MR2 Roadster Owners Club

The Workshop => General => Topic started by: Tem on November 27, 2004, 16:46

Title: PC545 in Europe
Post by: Tem on November 27, 2004, 16:46
Any ideas where to get one to Finland...? Without paying crazy money for shipping that is. These are available from US (eBay) for $55 or so, but it seems impossible to get a shipping quote for USPS ground...and I don't feel like tripling the price with UPS shipping just so it can sit in my garage for months waiting for spring  s:roll: :roll: s:roll:  

Already placed an order in Knight Battery Sales after their website quoted £90 with shipping to Finland...just to get an email that they actually want £55 extra for shipping  s:? :? s:?
Title: PC545
Post by: Anonymous on November 28, 2004, 19:57
Is Knight Battery sales in the UK? (you quoted £). If so I can see how much our carriers would charge to Finland.
Title:
Post by: Tem on November 29, 2004, 07:01
Yeah, they are in UK:
 m http://www.knightbatteries.com/ (http://www.knightbatteries.com/) m

Got that site from some post in here...

(I might get the battery through someone from US though... s8) 8) s8) )
Title:
Post by: Anonymous on November 29, 2004, 09:48
Ouch

£48.30 from our carriers. Sorry Tem.
Title:
Post by: Tem on November 29, 2004, 13:08
Quote from: "stevewarbs"£48.30 from our carriers. Sorry Tem.

No need to apologize, it's not your fault  s;) ;) s;)
Title:
Post by: Jap GT300 on November 29, 2004, 13:40
PM me your address and i'll see what price I can get you.

Adam
Title:
Post by: Jap GT300 on November 29, 2004, 13:48
I've just done a quote for Helsinki and it comes out at £27 + VAT.  That is £32 in total.

It wont cost any more to another location in Finland.
Title:
Post by: Tem on November 29, 2004, 16:21
Quote from: "Jap GT300"I've just done a quote for Helsinki and it comes out at £27 + VAT.

Thanks! But I still think £90+£32 is a bit too much (I even thought just the £90 is a bit too much), compared to $50 from US and $25 for surface shipping....that's only some £40 total  s:? :? s:?
(should get through customs as well)
Title:
Post by: Jap GT300 on November 30, 2004, 08:10
Oh Well,  If you ever need shipping prices in the future use  w www.parcel2go.com (http://www.parcel2go.com) w  They use DHL and are recommended by Ebay.
Title:
Post by: Tem on November 30, 2004, 08:13
Thanks, bookmarked it  s8) 8) s8)

One US site quoted $105 with shipping to Finland, made an order and got the automated reply, but they haven't confirmed anything yet. No idea if they do, or do they just send the stuff...
Title:
Post by: Anonymous on November 30, 2004, 09:54
perhaps someone here in the u.s. will ship it to you...check on spyderchat....i'd offer but but i'm never awake when the post office is open......

have you already bought a battery box? maybe corky will be willing to ship a battery to you along with the box......

kev
Title:
Post by: Tem on November 30, 2004, 10:13
If that $105 works out, it's good enough for me  s8) 8) s8)  No need to bother anyone for few bucks..


I have the Corky's box already  s8) 8) s8)  I'm sure he would've helped me with a battery as well, but I didn't realize it could be this hard when I got the box  s:lol: :lol: s:lol:
Title:
Post by: crankshaft on December 1, 2004, 11:47
Hi All;

Forgive my ignorance, but is this a 'drop in' direct replacement for the standard MR2 battery and do I need to purchase the "Auto Terminals" allow the standard earth and live cables to connect to it ??

 m http://www.batterymart.com/battery.mv?p=ODY-3217-0006 (http://www.batterymart.com/battery.mv?p=ODY-3217-0006) m

I leave my car for 2-3 months sometimes without starting it, and I understand that these batteries have an excellent ability to maintain their charge over long periods ??

Many Thanx

Crankshaft.
Title:
Post by: Tem on December 1, 2004, 12:18
This is a VERY small battery and isn't a direct replacement. Also, this is worse than stock battery, if you don't drive regularly.

 m http://www.batterymart.com/battery.mv?p=ODY-PC545 (http://www.batterymart.com/battery.mv?p=ODY-PC545) m

You might wanna look at some bigger sized Optimas, if you want a good battery that holds the charge "forever"  s;) ;) s;)
Title:
Post by: crankshaft on December 1, 2004, 12:36
Tem, Thanx.

I am 10,000 km from my 2 at the moment so I can't measure the battery physical size / a/hr so I guess it will have to wait till I get back.

Cheers

Crankshaft
Title:
Post by: crankshaft on December 2, 2004, 11:42
Tem,

I emailed Knight batteries, here's his reply;
==============
None of the Odyssey range is what you would call a drop in replacement, but the PC545 or PC680 would easily do the job.

The main advantage is the saving in weight, space and totally sealed and maintenance free as well as the huge cranking power and deep cycle capability.

If you are storing the car for any period of time, the Odyssey will stand for upto 18 months without re-charge providing it is fully charged and disconnected from any circuit. This is why they are so popular with the motorsport guys.
==============

Is this a popular conversion amoung MR2ers ?? - Is all that is required is a spacer / bracket ?

Thanx

Crankshaft
Title:
Post by: Tem on December 2, 2004, 12:56
Quote from: "crankshaft"If you are storing the car for any period of time, the Odyssey will stand for upto 18 months without re-charge providing it is fully charged and disconnected from any circuit.

