BATTERY TIP: CONVERSION FROM ORIGINAL US BATTERY TO DIN EURO TYPE

IT’S OFTEN THAT EASY.

If a side terminal original battery is installed in your US car, you can often use a commercially available European DIN battery type with the battery terminals for US cars and therefore save money too!

You’ll need two small tools.

Without conversion of the US cable or terminal connections, battery replacement is often not possible in practice without replacing the complete battery cable.

These US battery terminals are purchased once and can be used again the next time the battery is replaced. The position of US battery terminals is only a few centimetres higher than on the original battery with side thread connection and can often be done without installation problems.

It’s often that´easy.

The US battery terminals are simply screwed onto the new DIN round-terminal battery (positive clamp to positive terminal – inner diameter approx. 17.5 mm; negative clamp to negative terminal – inner diameter approx. 15.9 mm). Take the US battery cables in the car and simply undo the old screws. Now use the screws supplied in the new battery terminals to fix the cables (hexagon head).

When selecting a battery with a similar housing and power class, be sure to check the following parameters carefully:

The cable length in the car – whether the battery connection is feasible a few centimetres higher. If OK, then check:

The the battery dimensions (length x width x casing height/total height); for DIN European types, the casing height/total height is identical at 175 mm (T/LB casing) or 190 mm (H/L casing). For Asian types, there is a difference of approx. 22 mm between casing height/total height
The circuit (= terminal arrangement, 0 = positive terminal on the right, 1 = positive terminal on the left, very often used on older US cars – always assessed with the terminals facing forwards towards the body) and the terminal design
Whether the base strips are necessary for fastening in your individual case, or whether there is a bracket fastening at the top of the battery cover.
The battery technology (Conventional for old and youngtimers, EFB or AGM battery for more modern US cars with start-stop technology and high or highest energy demand.)
Then there’s capacity and cold start – small variations have no effect on safe starting and the optimum power supply of the electrical system.

Mounting US battery terminals onto the DIN round terminal battery

Example: the Cadillac DeVille, the US cult car of the 1960s and 1970s

The Cadillac DeVille was the best-selling luxury car of US origin for many years. The best-known and most famous personalities from film, music, politics and sport drove cars from this series.

Even acting icon Elizabeth “Liz” Taylor drove a pink Cadillac Coupe DeVille in the 1960s and 1970s.

Legendary singer, songwriter and guitarist Chuck Berry, pioneer of rock´n roll, sang about a Cadillac Coupe DeVille as early as 1955 in the song “Maybellene”.

We had to have an automotive excursion into the past, but now back to the subject of batteries.
The Cadillac Coupe DeVille 7.7 V8 Big Block (built 1965)

The picture shows a Cadillac Coupe DeVille, one of the 3 body versions of the 3rd generation produced in 1965-1970.

With an original battery in the US battery casing BCI 75 (BCI Battery Council International) with side terminal connections.
US car battery 560 10 (US BCI 75)

Original US car batteries do not have the terminal connections at the top of the battery cover, as is usual with the European DIN battery types, but often on the front (side terminal battery).

Not only the terminal connections are different. Many US cars (youngtimers, oldtimers) often have batteries with circuit 1, i.e. the positive terminal is on the left-hand side.
European DIN battery type 560 08

The Banner Starting Bull battery 560 08 also has circuit 1, i.e. positive terminal on the left.

Ideal and optimal for many US cars, in combination with US battery terminals.
Mounting the two US battery terminals correctly onto the round terminals

First attach the negative clamp to the negative terminal, which has an internal diameter of approx. 15.9 millimetres.

Simply follow the embossed minus polarity marking on the battery terminal and battery cover.

Caution:

On original US batteries with circuit 1, the negative terminal is always on the right.
Then connect the positive terminal.

Screw the positive clamp to the positive terminal, which has an inner diameter of approx. 17.5 millimetres.

Simply follow the embossed plus polarity marking on the battery terminal and battery cover.

Caution:

On original US batteries with circuit 1, the negative terminal is always on the left.
If everything has been done properly, it should look like this.

After connecting the battery terminals, you can now attach the battery cables to the terminals using the new screws supplied (with hexagon head).

Attach negative cable to negative terminal and screw positive cable to positive terminal.

“Ladies and gentlemen, start your engines!” V8 Big Block Test Start!

Now, start the engine to ensure that the new battery has been installed and connected correctly.

“VROOOM” – is usually a good sign. Now switch on the radio. Perfect. The radio code is present and full sound is guaranteed for your next trip.