Recommended AMP hrs for LT battery?

[bmwrubbercow]

I have to get a new battery and cannot find my manual at the moment. I am going with an after market gel battery.

Can anyone give me the proper rated AMP hr size for the LT?

Thanks in advance.

[Big_E]

I would go with the highest rating that fits. More power is always a good thing!

[sanjaun2]

Panasonic makes a good 19ah sealed lead acid battery for the LT. I personally do not like the gel batteries.

[bmwrubbercow]

Panasonic makes a good 19ah sealed lead acid battery for the LT. I personally do not like the gel batteries.

That's the one I had my eye on. Thanks, Tom

[Morley]

I was looking at batteries also (turned out I didn't need one...yet) and came up with this one http://ebatteriestogo.com/merchant2/merchant.mvc?Screen=PROD&Store_Code=EBTG&Product_Code=40696
It is a 22 amp/hr 420 cold cranking amp battery vs the stock 19 amp/hr 100 CCA battery. And at $70 it is a pretty good price.

Forgot to mention... they offer free shipping on orders over $50

[bmwrubbercow]

I was looking at batteries also (turned out I didn't need one...yet) and came up with this one http://ebatteriestogo.com/merchant2/merchant.mvc?Screen=PROD&Store_Code=EBTG&Product_Code=40696
It is a 22 amp/hr 420 cold cranking amp battery vs the stock 19 amp/hr 100 CCA battery. And at $70 it is a pretty good price.

Thanks Morley. That does sound like a good deal. I will check out the site.

[astuber]

Panasonic makes a good 19ah sealed lead acid battery for the LT. I personally do not like the gel batteries.

I agree that the Panasonic battery looks good. I found this when doing a search for sealed lead acid batteries.

SEALED LEAD ACID
A term commonly used to refer to either Gel Cell or AGM batteries. To be a sealed lead acid battery the battery needs to have only two things:
1. It must be a battery that uses acid for electrolytes.
2. It must be sealed

Both AGM and Gel Cell batteries are interchangeable and either can be used to replace the other. AGM batteries are MUCH more common for sealed lead acid (sla) batteries. Nearly all sla batteries under 100Ah are AGM.

[dshealey]

I was looking at batteries also (turned out I didn't need one...yet) and came up with this one http://ebatteriestogo.com/merchant2/merchant.mvc?Screen=PROD&Store_Code=EBTG&Product_Code=40696
It is a 22 amp/hr 420 cold cranking amp battery vs the stock 19 amp/hr 100 CCA battery. And at $70 it is a pretty good price.

Forgot to mention... they offer free shipping on orders over $50

That one looks good, it is AGM same as the Odyssey and Westco Many of us swear by. I do not like Gel batteries, but the AGMs sure worked great for me.

[beemer100]

That one looks good, it is AGM same as the Odyssey and Westco Many of us swear by. I do not like Gel batteries, but the AGMs sure worked great for me.

Not to hijack the thread, but I have seen a couple of comments from people not liking Gel batteries. I have one in my bike and was of the impression that they are good batteries that hold their charge a lot longer than non-gel.

What do people not like about the Gel batteries?

[Morley]

What do people not like about the Gel batteries?
Gel-cell batteries got a bad rap back in the late 70's/early 80's when they were first introduced because they were too far ahead of technology. The idea and theories were sound but the technology to make them as reliable and cheaply as ordinary lead acid batteries just wasn't there yet.

Another thing that I think adds to their bad reputation is that they require a "special" battery charger and an ordinary charger can/will destroy them. Most people don't know this and end up destroying their new gel-cell battery just a year or two after they bought it, so they think the gel-cells are junk. This is just my opinion/speculation.

[tazz56]

Do the AGM batteries need a special charger like the gel batteries?

[Morley]

Do the AGM batteries need a special charger like the gel batteries?
No, they are just like the maint. free batteries in cars.

[sanjaun2]

I was looking at batteries also (turned out I didn't need one...yet) and came up with this one http://ebatteriestogo.com/merchant2/merchant.mvc?Screen=PROD&Store_Code=EBTG&Product_Code=40696
It is a 22 amp/hr 420 cold cranking amp battery vs the stock 19 amp/hr 100 CCA battery. And at $70 it is a pretty good price.

Forgot to mention... they offer free shipping on orders over $50
Has anyone used this battery on their LT yet? I have not heard of it or anything higher than 19ah that would fit. The extra ah and cranking amps would be nice.

