a difference?

Just for curiosity sake, back in the day - late 80's/early 90's, anybody remembers what was the rated CCA for a 55Ah battery? 450, 480?

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dcwalker
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Re: Battery: Ah, CCA and dimensions

Post by dcwalker » Tue Jan 19, 2021 6:54 pm

Unusually for things on the 480, the battery is one of the range of standard batteries you can get all over the place.

You're looking for an 027.

The 55Ah is a minimum, yes, so putting in a 60, for example, won't hurt it.

I've just fitted an Exide Excel in Pud (my Celeb) - 62Ah, CCA 540. She leaps into life very happily with that. Cost me £76.79 at Euro Car Parts in November last year.

You can still get the genuine Volvo battery too - I have one in my GT and have always found Volvo batteries both excellent and no dearer than other quality makes. Cant's check its specs for you as the car is wintering at my Mum's, but obviously by going to Volvo you get the right battery, no questions!

Hope that helps a bit.

David
Current: 1994 480 GT, 1996 460 CD & 1997 440 LE with lots of optional extras & 2007 V50 SE Sport
Previous: Celebration 331 (re-homed with Richard S), Celebration 467 (returned to Martin Mc); Celebration 346 (re-homed with Alan480); Celebration 269 (scrapped abandoned project), Celebration 73 (sold on after 6 years), 1992 ES, 1988 ES - and numerous other non-480 Volvos!

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Re: Battery: Ah, CCA and dimensions

Post by jifflemon » Tue Jan 19, 2021 8:30 pm

Oooooo You've stumbled onto one of my Nerdy subjects.....
dcwalker wrote:
Tue Jan 19, 2021 6:54 pm
You're looking for an 027.
It's the correct answer.

Ish..... :rofl:

027 is a kind of universal battery code. Its specifies the Dimensions of the battery, a minimum AH and CCA rating, the type of hold down and terminal layout. That's why when you compare battery brands, the AH/CCA can vary. Usual rule of thumb is that the longer the guarentee, the more "over" you AH/CCA ratings are.

AH is the Amp's per Hour that a battery can sustain before being flat; Its not completely accurate but I'll spare you all the science as why... So, for Davids 62AH battery, at 12v, it'd put out 62amps continually for 1 hour. Or, if he'd left a 6.2 amp consuming device plugged into his cigarette lighter, in 10 hours time, his battery would be flat.

CCA is a rating used to define a battery's ability to start an engine in cold temperatures. Generally speaking, it is easier to start an engine in a warm environment than in a cold one. The rating refers to the number of amps a 12-volt battery can deliver at 0°F for 30 seconds while maintaining a voltage of at least 7.2 volts. The higher the CCA rating, the greater the starting power of the battery.

Next up, Sizes....

So, an 027 dimensions are 242L x 175W x 190H with a hold down method of B3/B4 and a terminal layout of 0.
An 075 Battery has dimensions of 242L x 175W x 175H (so shorter), but the same hold down and terminal layout.
An 065 Battery has dimensions of 242L x 175W x 175H......

You can spend literally hours comparing the damn things, and that's before you start worrying because you've got AC and Volvo were running out of room and so stuck the receiver/dryer into the battery tray!

Simple rule? Buy an 027 with the long guarantee. Write the date of installation on the top of the battery.
If the car doesn't get used regularly for decent journeys, charge it, with a battery charger, every month or two.

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Re: Battery: Ah, CCA and dimensions

Post by Alan 480 » Wed Jan 20, 2021 5:51 pm

jeff

all useful stuff....

CCA 'Cold Cranking Amps'

I have an issue with the height of some 'supposedly' same dimensions, the SS1 bonnet will only close if the dims are on the SMALL size.

I have used BOSCH and some other random makes over the years (too cold to go and look tonight which are fitted to EVA & SS1) and find that for 'irregular use' I cannot tell them apart....

but deffo go for biggest CCA / Ah can lay hands on :-)
bigger is better....
Alan

480 ES 2litre 'Celebration' ? , C30 1.8ES, SS1

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Re: Battery: Ah, CCA and dimensions

Post by jifflemon » Wed Jan 20, 2021 5:56 pm

If you want to tell what you're currently (pun absolutely intended) using, I'm happy to see if I can find you alternatives?

