What exactly is a 'cranking amp'? Or a 'cold cranking amp for that matter? And how important are they? I think the stock Nissan battery is around 585, right? The cheapest/smallest battery at Wal-Mart has 650/525 cold and the largest I could find was around 875/700 cold. To me a battery is a battery, 12 volts is 12 volts, and if it starts my car, it's doing its job. I would actually prefer the weight savings (and money savings) of the small battery ($30). So my question is, can I get the $30 battery or is it important to get a larger/higher cranking amps battery? Thanks guys.

 

CCA is the number of amperes a battery can support for 30 seconds a 0 degrees F until the battery voltage drops to 1.20 volts per cell, or 7.20 volts for a 12 volt battery.

thus a 600 cca battery will hold 600 amperes for 30 secs before the voltage falls below 7.20 amperes

 

sorry, pressed Submit too soon

cranking amp is same concept but at 32 degrees F


so stronger is better for heavy loads especially when under heavy use since charging/running or extreme weather or both.


all this info is referenced from : http://www.racerpartswholesale.com/battery3.htm

 

According to the FSM the Std Battery is 356 CCA and the Optional one is 582 CCA.

If you are trying to save weight go for the small one but don't expect it to last as long and don't try and start the car at -20.

I am looking into the same thing for the track I found a 400 amp starting battery that weighs 17 lbs which I am going to try. Have to try and hook it somehow now, the posts are flat not round so have to get some kind of hookup for it.

 

just go to AutoZone or other store and buy posts...they screw in and create the right male connector for our battery cables.

I have one on the front flat terminal for my Optima for the ground cables.

 

Thanks for the info. I have been looking but haven't seen anything like that.