MEP-003A Battery Replacement

[Landshark_3]

Does anyone know the battery size that best fits the MEP-003A? I have one I bought used and it needs new batteries. The ones on in it are aftermarket and clearly not the same size as the original. If I an gonna buy 2 new ones I want the best fit.

 

[Scoobyshep]

Does anyone know the battery size that best fits the MEP-003A? I have one I bought used and it needs new batteries. The ones on in it are aftermarket and clearly not the same size as the original. If I an gonna buy 2 new ones I want the best fit.

I used my welding skills to make a new frame. The OEM batteries are way bigger than they need to be

 

[Light in the Dark]

I used my welding skills to make a new frame. The OEM batteries are way bigger than they need to be

The batteries are sized for the machine to start everywhere from Prudhoe Bay, AK to Zimbabwe... and anywhere in between that Uncle Sam wanted to play lawn darts. More battery power is never a bad thing.

 

[Light in the Dark]

It's been a few years since I've had an 003 in here, but I'd just say measure the tray area and consult a battery chart, and buy the most battery you can convince yourself you need

BCI Battery Group Size Chart

Knowing exact BCI group battery size helps finding new battery replacement, however, knowing just BCI group size is often not enough...

www.batteryequivalents.com

 

[rickf]

Two group 24 batteries will do more than just fine. I put the old batteries from my Dodge dually in my 003 and they fit fine. That is massive overkill though. They are Group 65.

 

[reset2]

I have Ford diesel pickups. I try not to go bankrupt buying different batteries for each machine on the property, so if I can get a diesel pickup battery to fit that's what's going in. I do have an 002 and it's skinny. So whenever I get that rascle fixed up it's getting the same.

Sent from my SM-G781U using Tapatalk

 

[Dog Breath]

I took one battery out of my tractor that is put away for the winter and the starting battery from my boat to get by until spring. You don’t need anything fancy or huge cca. It’s only a four cylinder diesel engine that should start easy.

 

[rickf]

LOL. I also have a Ford diesel, and a Dodge diesel, And a CUCV diesel, and three military diesel gensets. 12 batteries! Tell me about battery poor!!!!!! Those ford batteries are huge. I moved mine to the Dodge for a trip and they are bigger than the dodge batteries, had to do some squeezin'.

By the way, the 002 uses 2HN batteries originally for the M151. The almost direct replacement for them is a 51R from Honda Civics and Accords.

 

[Ray70]

The original batteries in an 003 are 6T or 6TL , as others said, way overkill but they are still available.
Most O'riley and NAPA stores can get them, average price is $250 or $220 if you have a commercial account.

 

[glcaines]

The original batteries in an 003 are 6T or 6TL , as others said, way overkill but they are still available.
Most O'riley and NAPA stores can get them, average price is $250 or $220 if you have a commercial account.

The original batteries that came in my MEP003A were 2HN batteries like Rick mentioned. My MEP003A is a 1992 manufacture, one of the latest manufactured. No way 6TL batteries would fit in my battery holder. However, I once looked at around 25 or 30 MEP003A gensets at a Gov Liquidation auction. Most had 6TL batteries in them with much larger battery holders. Some of the newer ones had 2HN batteries with smaller battery holders. I suspect there was a change sometime along the way. Obviously, 2HN batteries would be less expensive, but difficult to purchase. I'm using Optima Red Tops in my MEP003A.

 

[Guyfang]

I seem to remember that CECOM told people to change the battery holders. It was never an MWO, nor really Army approved. It worked. So people did it.

 

[Ray70]

Interesting, I have never gotten an 003 set up for 2HN batteries, always 6TL, I suspect as Guy said, some were swapped with trays from the 002's so the smaller batteries could be used.
If your trays are the 002's 2HN trays you can either get them from Tractor Supply, or simply use 51R's from a Honda.
2HN is still available from some farm supply stores, it's just not a popular size in the automotive world, but 51R ( or slightly cheaper 51 ) will work with the small trays and hold downs.

 

[Triple Jim]

I use the cheapest group 24 batteries I can find. Walmart Maxx batteries last me at least 5 years.

 

[rickf]

Walmart uses East Penn batteries and they are very good batteries. I have used them for many years. Also, I have a guy on my g838 forum that sells the top hold downs made especially for the 51R batteries. This is a popular swap in the M151. The 51R has twice the power of the old military 2HN batteries.