12V battery choices

I just put a 12V battery and kit from elearnaid.com in my 2002 a couple weeks ago. everything fit very well. They had a high tech painted wood spacer in the kit to place under the new battery, as it was about 1" shorter than the OEM. The new ground cable supplied in the kit is a big improvement over the tiny little thing that comes form the factory.

Mike

 

I notice that the $10 kit is now $15.

What battery did you use?

 

This is such a great idea. Use a non-standard battery that you can't buy anywhere so you can charge 3x what it's worth! Pure genius! If you think Toyota dealers rip you on batteries, try BMW dealers. I've had good luck finding OEM BMW batteries (some weird German DIN-spec units) at a place called Batteries Plus (batteriesplus.com). I tried a search for Toyota Prius and they list it as a SKU YUEM22NS6, type NS60 Dry cell but don't offer them for sale online. The local Batteries Plus guy told me the NS60 they carry is made by Exide, which they sell for $109.88. He said they have ordered a couple of these for Prius owners and they have a hollow threaded post. I'm not sure how well this works out. They can also special order a Yuasa 46B24R which is an OEM p/n replacement. [edit] They quoted pricing for the Yuasa at $134.80.

The specs on the Yuasa (from page 29 of their battery guide) are:
Old Reference: NS60
Yuasa Number: 46B24R
Plates/Cell: 13
Capacity @ 5hr rate: 36 Ah
Capacity @ 20hr rate: 45 Ah
Cranking Performance: 330 CCA @ 0°F
Reserve Capacity @ 80°F: 75 minutes
Overall Dimensions: 9 3/8" L x 5 1/16" W x 8 15/16" H
Shipping Weight (Dry): 19.8 lbs
Volume of Acid: 109.3 oz
Charging Current: 4.5 A
Terminal style: B (negative terminal = 7/16" dia x 5/8" h positive terminal = 1/2" dia x 5/8" h)


The OEM GS 46B24R / NS60 battery might be available from GS directly:
GS batteries retail sales
1000 Mansell Exchange W., Suite 350
Alpharetta, GA 30022-1501
Toll Free: (800) 472-2879
Tel: (678) 762-4818

 

Would be worth paying extra if you can wait and get Yuasa rather than Exide. I have no faith in Exide batteries.

 

So then... has anybody used the stinger battery mentioned earlier in the thread:
Stinger SPV35 Deep Cycle Car Audio Battery Honda Acura

Due to the reported problems with the 51R?
Honda-Tech.com: Acura Integra: ATTN Optima 51R Yellow top owners!

 

The Optimas are GREAT battteries . . . and WAY cheeper from Costco. If you or a friend have a card, check 'em out there ... get the SAE posts kit, and you're good to go!

 

I haven't found a Costco that carries the 51R that fits the Prius.

 

I can't quite agree with that statement. I went through 3 Optimas recently in a non-Prius car. The first 2 wouldn't hold a charge; fortunately, the no questions replacement policy helped get to one that finally did hold a charge. Now the question is how long the Optima will last.

 

How are the Optimas delivered? Dry with a bag of acid to be added?

 

They are sealed at the factory. Here is a URL: Optima Edge

 

As wile-e indicated earlier, it looks like Optima stopped making the 51R. I could not find the 51R on Optima's website nor at Costco when I looked a few days ago.

 

I just bought and installed the yellow-top Optima from here:

12 Volt (12v) Toyota Prius Auxilary Battery for 2004, 2005, 2006, 2007 and 2008

I'll have to check my invoice on the actual model number, but I'm assuming the one pictured is the 51R?

anyway, the Toy dealer here in H-burg said the OEM for the Prius was $145. That's the part, no labor, as I'm handy enough to pull a battery and such.

I got the Optima for $150 ($140 plus $10 for adaptor cables), free ship (5 days) .

Lots to take apart to get the old bugger out, but the instructions that came with the adaptor cables were pretty good, no issues. Plus hobbit's website and pics and text helped! Fits great, works great (3 weeks now). If there are problems, I'll let everyone know!

No increase in MPG (too cold!), but my sub sounds better. Really, I've no idea if it is the new 12 volt or not. My old OEM 12 volt ran down overnight (hatch open...not just ajar...forgot to close the damn thing in the garage after taking groceries up to the house...d'oh!) It never was the same afterward. took a charge and ran everyday, but let it sit over a weekend and no start. Sure I COULD have driven it everyday just to drive it and charge...

Anyway, to make this even longer...had 2 red top Optimas in a Jeep (dual battery for winch, stereo, etc.) for EIGHT years. and I was not kind to them either. Heck it was a Jeep!

Had another red-top Optima in 4 different cars spanning 7 years (some were significant other's cars, not mine). sold the cars, but the Optima always stayed to put in the new car...well, not new new but used-new. hmmm, does that make sense?

So, I really think highly of Optima battery tech. Time will tell with the little yellow top.

 

It's nice to know at least we have some options!

 

Quote (from finman):

(hatch open...not just ajar...forgot to close the damn thing in the garage after taking groceries up to the house...d'oh!)

As Technically advanced as the Prius is, why don't the interior and hatch lights have timers to turn them off?

 

Exactly! The 2 domes have auto shut off...but not the rear hatch!! Is that dumb or what? Love the car...but there ARE improvements to be made...even simple ones. I believe if the rear hatch light was left in the off position (hey it does have a switch at least), then leaving the hatch ajar wouldn't be an issue. So, either you ensure the hatch is closed if you like that light coming on whenever you open said hatch OR you always keep the light back there off, only flipping the switch manually on when u need it, then flipping it back off before closing hatch. It's 2008. Why would this be overlooked...or am I just spoiled by all the auto features in our modern world?

 

I've been asking this same question for years! NO lights should be allowed to stay on for longer than 15 minutes unless the car is in some other mode besides off! And this includes the headlights. This would add approximately ZERO extra cost to the car, and should be designed into EVERY car to protect the "starter" battery. It drives me nuts! And it is why I convert everything over to LED so the draw is signicanlty minimized. In my Rav, I used a circuit that even turns the LEDs off.

Grr. Really ticks me off. You'd think that the auto companies were trying to protect the battery maker's profits or something. I see NO reason to allow the lights to stay on indefinitely.

 

Thanks for the clarification. I don't have a Prius but am SERIOUSLY considering one within the next two or three months. Nice to know that I can turn off the hatch compartment light and that the other interior lights do have a timer. I have also gathered that if I always lock the car, an ajar hatch would beep at me to let me know it's not latched. I would easily do what finman did in my own garage unloading groceries, etc., so would most likely turn off the hatch light. Thanks again.

I look forward to posting when I get one.

 

Please note that only the front and rear dome lights are timed. The map lights and the vanity lights - as well as the cargo light - can be left on until the cows come home. They each have ways to turn them off of course - but after you turn them on, you must remember to also turn them off.

 

I emailed Elearnaid and they replied that they now ship the D54 Yellow Top. A cursory googling shows no reports of problems with it...

 

The one they HAVE been selling is certainly the D51R since it is in their part number for the thing! (D51-YT)... and it is the one that fits. As far as I can tell, there is no such thing as a D54. ?? I have just emailed them as well.

Richard... you say you googled. Have you seen ANY mention of a D54? There won't be any problems if the thing doesn't exist!