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Author Topic: Sinclair batteries  (Read 11045 times)

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Karl

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Sinclair batteries
« on: 07, February, 2009 - 17:13:41 »
I purchased these from Adam Harper in 2006, and they have served me well.

Obviously they are a good choice for the C5 , and a must if you want to keep absolute originality, but they are not cheap . They work in conjunction with the grey battery top and the keyswitch assembly.



I used a set of these on the London-Brighton run, when "Moneypit" was configured as a twin-battery set-up & using two keyswitch assemblies and grey battery tops.

The range was excellent, getting me from Lambeth Bridge in London to Redhill  8)

Mine are now getting a bit tired and starting to under-perform, so the range has dropped ,but they have been well used !



   

Offline Umpa

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Re: Sinclair batteries
« Reply #1 on: 09, February, 2009 - 17:00:35 »
I always thought that the original Sinclair batteries were white ? is that a copy version ?

Karl

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Re: Sinclair batteries
« Reply #2 on: 09, February, 2009 - 17:04:41 »
you are spot on - the originals are white , I've got quite a stockpile of "dead" ones which I use to keep my gazebo weighed down  ;D

The red ones are the modern replacements that Adam Harper now sells.

Offline Umpa

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Re: Sinclair batteries
« Reply #3 on: 02, July, 2009 - 10:39:44 »
I have just bought the new type original battery from Sinclair vehicles it's a black one and I'll be sure to update here with how i get on with it. Thus new ones are black. So it's gone White, Red, Black. Lol
« Last Edit: 02, July, 2009 - 17:21:26 by Umpa »

Offline Retro Andy

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Re: Sinclair batteries
« Reply #4 on: 02, July, 2009 - 11:22:31 »
Umpa, you should go on mastermind with your specialist subject:-       The original components of the Sinclair C5  ;D

Retro Andy
« Last Edit: 03, July, 2009 - 11:00:44 by Retro Andy »

Offline Umpa

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Re: Sinclair batteries
« Reply #5 on: 02, July, 2009 - 17:22:50 »
pass - lol

ahhh you edited your post, I might just take up the challenge then lol
« Last Edit: 03, July, 2009 - 12:19:10 by Umpa »

Karl

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Re: Sinclair batteries
« Reply #6 on: 02, July, 2009 - 17:47:46 »
Good to see Adam is back in business after his last battery supplier let him down.

Offline mike7201

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Re: Sinclair batteries
« Reply #7 on: 10, October, 2009 - 20:27:58 »
How did you get on with this Umpa?  I'm keen to learn, as my 12v battery won't last longer than 20 minutes.  It goes from fully charged to no power in next to no time!  I have noticed that every time I re-charge it, it seems I get a few minutes less each time...  Could this be because I'm using the wrong battery for the job?

Please advise.

I had someone stop me yesterday saying I needed something with a higher ampage, which would allow for greater range.  I just don't understand what he meant, so ran him down!  :D Only kidding...  But seriosuly, I didn't understand.

Mike.

Offline Umpa

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Re: Sinclair batteries
« Reply #8 on: 11, October, 2009 - 08:13:27 »
Hi Mike, as daft as it sounds 20 Min's might be about right.  You cant really gauge battery performance on time, only on miles driven & that depends on how heavy you are and how hilly your roads are. 20 Mins at 15MPH is about 6 miles. So that sounds about right (forget what the brochure claims)

I used a tom tom to tell me speed and distance before fitting a cycle computer to my good old C5.

The AH (amp hour) rating is a system that measures the amount of current the battery will deliver in one hour.  The more the better - however the more usually means a bigger heavier battery, so its a trade off.  The heavier the battery the more power will be needed, but remember the C5 can only draw 250 watts, so you get no performance advantage from a heavy battery; what you do get is more miles though !!

This is why I use the heavy Gel type batteries, I get a good 15miles before its half empty, and that's hilly power button full on and having to pedal 15 miles.

My son uses the new black  Sinclair batteries and he only gets 7 miles per battery (takes two) and I’m a lot heavier than he is.

The original Sinclair battery was a 36AH deep discharge type, similar to what we now call a leisure battery - and was designed to be charged/discharged about 300 times, and give a steady rate of power.  They were heavier than a car battery for the same physical size because they needed thicker lead plates.

