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Batteries - What is the best?

Yah. I need to do a large gauge distribution block on mine somewhere. Any recommendations for products? Ive got the stock wiring, plus a 2ga stereo wire, plus a 10ga running the alarm and some other crap under the hood, plus the 4-6ga for the dual battery setup. I'm currently double teaming the battery on top and side posts :(
 
I like side terminals, but I throw those stupid GM 3/8" bolts with a 5/16" head away. Use a standard 3/8" bolt, and thread a nut all the way on. Tighten the 3/8 bolt into the side terminal (don't get carried away, they will strip out) and use the 3/8" nut to hold the cables tight.

Martin
 
dhcomp said:
Yah. I need to do a large gauge distribution block on mine somewhere. Any recommendations for products? Ive got the stock wiring, plus a 2ga stereo wire, plus a 10ga running the alarm and some other crap under the hood, plus the 4-6ga for the dual battery setup. I'm currently double teaming the battery on top and side posts :(
Click to expand...


blue sea systems is pretty nice quality stuff... any of their busbars would probably do you good...


http://bluesea.com/category/82/35
 
82355 said:
I like side terminals, but I throw those stupid GM 3/8" bolts with a 5/16" head away. Use a standard 3/8" bolt, and thread a nut all the way on. Tighten the 3/8 bolt into the side terminal (don't get carried away, they will strip out) and use the 3/8" nut to hold the cables tight.

Martin
Click to expand...

No, if you are lucky, they will strip out........
When GM went to all side terminals, we were still putting winches on all our trucks.
First one we ran into with a side terminal battery was my cousin Baitfish2's brand new truck.

We grabbed a bolt and nut, cut away the insulation around the battery terminal, and added the winch power cable.

Did like you said, screwed the bolt down tight with the main battery terminal and winch terminal on the bolt.
Then tightened down the nut to hold it all against the battery terminal.

Few days later, I had to jump him off.
Then, again a day or so after that.

We had left a lot of bolt sticking out, so that it was easy to hook a jumper cable to.

I loosened the nut, and found lots of corrosion under the terminals. Cleaned them off and tightened the nut back up.

Few days later, same thing.
This time, I pulled the bolt out. Found the end of it corroded off. As I was looking at that, I noticed a small drop of liquid easing out of the bolt hole.

Battery acid.
When he tightened the bolt, it pushed the back side of the terminal off and was letting acid ooze around the bolt threads....

I took some plastic repair compound and put it in the hole and forced it in with a bolt.
Then a small blob of Goop just for good measure.

That saved the battery, but from then on, we would tighten the bolt finger tight, back it off a half turn, then tighten the nut while holding the bolt head......
 
Fordum said:
No, if you are lucky, they will strip out........
Click to expand...


Remembered this exact story, and cringed when he mentioned using a bolt.

These work alright though, and is what i'm running on the positive terminal.

1380.11845.600x400.GMBP.jpg
 
Yep, knew I had posted that one before, but was too lazy to look for it, so I just retyped it.
 
Darren, i'm running MT78DT for both of my batteries but the aux battery is a deep cycle. The MT stands for MegaTron and the DT stand for Dual Terminal. :deal:
 
It the mt an Interstate? Think I was looking at the mtz.

Didn't know the made it in a deep cycle. Is there a part number difference? The place I went was retarded, but only small shops around here carry them.
 
Ok, so yes, it's an interstate. Just gotta figure out how to get it in a deep cycle
 
Ok, I just went outside and took a look at the exact batteries i'm running and my primary is an Interstate MTP-78DT (800cca 1000ca) and my aux battery is an Interstate 24M-XHD (800cca 1000mca).

I forgot to add that I have a couple friends who are dealers for Interstate batteries and can get them for you.
 
Almost on topic, when you mentioned Interstate dealers, I remembered my other cousin's wife retired from Interstate. She was in charge of their entire book keeping system if I remember right.

Nice lady.