Is this a popular conversion amoung MR2ers ?? - Is all that is required is a spacer / bracket ?

It's true that it will hold the charge, if you disconnect it. But if you leave it connected, it runs out pretty quick  s:? :? s:?  It's only 12Ah, while the stock battery is 48Ah IIRC. Meaning the stock battery will last about 4 times longer than the PC545. Then again, the stock battery will easily hold its charge for at least 6 months as well, if you disconnect it  s:) :) s:)  I've done it during several winters now...


You need some way to connect the battery, as it's not even close to fit with the stock parts. I got the lightweight battery box from SC (doesn't seem to reply now), like many others.
Title:
Post by: crankshaft on December 2, 2004, 14:01
Hi Tem;

Well previously I had someone check and recharge my battery before I returned to my car, and I don't know whether they charged it or not, but I don't have that now.

I last saw my car in August, that battery is disconnected and I am praying that when I see it in 2 weeks time, it will start !

Is it your experience that a healthy disconnected battery will fire up after 4 months ???

Thanx

PeterC
Title:
Post by: Tem on December 3, 2004, 06:41
Quote from: "crankshaft"Is it your experience that a healthy disconnected battery will fire up after 4 months ???

I usually disconnect my battery around 1st of November and connect it back around 1st of April. It doesn't even hesitate after that  s8) 8) s8)

If the battery isn't fully charged, or not in good shape when you disconnect it, chances of starting get worse. But a good stock battery seems to hold the charge for 5 months just fine.
Title:
Post by: Anonymous on December 3, 2004, 09:03
Quote from: "crankshaft"Tem,

I emailed Knight batteries, here's his reply;
==============
None of the Odyssey range is what you would call a drop in replacement, but the PC545 or PC680 would easily do the job.

The main advantage is the saving in weight, space and totally sealed and maintenance free as well as the huge cranking power and deep cycle capability.

If you are storing the car for any period of time, the Odyssey will stand for upto 18 months without re-charge providing it is fully charged and disconnected from any circuit. This is why they are so popular with the motorsport guys.
==============

Is this a popular conversion amoung MR2ers ?? - Is all that is required is a spacer / bracket ?

Thanx

Crankshaft

i just made the switch recently, so i'm by no means an expert, but others who have lived with the pc545 recommend starting the car at least once a month, if not once a week, if it is left connected.........

if you were to go with the 545, i'd strongly recommend that you purchase a battery box from corky.....

kev
Title:
Post by: Tem on December 3, 2004, 21:13
Quote from: "Tem"One US site quoted $105 with shipping to Finland, made an order and got the automated reply, but they haven't confirmed anything yet. No idea if they do, or do they just send the stuff...

Well...got a reply today and they won't ship batteries abroad. Their online ordering system gives shipping quotes and lets you order it though  s:roll: :roll: s:roll:  Oh and it was this one, in case anyone else gets the same idea:
 m http://battservice.com/ (http://battservice.com/) m


Got one from eBay anyway, from this seller:
 m http://feedback.ebay.com/ebaymotors/ws/ ... 37&frm=284 (http://feedback.ebay.com/ebaymotors/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?ViewFeedback&userid=ptron2&iid=4509489437&frm=284) m

He was amazingly fast with replying emails and already gave me positive feedback 15 mins after I bought the battery from him (and paid it right away). Shipping to Finland is $60, so that's about £60 in total, assuming customs don't get too interested...
Title:
Post by: Anonymous on December 3, 2004, 21:47
I think you guys should decide on a suitable battery commonly available in Europe, perhaps a motorcycle battery (say, one from a big Honda), and get someone to make a box especially for that size.  That's what I would do anyway.
Title:
Post by: Tem on December 3, 2004, 22:06
Quote from: "Beanie"I think you guys should decide on a suitable battery commonly available in Europe, perhaps a motorcycle battery (say, one from a big Honda), and get someone to make a box especially for that size.  That's what I would do anyway.

We have similar sized batteries available over here, but they tend to be around 200 euros  s:? :? s:?  That's what makes the PC545 worth hunting a bit, at least to me...
Title:
Post by: Anonymous on December 3, 2004, 23:57
The more I know, the less I know.   s:oops: :oops: s:oops:

Must be something to do with this: http://www.voanews.com/english/2004-11-16-voa52.cfm

The guys on  w www.elisetalk.com (http://www.elisetalk.com) w  are complaining about the dollar vs. euro.  I does seem that European goods have gone up in price (for us).
Title:
Post by: Tem on December 4, 2004, 00:29
Quote from: "Beanie"The guys on  w www.elisetalk.com (http://www.elisetalk.com) w  are complaining about the dollar vs. euro.  I does seem that European goods have gone up in price (for us).


Yeah, it has changed a lot lately...I'm not really complaining as stuff from US is cheaper than ever now  s8) 8) s8)  I let other people worry about the fact that it's affecting sales from EU  s:? :? s:?

In 2000 1e was worth $0.8...now it's worth $1.35. In other words, something worth $1000 in US was about 1900e after shipping and taxes in 2000, but now it's only about 1100e  s:shock: :shock: s:shock:
Title:
Post by: Tem on December 4, 2004, 21:07
Just noticed that these lightweight battery box pics are up here as well:
 m http://socalspyders.com/modules.php?nam ... opic&t=613 (http://socalspyders.com/modules.php?name=Forums&file=viewtopic&t=613) m