A car battery its a little different, because a car battery is designed to give all its power in one go - so they are rated in staring amps and typically something like '470 AMP'  that’s how much power it can deliver when you start your car - but remember the c5 will only draw about 20 amps while running  (so no performance gain)  & the problem with a car battery is that they way they are made the plates can bend with the constant charge/discharge cycles causing shorts and stuff (that’s why they aren’t supposed to last long), but the advantage is that they are much lighter  than leisure batteries so for a short journey you might not need to pedal as much as your not carrying that dead weight.

So to sum it up - you can use car batteries  they are lighter and may make the journey easier but  the charge may not last as long  (as in miles per charge) their life may be reduced.

Leisure batteries are the preferred type, but cost more and weigh more so you might need to pedal more (up hills or on the flat) , but they hold their charge better, and should last you longer.  I must add though that a good car battery might be better than a cheapo leisure batteries.

Now on to the original question - sorry I got side tracked…..

The new black Sinclair batteries are not the same as the red type, I understand from Adam that they are 15% less than the red type.  A friend went to work on one with me the other week, it’s a 6 mile journey 2x3 miles (hilly) and their and back took the battery to the last two lights on the pod.  The battery also had an 8 hour stand between journeys - so it had chance to recover.

I have never had a working original - original, so I don’t have anything to compare it to, except to say I bought a Halfords type 038 and made a top I bought from c5Alive to fit it, and it performed the same, I had to cover it with gaffer tape and looks rubbish though, so I wanted one that says Sinclair on it - lol.

« Last Edit: 11, October, 2009 - 08:20:00 by Umpa »

Karl

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Re: Sinclair batteries
« Reply #9 on: 11, October, 2009 - 09:00:20 »
Top answer there mate , well impressed  8)

As a small after thought, whatever battery you choose please make sure it is properly secured.....otherwise when you brake the battery can slide forward and rip out some essential wiring  :o , not good  :(

 

Offline mike7201

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Re: Sinclair batteries
« Reply #10 on: 11, October, 2009 - 10:04:38 »
Wow - thanks Umpa, I really appreciate that.  Karl too!  I hadn't thought about the wires being ripped out!!

Umpa, I thank you again.  It seems that from what you say, it's a case of getting the right battery, yet finding the best one at the right weight and size for the compartment.

Perhaps I should visit Kwik Fit, and ask them to replace my battery.  They offer a 3-year guarantee with them, so when it packs up after 20 charges I could get it replaced - thus never needing to buy a new battery again...

Would I be able to do that do you think?  I'm sure someone else on this forum did something similar with a Halfords battery.

Offline Umpa

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Re: Sinclair batteries
« Reply #11 on: 11, October, 2009 - 12:48:12 »
I had the same idea. sadly it does not work like that.  First thing to have to tell them is the make of the car it comes off (to make sure its the right battery load for the car), then they put a fancy tester on it.  Now in my case my calcium battery would not go for 1 mile before dying, but the halfords tester said it is OK.  I used to get 12miles per charge.

It cost me 80 seets too  :'(

Offline mike7201

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Re: Sinclair batteries
« Reply #12 on: 11, October, 2009 - 12:56:55 »
Blimey. I may give that one a miss then!

Perhaps I need to call Adam after all.  It's so hard knowing which one to get, then even harder knowing what charger to use with it!

Offline Umpa

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Re: Sinclair batteries
« Reply #13 on: 11, October, 2009 - 13:22:27 »
To be honest, its not as hard as you think.  Any recent car battery charger is OK, I use a Halfords Advanced charger, but a cheaper one will be just fine.  I also have original Sinclair batteries and chargers, these are still good chargers and do the same thing as the Halfords Advanced type. 

These charges are designed to not over charge the battery - perfect for my Gel batteries too  ;D

Hand on heart I have to say that the only advantage of buying an original Sinclair battery is to use the ignition block and to have Sinclair on the side of it.  You can buy better batteries for the cash it's just personal choice and originality.

Karl

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Re: Sinclair batteries
« Reply #14 on: 11, October, 2009 - 20:25:12 »
Blimey. I may give that one a miss then!

Perhaps I need to call Adam after all.  It's so hard knowing which one to get, then even harder knowing what charger to use with it!

Mike - since you already have a c5alive wiring kit fitted , your c5 is set up to use car/leisure batteries.

A safe option is to use a type 063 car battery, which is light, cheap and powerful enough for the job. Fits nicely in the allocated space, and not too heavy if you wanted to carry two for maximum range.