Gel cells are good batteries but require a lower voltage when charging then lead acid. One of their benefits is that they will not spill or leak. Sealed agm batteries have the same benefit but at a reduced cost. Most vehicles that I have owned (including the LT) charge at 13.9- 14.4 vdc. The latter half of that range is to high for a gel cell and will cook it in short order. The panasonic is a well built battery that should normally last at least 4 or 5 years easy with proper care.
__________________

[bmwrubbercow]

Do the AGM batteries need a special charger like the gel batteries?

Ok, this next item is no doubt going to look like I am starting another oil thread or tire (heaven forbid) thread but.................

I have the small Battery Tender Junior, the one BMW says not to use if I am correct. I have been told it's ok to use on lead acid batteroes like the Panasonic, but am frankly confused as to which batteries can be used with my tender. And what is AGM? The instructions that came with the Jr. said it is ok to charge gell batteries. Then came the BMW battery controversity over a special charger I don't have. TOTAL CONFUSION HERE.

Anyone really know anything about this?? :confused:

[Morley]

The lit. on the BC Jr says it charges at 14.4V and float charges at 13.2V which is too high for a gel-cell. Not sure but it may be an internal heat related issue with the gel-cells. The gel may not be able to dissipate the heat as well as a liquid electrolyte.

[sanjaun2]

AGM batteries do not require a special battery charger. Do not shoot me if I am wrong.... But I believe it stands for absorbed glass matt.

[hp1bmw]

Here are a couple of other sites for batteries.
www.batteryweb.com They carry Panasonic LCX 1220P and the Odyssey battery. If you call in and tell them you are in the IBMWR BMW Motorcycle Club you get a very good discount on Batteries.
www.digikey.com search for a P231-ND it is the same Panasonic battery under their part #.

[bulletbill]

I have been using the Panasonic from Dig-Key for several years and they work great. The last one I got was $47 & change. I prepaid them and they pay the freight.

Here are a couple of other sites for batteries.
www.batteryweb.com They carry Panasonic LCX 1220P and the Odyssey battery. If you call in and tell them you are in the IBMWR BMW Motorcycle Club you get a very good discount on Batteries.
www.digikey.com search for a P231-ND it is the same Panasonic battery under their part #.

[bmwrubbercow]

AGM batteries do not require a special battery charger. Do not shoot me if I am wrong.... But I believe it stands for absorbed glass matt.

Per one of the web site furnished in this thread, the AGM batteries can be charged with no ill effect with my battery tender jr if I understand correctly, while the gel acid battery might be damaged.....Do I have that correct??

Guess the BMW OEM battery is gel and not AGM?

Is the panasonic AGM??

[Morley]

Guess the BMW OEM battery is gel and not AGM?

Is the panasonic AGM??
According to my 2002 owner's manual, the factory battery was the old lead/acid type that you have to add water to every so often.
The panasonic should a glass matt type.

[lord_helmet]

I found what seem to be a pretty concise article on batteries.
http://www.batterytender.com/introduction_to_lead_acid_batteries.php

I also took the liberty to cut and paste the Lead Acid Battery summary into the attach Word document.

[bmwrubbercow]

According to my 2002 owner's manual, the factory battery was the old lead/acid type that you have to add water to every so often.
The panasonic should a glass matt type.

The OEM battery in my 2003 is a sealed battery which I have been told requires a special charger other than my tender junior. I want the replacement to be chargable with my existing charger. I believe I should be alright as long as I buy an AGM type sealed battery.

[meese]

BMW used to use lead acid batteries, but changed to Gel sometime in '02 or '03. When my original battery died in December '03, the dealer had both types available. I went with the Gel, and have been using it for 3 years and 80K miles without any problems. I even bought the special Gel charger, but never used it so I sold it on to someone else.

[bmwrubbercow]

BMW used to use lead acid batteries, but changed to Gel sometime in '02 or '03. When my original battery died in December '03, the dealer had both types available. I went with the Gel, and have been using it for 3 years and 80K miles without any problems. I even bought the special Gel charger, but never used it so I sold it on to someone else.

So Ed, are you saying that the newest batteries availible are fine to charge with either charger? I do know that I have been using the Tender Jr. on my OEM 03 model battery since I bought the bike 18 months ago. Yes, its now having to be charged about every two weeks unless I ride weekly, but then the battery is 3 yrs old and have been told not to expect it to last beyond that time anyway. Who is to say whether I contributed to its demise or its just getting bad from age??

I have a Panasonic in a 78 model airhead that is 4 or 5 yrs old, the battery is occasionally charged with the Tender Jr. Bike is ridden sporadically now and the battery is still very strong and charges quickly.