Developed colon cancer they thought, and had it whipped for a while. Then it showed up in her lungs.
They started treating her for lung cancer, and it did not respond right. Got a biopsy and found it was the colon cancer spread there.

Finally got her, but she gave it a heck of a fight.

She was a big musician.
Her headstone had the opening notes of Amazing Grace with no lyrics. If you don't know music, you don't know what it is.

I always think of her when someone mentions Interstate, and just finally needed to post.
 
I've never once had a problem using a standard bolt in a side terminal. The same can't be said for using the OEM screws.

Martin
 
Duralast

I haven't seen anybody mention Duralast batteries so I figured I would share the experience with mine.

Bought a gold top duralast 750cca battery about 6 years ago now and it has been awesome. I've killed it about 4 times from letting the truck sit too, but it keeps coming back to life.

I think I paid like 80 bucks for it back then. Great price for this type of reliability. Normally I try to stay way the hell away from Auto Zone crap, but this one was a winner.
 
Not many people are aware of it but there are only a few battery manufactures for none industrial batteries. The manufactures are Johnson Controls, Exide, interstate and a select few are made by other manufactures.

Optimas are not what they once were. The Diehard Platinums are indeed manufactured by odyssey for sears. The standard diehard batteries are manufactured by johnson controls, who also makes kirkland brand, oreilly/kragen and walmart batteries. They are the same batteries with a different label run. Of course some resellers ie sears, gives a longer warrenty.

The platinums are an AGM battery but much differntly designed than optimas. They are made the same as odyssey industrial grade batteries.

I worked for sears automotive division when we came out with the platinum's and had the opportunity to test the heck out of those batteries and had great results. There are many benefits to them especially the fact they do not have to be slow charged in order to properly charge like traditional AGM batteries are supposed to be. I have had a standard platinum running a booth at auto shows via an inverter running lights, tv, dvd player and mini fridge for a full 8 hrs and only drop 1 volt. They were also put through extensive vibration and drop testing and did much better than other in the market. I am no longer with Sears and not trying to sell these batteries, i just know what they can do.
 
I had two duralast 850 cca bats for 6.5 years in the blazer and my firebird. 2 years ago I put them both in my blazer. Replaced them 2 months ago and they were still starting the diesel fine.

Added a winch is the reason I replaced the batteries and you could tell they were going to be weak this winter.

Probably went dead about 4 times each from non-use with the parasitic things like the radio and also leaving headlights on or interior lights.

I bought two exactly like those AND they gave me $40 off each battery since the old ones were ONLY 6.5 years old. I even questioned that but they put the manufacture date in the computer for warranty and thats what came up... YMMV
 
Interstate makes a sealed AGM also. Thats my next battery purchase
 
ryoken said:
eh, we never run wingnut's in boats, CG don't like that sh*t, EVERYTHING get's nutted....

and I'm not talking about a clamp-on terminal with a cheesy post on it, I'm talking about running right to a post on the bat...

like this...
Click to expand...

I assume CG is Coast Guard? I use wing nuts in mine but I dont have anything that goes out on the open sea either. I have a wakeboard boat.

I bought large disconnect terminals so I can connect my amplifier without having to unhook the battery. Anytime the boat sits for long periods of time I disconnect the battery entirely. I read somewhere that a boat connected to a battery will make the head gasket go out faster. I have no idea if that is true. It seems far fetched to me since there is no water in the block. Maybe if it was a saltwater boat I could see some truth to it since salt water is conductive. And the electrolosis could eat away at the gasket.
 
Head gasket? Never heard anything like that. But the dash electronics in my Malibu will kill the battery DEAD in less than 2 weeks. Always used to disconnect it manually, but recently added a dual battery with perko switch. Only way to go!
 
Picked up 2 24M - XHD Interstate Deep Cycles today.

$115 + $16 core ea, from interstate directly.

Installing tonight. Need to completely abandon my side post cables, but that shouldn't be too hard with a badass 10ton hydro crimper
 
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