Battery choices

[bluey]

So should have read my own stuff before forking out. Ran battery down installing dashcam probably by forgetting to turn off the lights.

Ctek charger MXS 5.0 failed to change mode, so charged on AGM setting. Later fixed the CTEK - stupid cheap microswitch fails in all of them - needs lube/clean and works fine. New Exide battery after charge says 12.84V.

Century Yuasa made in Korea has 30 month warranty. Well this one is 32 months old, so is probably about done. The vent probably is bad for longevity, since it lets the battery dry out. Not a patch on the OEM Varta. Resting voltage after charge 12.4 V. Service manual says, according to VAG, after charge, 2 hours no load voltage should be >=12.5V. Still starts the car fine at present, but is working harder running dashcam parking monitoring.

Last battery I got was an Exide for Polo from Bunnings, so ordered another. Exide XDIN55HMF $189 - has 42 month warranty. Will see how they both go..... OEM Varta is winning at 7 years in the heat.

Will consider a Bosch next time ex-japan. Bosch batteries have max 36 month warranty in Australia. Curiously only 2 years and 40,000 km in Japan. Sizing of Bosch Mega Power Silver in very limited in Aus.

Battery university has great article on temperature reducing battery life. So I am sticking to OEM size and my original battery blanket.
BU-806a: How Heat and Loading affect Battery Life - Battery University