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Re: Battery: Ah, CCA and dimensions

Post by 480s partner » Wed Jan 20, 2021 7:18 pm

Thanks to dcwalker and jifflemon for the tips and explanations!


If volvo could still get me an 'historically accurate' battery like these then I wouldn't look any further... Really, they look great!! :crazy:

Image

Image

Image



Yes, I've spent countless hours searching and comparing.

I've narrowed down to a couple of brands and will have to make a decision:


https://stecopower.com/batteries-vl-vul ... o-202.html

https://stecopower.com/batteries-vl-vul ... o-465.html

https://stecopower.com/batteries-vl-vul ... o-204.html

https://www.yuasa.es/ybx3075.html

https://www.yuasa.es/ybx5075.html

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Re: Battery: Ah, CCA and dimensions

Post by dcwalker » Wed Jan 20, 2021 9:21 pm

Ha - the Volvo ones don't look like that anymore!

My GT is not nearby at the moment - she is wintering at my Mum's - but I'll get a photo of the battery in the C70 since it looks the same, just bigger.

David
Current: 1994 480 GT, 1996 460 CD & 1997 440 LE with lots of optional extras & 2007 V50 SE Sport
Previous: Celebration 331 (re-homed with Richard S), Celebration 467 (returned to Martin Mc); Celebration 346 (re-homed with Alan480); Celebration 269 (scrapped abandoned project), Celebration 73 (sold on after 6 years), 1992 ES, 1988 ES - and numerous other non-480 Volvos!

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Re: Battery: Ah, CCA and dimensions

Post by 480s partner » Mon Jan 25, 2021 12:09 pm

Hmmm, it seems my quest may not be over.

I have indeed been "warned" about the use of calcium batteries. :?

This subject isn't clear and while some say the 14,4-14,8 Volts is only an overcharge tolerance, others argue that is actually necessary to effectively recharge such type of batteries. :dunno:

I don't know what is the voltage the alternator of the 480 puts out, but I suppose after regulation it shouldn't exceed 14V.

Anybody here has had any issues with the use of calcium batteries?

Perhaps it's less worrying to keep the old classic lead-acid type?

I wouldn't mind a battery that lasts less time but that the car's charging system can handle well (or that I can recharge when it goes flat) rather than having to invest in an appropriate separate charger or alter the car's charging system..

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Re: Battery: Ah, CCA and dimensions

Post by brinkie » Mon Jan 25, 2021 1:11 pm

Volvo used the same battery since the 200-series and have been using it until the stop-start systems became commonplace (those systems require AGM batteries), so it's the only part for the 400-series that main dealers have in stock! If the battery of my (petrol) V70 dies I can take the one from the 480 without any problem as they are both specified at 60 Ah. Only if you have a diesel then you may have a bigger battery in your Volvo. This is the reason the pop-up mechanism was chosen as it is, John de Vries had envisaged a rotating lamp like in the Chevrolet Corvette or Opel GT, but Volvo wanted room for a bigger battery so they could fit a diesel engine. Which never happened in the 480, but theoretically you could fit a 70 Ah battery.

I didn't bother to go to the main dealer for a made in Germany battery which has been labeled Volvo and therefore made 50% more expensive, so I went online and bought a Varta Blue Dynamic D24 60 Ah. You can also buy a Bosch S4 005 Blue 60 Ah which is, by the looks of the packaging, Varta's identical twin. Both 60Ah 540CCA.
Robert.

Present cars: 1994 Volvo 480 GT 2.0i, 1999 Volvo S70 2.5 Europa, 2010 Volvo V70 2.0F Momentum

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Re: Battery: Ah, CCA and dimensions

Post by dcwalker » Mon Jan 25, 2021 6:58 pm

Could be worth asking at Volvo - as I said above and Robert had confirmed, you can still get the right battery from them for the 480.

