- First Name
- Bradley
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- Jul 19, 2020
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- Hattiesburg MS
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- 18 Sequoia TRD sport, 2021 Badlands Sas, 93 Cobra
- Your Bronco Model
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- #1
As our Bronco are getting up in age thought I would share some data and my opinion.
The standard factory (OEM) battery for Ford Bronco is an AGM battery with 800 Cold Cranking Amps (CCA) and a 900-950 Cranking Amps (CA) built in the BCI Group Size 94R (H7).
The next important component is the battery type.
While many people suggest a standard deep cycle battery, I actually recommend a Dual Purpose or AGM (Absorbed Glass Mat) battery. Here is why: a traditional "Deep Cycle" battery is designed for low, steady power (like running RV lights/troller motor), and it may struggle to provide the high-amperage "surge" a winch needs. A Dual Purpose battery gives you the best of both worlds: the high CCA needed to run the winch effectively, and the deep cycle ability to be recharged and discharged repeatedly without dying.
Lets talk Battery testing this is how they come up with CCA and CA. The problem is you may think just get a battery that says 800CCA and you are good. Well The Xs battery is tested at 32deg for CA the Odyssey is ran at 32deg for CCA. Yes, you read that right all you have to do is go to FAQ and you can find how manufactures test their batteries. Some even test at room temperature.
BATTERY ISOLATOR. (This is a must if you have 2 batteries)
What is it, Connects two or more batteries to a single charging source—like an alternator—while keeping the batteries separated when the engine is off.
Run your main battery just to crank you bronco, Use the second battery for everything else. That way you can run the second battery to 0 and the Bronco will still crank.
Winch
Something else to keep in mind is the Winch. A Winch 5000k and up say you need a minimum 650CCA battery at 12volt. (often 400+ amps) Winch can really kill peoples batteries. So now you have to decide do I need more CCA for the Bronco with Winch or maybe even a second battery.
If the battery is too small (low CCA/volts), the voltage will drop significantly when you use the winch. Low voltage forces the winch motor to work harder to compensate. This leads to:
Now that I have given you a ton of data I will give you my opinion. (((I would like to be very clear the rest is my opinion everyone has one LOL)))
If you are running a winch you need a high end Battery or a second battery, Personally I just run the High end ((((D3400R))) It has to be the ((R)) this will do for 99% of the Bronco world.
Well who needs the second battery, The person who has something running all night on a camping trip. like a Fridge. This way in the morning the Bronco will still crank after using the Isolator.
Bradley I don't trust you what if you are wrong I don't want to kill my nice battery because I only have one. Can I test your theory? Sure you can.
Ride around all day like normal. Cut the Bronco off when you get home and disconnect the ground wire to the battery always ground. Wait 4hrs and check your voltage of the battery. 24hr is best but 4hrs will do. It should be between 12.2and 12.6, AMG 12.8-13.1. I will say say it best to look up your brand battery to know. Now you have a number. Go on a big ride that you use your winch a good bit ask to pull everyone that day. Then when you get home run the test again. If the number is the same as your first test no need for a second battery.
I actually did all this research years ago for my second battery for my SXS. I came across XS battery company. Everything told me they are the best.
The one in my SXS is about 8 years old still works great. XS D925 (28AH CA550) As posted above my winch calls for 650CCA minimum.
But the one in my Race car is XS D925 also (28AH CA550) This is on a 10 to 1 compression supercharged car, I've had this little battery all the way down to 40% and it still crank my car.
If you are like me you know all about swapping mower batteries all the time. Once I added an XS battery never have I had to change one again.
I also Have a friend that owns a boat repair business, Once I showed him XS batteries he started testing them to see if I was full of it. In the bass boat world weight is a big thing but they need tons of Battery many times like 4 batteries now he uses 2 XS battery in all boat and has never had a person say the battery was dead at the end of the weekend. Look I know it sounds like I'm selling the battery no I'm just giving you the facts.
https://4xspower.com/collections/d-series-batteries
Added an XS Battery ((((D3400R))) It has to be the ((R)) to my Bronco it fit great nice and tight, Its not a perfect fit by size but it fits and it got tight with the factory bracket no movement.
