commander batteries 1 or 2 ??

[NedSmart]

Does a commander really need two batteries ? The only extra item is the daylight running lights which i have fitted a off switch toanyway I use them as fog lights.I am planning to fit an oil catch tank and think the left hand battery tray would be the ideal place. Who can afford to burn off excess silkoline these days??I have heard that if two batteries are fitted and one starts to fail the other goes down quicker eventually costing more as both need replacing.Any thoughts ??

[Richard Negus]

Neil,Quite correct; I ran a single Odyssey PC545 for two years, with daylights and,most of the time, heated grips without a failure to start when asked.An IP2/Classic manages with a single battery, a smaller generator and daylights, but does seem sluggish to crank over in comparison.The F1 has the same generator as the Commander, but a single battery and no daylights so comparison is not straightforward.Bodgerbloke of this parish has a single battery (not sure which brand, possibly Odyysey), uses the second tray to store a spare can of Comp2, and has a plastic bottle ahead of the l/h carb as a catch tank.Although expensive (£100'ish) Paul Goff distributes an American SVR AGM battery, 14Ah, which is the same physical size as the standard Commander item and, in my limited experience, performs very well when starting a rotary, and a very low self-discharge rate when unused.It seems, reading the Commando Forum, that larger cables make a worthwhile improvement in the cranking speed of a Mark3; anyone like to try the same on an IP2 before I do?R.

[rustynuts]

It seems, reading the Commando Forum, that larger cables make a worthwhile improvement in the cranking speed of a Mark3; anyone like to try the same on an IP2 before I do?R.

I will be doing just that, soon after a certain esteemed gentleman has finished molying my engine. I also have acquired a triumph starter relay to use as I have had two reproduction Lucas ones weld themselves on. I found that a hearty breakfast improved the cranking speed of my 750 Commando.