Yes, it won't be the cheapest but equally I have been pleasantly surprised with the last two I bought (one for a 480, one for a C70) in that they were no more expensive than many of the other quality makes I'd looked at and actually cheaper than several...

Up to you but it cant hurt to enquire.

David
Current: 1994 480 GT, 1996 460 CD & 1997 440 LE with lots of optional extras & 2007 V50 SE Sport
Previous: Celebration 331 (re-homed with Richard S), Celebration 467 (returned to Martin Mc); Celebration 346 (re-homed with Alan480); Celebration 269 (scrapped abandoned project), Celebration 73 (sold on after 6 years), 1992 ES, 1988 ES - and numerous other non-480 Volvos!

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Re: Battery: Ah, CCA and dimensions

Post by Jay-Kay-Em » Mon Jan 25, 2021 10:50 pm

For the most stupidest of reasons, I have just purchased the Volvo battery VO30659797 / 551052 (60Ah 520CCA).

It fits a treat. Retail is £74+vat from Marshalls Cambridge. I understand that's not for everyone.

I wouldn't over-think things really..... go to Tayna.co.uk and filter on "027". Select the basic lead-acid type and take your pick from 15-20 brands.

Simples!
Jay-Kay-Em
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Re: Battery: Ah, CCA and dimensions

Post by jifflemon » Tue Jan 26, 2021 8:14 am

Jay-Kay-Em wrote:
Mon Jan 25, 2021 10:50 pm
I wouldn't over-think things really..... go to Tayna.co.uk and filter on "027". Select the basic lead-acid type and take your pick from 15-20 brands.

Simples!
jifflemon wrote:
Tue Jan 19, 2021 8:30 pm

Simple rule? Buy an 027 with the long guarantee. Write the date of installation on the top of the battery.
If the car doesn't get used regularly for decent journeys, charge it, with a battery charger, every month or two.
Great minds.....

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Re: Battery: Ah, CCA and dimensions

Post by 480s partner » Tue Jan 26, 2021 11:30 am

@ dcwalker: You're right, I'll check with my volvo dealer and make an inquiry.

@Jay-Kay-Em: Correct fit is also my concern, I see my battery tray has 2 holes to screw the "holding plate" and this means only 2 lenghts are appropriate. The battery sold by volvo is of no-maintenace type or you can check and add water?

I also sent an e-mail to a few specialized-in-car-batteries-sales stores asking for advice and I'm hoping to hear from someone soon.

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Re: Battery: Ah, CCA and dimensions

Post by MisterH » Tue Jan 26, 2021 12:12 pm

Personally, I just went to halfords and found the correct battery from their selection system and I haven't had any problems. Am I supposed to? Those retro Volvo batteries look amazing
Current Jobs to do (23/1/22):
Fix Central Locking
Fix drivers side speaker
Annoying Scratching Squeak
Water leaks
Complete Front O/S rebuild

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Re: Battery: Ah, CCA and dimensions

Post by 480s partner » Tue Jan 26, 2021 1:16 pm

MisterH wrote:
Tue Jan 26, 2021 12:12 pm
...Those retro Volvo batteries look amazing
Yes, translucid plastic case (oo-er!) was good for checking electrolyte levels in the cells unlike the all black type which leaves you guessing... (oo-er!) :lol:

Anyway, I found a picture from an old tech-book my father kept and it looks a lot like a re-branded Varta model which was used at the time:

Image

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Re: Battery: Ah, CCA and dimensions

Post by MisterH » Tue Jan 26, 2021 2:49 pm

The thing with batteries is that they are a 'consumable' item to which it doesn't really matter with period correctness, same with tyres (obviously some tyres are unavailable so period reproductions are very useful)
Current Jobs to do (23/1/22):
Fix Central Locking
Fix drivers side speaker
Annoying Scratching Squeak
Water leaks
Complete Front O/S rebuild

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