Dart Block 363 10 to 1 with a big alternator lol
Honda Pioneer Battery
The standard factory (OEM) battery for Ford Bronco is an AGM battery with 800 Cold Cranking Amps (CCA) and a 900-950 Cranking Amps (CA) built in the BCI Group Size 94R (H7).
The next important component is the battery type.
While many people suggest a standard deep cycle battery, I actually recommend a Dual Purpose or AGM (Absorbed Glass Mat) battery. Here is why: a traditional "Deep Cycle" battery is designed for low, steady power (like running RV lights/troller motor), and it may struggle to provide the high-amperage "surge" a winch needs. A Dual Purpose battery gives you the best of both worlds: the high CCA needed to run the winch effectively, and the deep cycle ability to be recharged and discharged repeatedly without dying.
Lets talk Battery testing this is how they come up with CCA and CA. The problem is you may think just get a battery that says 800CCA and you are good. Well The Xs battery is tested at 32deg for CA the Odyssey is ran at 32deg for CCA. Yes, you read that right all you have to do is go to FAQ and you can find how manufactures test their batteries. Some even test at room temperature.
BATTERY ISOLATOR. (This is a must if you have 2 batteries)
What is it, Connects two or more batteries to a single charging source—like an alternator—while keeping the batteries separated when the engine is off.
Run your main battery just to crank you bronco, Use the second battery for everything else. That way you can run the second battery to 0 and the Bronco will still crank.
Winch
Something else to keep in mind is the Winch. A Winch 5000k and up say you need a minimum 650CCA battery at 12volt. (often 400+ amps) Winch can really kill peoples batteries. So now you have to decide do I need more CCA for the Bronco with Winch or maybe even a second battery.
If the battery is too small (low CCA/volts), the voltage will drop significantly when you use the winch. Low voltage forces the winch motor to work harder to compensate. This leads to:
- Excessive heat generation in the motor coils.
- Premature failure of both the winch and the battery.
- Melted wires or electrical fires in extreme cases.
Now that I have given you a ton of data I will give you my opinion. (((I would like to be very clear the rest is my opinion everyone has one LOL)))
If you are running a winch you need a high end Battery or a second battery, Personally I just run the High end ((((D3400R))) It has to be the ((R)) this will do for 99% of the Bronco world.
Well who needs the second battery, The person who has something running all night on a camping trip. like a Fridge. This way in the morning the Bronco will still crank after using the Isolator.
Bradley I don't trust you what if you are wrong I don't want to kill my nice battery because I only have one. Can I test your theory? Sure you can.
Ride around all day like normal. Cut the Bronco off when you get home and disconnect the ground wire to the battery always ground. Wait 4hrs and check your voltage of the battery. 24hr is best but 4hrs will do. It should be between 12.2and 12.6, AMG 12.8-13.1. I will say say it best to look up your brand battery to know. Now you have a number. Go on a big ride that you use your winch a good bit ask to pull everyone that day. Then when you get home run the test again. If the number is the same as your first test no need for a second battery.
I actually did all this research years ago for my second battery for my SXS. I came across XS battery company. Everything told me they are the best.
The one in my SXS is about 8 years old still works great. XS D925 (28AH CA550) As posted above my winch calls for 650CCA minimum.
But the one in my Race car is XS D925 also (28AH CA550) This is on a 10 to 1 compression supercharged car, I've had this little battery all the way down to 40% and it still crank my car.
If you are like me you know all about swapping mower batteries all the time. Once I added an XS battery never have I had to change one again.
I also Have a friend that owns a boat repair business, Once I showed him XS batteries he started testing them to see if I was full of it. In the bass boat world weight is a big thing but they need tons of Battery many times like 4 batteries now he uses 2 XS battery in all boat and has never had a person say the battery was dead at the end of the weekend. Look I know it sounds like I'm selling the battery no I'm just giving you the facts.
https://4xspower.com/collections/d-series-batteries
Added an XS Battery ((((D3400R))) It has to be the ((R)) to my Bronco it fit great nice and tight, Its not a perfect fit by size but it fits and it got tight with the factory bracket no movement.
Dart Block 363 10 to 1 with a big alternator lol
Honda Pioneer Battery
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