C5 virgin!!

[nick]

I have just bought 2 Sinclair c5's in need of restoration. My plan is to make one and sell off the remaining parts.(watch this space)
Can anybody advise me what kind of battery i need to power the c5. Just standard not a 24v conversion.
Also, can anybody reccommend a good cleaning product to use on the body of the c5.

I discovered a website called shiply.com and managed to get one of the C5's delivered over 200 miles for under £50. Would highly reccomend this website for any thing you may require moving.

thanks
Nick

[Retro Andy]

Welcome to the forum Nick, nice to hear another restoration project will save another C5, most of us have had the C5 Alive wiring loom fitted, which means a normal car battery can be used, this means the original key and battery top can't be used, but can always be back as it was, where abouts are you ?

Retro Andy.

[nick]

Based in Lichfield.
One of the c5's has an ignition block and a key so was hoping to use it but still trying to find out what is missing in order to make it complete in an original state.

[Karl]

Based in Lichfield.
One of the c5's has an ignition block and a key so was hoping to use it but still trying to find out what is missing in order to make it complete in an original state.

If you want to keep the original keyswitch assembly, you can use an 038 car battery .

The original grey Sinclair battery top just about fits onto the 038 battery when using these;
http://c5alive.co.uk/ecommerce/product_info.php?cPath=19&products_id=6&osCsid=df762b293462f5e5e11f484b9f5d0a0e

[radiomarty]

Hi Nick and welcome to the forum - Great that you have 2 C5'S maybe you'll be able to get them both going ! - do post some photo's if you can. Any probs just ask.

PS Karl can you bring me a pair of terminals to Dunstable ?

Regards Radiomarty

[Karl]

.. Karl can you bring me a pair of terminals to Dunstable ?

Regards Radiomarty

No problem 

[coverman]

Just found Pellon Battery Centre via eBay but just Google it to get to the right page. Brand new Lucas 063 @£29.99+£9.99 carriage.Also Lucas Deep Cycle Leisure 86Ah @ £65.99 + carriage.34Ah Lucas Cyclic Mobility £48.90+ carriage.They are in Halifax.

[mike7201]

Well done on your purchase mate.  Upload some images if you can, and then we can see what you've bought.

[Karl]

Just found Pellon Battery Centre via eBay but just Google it to get to the right page. Brand new Lucas 063 @£29.99+£9.99 carriage.Also Lucas Deep Cycle Leisure 86Ah @ £65.99 + carriage.34Ah Lucas Cyclic Mobility £48.90+ carriage.They are in Halifax.

If you want to run with the original battery top and keyswitch, a type 063 battery wont fit too well....it will need to be a type 038 or something with very similar dimensions.

[coverman]

Haven't decided yet what battery to usem maybe 038, or maybe mobility 34Ah. In the meantime I have an old 40Ah
car battery that fits into the space so will cobble together connections via the keyswitch until it is done in. My local battery dealer reckons that 4 deep discharges on ordinary car batteries is all they can take before performance declines rapidly.

[Karl]

My local battery dealer reckons that 4 deep discharges on ordinary car batteries is all they can take before performance declines rapidly.

..my old "Drivemaster" 063 car batteries lasted 3 years on my 24volt C5 "Voodoo" , and it has no battery protection circuitry at all. The replacement Halfords 063 car batteries are still going strong....We do seem to be getting a bit more from them than 4 cycles. Maybe recharging using an Optimate is helping ?

[coverman]

He may have been trying to sell me a more expensive battery. I shall persist wth the 40Ah ex-Fiat Punto battery until it is no longer usable.