Group 94R (H7, L4, 77L4) Batteries - Dimensions, Features and Recommendations

BCI Group 94R batteries are very popular automotive and light industrial batteries commonly used on passenger, SUV, luxury, and light commercial vehicles. BCI Group 94R batteries are also known as H7, L4, and LN4 batteries.

They are often installed on vehicles manufactured by BMW, Mercedes, Audi, Volkswagen, etc. As such, BCI Group 94R batteries are designed to be maintenance-free batteries, to be able to provide a strong starting current even in low-temperature conditions, to accept charge quickly, to power a broad range of onboard electronics, to endure automatic start-stop applications, etc.

Updated: October 24, 2023.

Group 94R (H7, L4, 77L4) Battery Specifications

BCI Group 94R batteries' physical dimensions are (L x W x H) 12.4375 x 6.875 x 7.5 inches (315 x 175 x 190 mm) and they weigh on average around 52 - 57 pounds (23.6 - 25.8 kg), with some models reaching up to 60 pounds (~27 kg) - most models feature one or two carrying handles and they can be easily carried to the shorter distances by one adult, although not recommended (don't underestimate 50+ pounds batteries when they have to be carried ...).

BCI Group 94R batteries feature 'R' as part of their label - this means that the positive terminal is on the right (reversed) side of the battery.

The most popular BCI Group 94R batteries are given in the following comparison chart:

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As one can see, BCI Group 94R batteries are generally designed as dual-purpose, Absorbent Glass Mat (AGM) batteries. These are non-spillable, maintenance-free batteries with increased tolerance to vibrations and mechanical impacts and are often used as automotive, marine, and industrial starting and dual-purpose batteries.

Most 94R/H7 batteries are lead-acid batteries, although there are also lithium (mostly Lithium Iron Phosphate LiFePO₄ batteries) dual-purpose batteries designed as direct lead-acid battery replacements.

Personally, although lithium batteries offer some weight savings, the weight saved in a 3000-4000 pounds vehicle is practically negligible - lead-acid group 94R/H7 battery chemistry in the form of tried and tested AGM is still the way to go...

As starting batteries, new, fully charged BCI Group 94R batteries are able to provide 800+ CCA, which is more than enough to start most gas and diesel engines found in passenger cars, light commercial vehicles, RV vehicles, trucks, boats, industry generators, etc.

As dual-purpose batteries, they can power onboard electric and electronic systems like various pumps, GPS and alarm systems, lights, etc., and still be able to start the main engine quickly and reliably (start-stop applications).

Also, they are designed to be quickly recharged in order to be ready as fast as possible for the next 'stop' cycle.

Because of all these reasons, BCI Group 94R batteries work hard in many vehicles, and if you need one for such an application, don't go cheap, or your battery will fail when you need it most ...

Due to these requirements, the nominal capacity of the 94R batteries is not that important - 70-80 Ah batteries are large enough to power the car alarm and remote control system for weeks (even longer) when the vehicle is parked and not used.

But Cold Cranking Amps (CCA - how good the battery is as a starting battery at very low temperatures) and Reserve Capacity (RC - how good the battery is for powering onboard systems while the main engine is Off) are more important for everyday use.

Recommended BCI Group 94R Battery

One of the most popular BCI Group 94R batteries is the ACDelco 94RAGM Professional AGM Automotive BCI Group 94R Battery.

It features a nominal capacity of 80 Ah, 850 CCA, 140 min RC, and it weighs 51.6 lbs (23.4 kg). These values are very similar to the values of Deka 9A94R, Delphi BU9094R, and Exide Edge FP-AGML4/94R batteries.

ACDelco 94RAGM is a highly rated battery tested by many users in countless situations.

As such, ACDelco 94RAGM is highly recommended BCI Group 94R battery as a car, truck, boat, etc. battery, especially considering its price - it usually costs more than Deka 9A94R, Delphi BU9094R and Exide Edge FP-AGML4/94R batteries, but also less than NorthStar NSB-AGM94R, Optima DH7 YellowTop, or Odyssey 94R-850 batteries.

NorthStar NSB-AGM94R/L4 Battery vs. Odyssey 94R-850 Battery vs. Optima DH7 YellowTop

NorthStar NSB-AGM94R/L4, Odyssey 94R-850 batteries, and Optima DH7 YellowTop are evenly matched, high-performance batteries that also feature very nice price tags - but what you pay is what you get.

These batteries are designed as true dual-purpose batteries and can be used as starting batteries and as deep discharge cycle batteries - basically, they are designed as high-end Start/Stop batteries and are designed as hard-working batteries.

CCA: NorthStar NSB-AGM94R/L4 battery can provide 840 CCA, while the Odyssey 94R-850 battery comes with 850 CCA - this 10 Amps difference is really negligible. Optima DH7 YellowTop with 880 CCA Amps has the best CCA rating among these three batteries, but real-life differences are small.

Reserve Capacity of the NorthStar NSB-AGM94R/L4 battery is 158 minutes, while the RC of the Odyssey 94R-850 battery is 150 minutes and 155 minutes for the Optima DH7 YellowTop battery - again, very similar values.

Nominal capacity of the NorthStar NSB-AGM94R/L4 Battery is 76 Ah,  and 80 Ah of the Odyssey 94R-850 battery and Optima DH7 YellowTop battery. Again, they have very similar values.

As a cycling battery, NorthStar NSB-AGM94R/L4 battery is able to withstand, for example, 900 cycles down to 50% DoD, while the Odyssey 94R-850 battery is able to withstand up to 400 cycles down to 100% DoD and still be able to recover using smart (intelligent) AGM battery chargers. Optima doesn't provide exact values for Optima DH7 YellowTop batteries, but Optima YellowTop batteries are known as rather tough and durable batteries, even when cycling heavily.

So, which one is the best? Personally, all three batteries are excellent BCI Group 94R/L7 batteries, and when choosing which one to buy, consider their price, local availability, and your personal preferences.

Note: The author of this article is slightly biassed regarding Odyssey batteries, so ... :)

The price of group 94R batteries varies depending on their capacity, warranty, discharge characteristics, etc.

Since these batteries are not the cheapest batteries on the market, before ordering a new group 94R battery, be sure to check the specifications of your old battery (especially the battery size and the battery compartment size) and compare it with the batteries you intend to order.

Note: whatever you do, stay safe. These batteries can provide serious energy bursts and can cause damage, injuries, or worse. If you are unsure what to do, seek advice from certified professionals, especially if you have to change the battery on the BMW, Mercedes, Audi, or any similar car ...

How to Charge Group 94R/H7 Batteries

When these batteries are connected to the car's electrical system, one should let the onboard alternator/charge controller do their work.

However, when the battery is, for any reason, charged on the, for example, workbench, one should choose an intelligent AGM battery charger that supports several battery chemistries (wet/flooded, AGM, Gel-cell, etc.), charging modes, including desulfation and cell-equalization, temperature compensation, and similar.

Also, such battery charger should, after fully recharging the battery, automatically switch into the maintenance mode and keep the battery charged over a longer period of time.

For 75-80 Ah lead-acid batteries, perhaps the optimum charging current is ~10 Amps - such charging current relatively quickly recharges the battery, but also it doesn't put unnecessary load on the battery.

There are many such battery chargers on the market, with the NOCO Genius 10 being one of the best-buy models.

Group 94R/H7 Battery Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ)

Here are some of the most common Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ) about group 94R/H7 batteries:

What is a group 94R battery?

Automotive batteries with physical dimensions of (L x W x H) 12.4375 x 6.875 x 7.5 inches (315 x 175 x 190 mm) and right battery terminal are considered group 94R batteries.

Are all 94R batteries the same size?

Yes and no - when speaking about the physical dimensions of a certain battery group, one must be aware of the "maximum" battery size for a certain group.

For the 94R battery group, that is (L x W x H) 12.4375 x 6.875 x 7.5 inches (315 x 175 x 190 mm).

Is 94R an AGM battery?

Absorbent Glass Mat (AGM) batteries vary in size, so a battery that belongs to the group 94R can be an AGM battery, but it doesn't have to be.

What is equivalent to a H7 battery?

Any automotive battery with the physical dimensions of (L x W x H) 315 x 175 x 190 mm and the positive battery terminal on the right side of the battery is considered an H7 (L4, 77L4) battery.

Is a 94R battery an H7 battery?

Generally, yes, the group 94R battery is an H7 battery. Note that these batteries may differ in chemistry, hold-down system/method, exact terminal type, etc., but they are the same batteries.