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Best Battery?

Well it certainly sounds like there's some options for me. I 'm going to think this through. Thx everyone for the info. Hmmm...I could just not eat for a week or two and get the optima and a membership.....?
 
I have a yellow top Optima that I bought some time in the late 90's. its been in a lot of different vehicles. usually what ever project was sitting at the time. I have never had to charge it. It lives in my trail truck now. I read all the bad press about them but I have never had a problem. If it ever does die I will buy another one.
 
Optima Red Tops in my Blazer and Wife's Montero. When I put two new ones in the diesel F-250, they will be Optima as well. Don't buy anything except these for any price.
 
i have a buddy here in town who owns a battery shop, he told me not to waste my money on an optima. he said they used to be the battery to buy but now they are going down hill. they have started using recycled lead? (cant think of the metal in a battery right now :doah: ) and they are not lasting like the old ones used to.

ive never owned one and can only pass on what he told me. i buy wal-mart ones cause they are cheap and i work the system with their warranty.
 
BUDDY said:
I want to hear Ryoken's opinion. :D

Later,
Buddy
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haha, I was just kinda skimming thru this thread when I saw this... :bow:

Anything I have to say about Optima's will be based on hearsay, as I've never owned one, tho we do see a few in boats.. They definitely where having something of a quality issue for awhile, but apparently thats been corrected...

They are AGM's, which are the style I prefer.. AGM's are superior to straight gels, mainly due to their charging characteristics and tendencies... Straight gels have some inherent issues, REALLY not liking heat is a main concern.. Whereas the AGM's are much stouter in this area..

As far as their Spiral Cell technology, over other AGM's, can't really say, sounds good on paper, but I personally don't have an informed opinion on whether it's a true advantage..

Their are LOTS of options available nowadays, even in the individual styles of gel, AGM and lead acid... Battery buying has become much more complicated in recent years with the varying cell constructions coming out these days.. The days of straight "cranking" or "deep cycle" batteries are going by the wayside quickly... Hybrid, dual purpose batteries are becoming more common daily with the varying cell constructions...

I may or may not choose Optima at some point, but I will go AGM when I have the chance... Batteries are a freebie for me, so I take what I can get... Any chance for a pair of #27 AGM's, and I'll be all over them...

Batteries are, I'll say a touchy subject for me, and especially the guys I work with... Our current owner has a scheme, ummmm, I mean policy that every battery is hauled and stored from every boat... Stupidest thing I've ever seen and hopefully the new ownership will put an end to this moronic practice, for multiple reasons...

I'd hate to think of the total weight of batteries I've had to install in boats over the last 2 months, it's gotta be some retarded amount... Probably 50 8D's and about 100 group 27's and 31's all told...

Lead acid's have wreaked havoc on my wardobe as you cannot imagine the crazy places they stuff batteries in boats.. Hugging a 100lb 8D into a closet under the floor becomes quite tiresome... :( :doah: :haha: :(
 
Hey Paul,

Is there such thing as a leak-proof battery? Do all batteries vent?

I noticed you mentioned AGM's; I like them too.

If I stick a battery in the passenger compartment, will I have to worry aboot the battery (any brand vehicle battery) leaking gas or liquid?
 
ryoken said:
Batteries are a freebie for me, so I take what I can get... Any chance for a pair of #27 AGM's, and I'll be all over them...
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As I would hope! Sheesh! No wonder you have all the good toys! :D :rolleyes: If you happen to have any of the stuff you're upgrading you're wiring with "just layin' around", I'd pay for the shipping at least!! :laugh:

I have had a few Optima's over the last decade or so & I haven't had any real problems with them. I just wanted to hear what you'd say. When it comes to batteries, you'd be a good politician. :haha: "Well, they're neither good nor bad, but they are what I prefer, but if you don't like them that's cool too." Just a little para-phrasing (chain-yankin'), if ya' don't mind! ;)

Later,
Buddy
 
ryoken said:
Batteries are, I'll say a touchy subject for me, and especially the guys I work with... Our current owner has a scheme, ummmm, I mean policy that every battery is hauled and stored from every boat... Stupidest thing I've ever seen and hopefully the new ownership will put an end to this moronic practice, for multiple reasons...
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And I suppose he stores them on Concrete, which we all know will discharge a battery overnight, and ruin it for life.:rolleyes:
 
76zimmer said:
And I suppose he stores them on Concrete, which we all know will discharge a battery overnight, and ruin it for life.:rolleyes:
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Pot stirrer, be you? :haha:

Actually our 2 battery rooms are referred to as the "discharge rooms" because the trickle charger doesn't work... :doah: :haha: We usually just check waters on putting them in, then low amp charge em 2 or 3 times thru the winter...

But alas, they are on wood shelves... :haha:

Battery is a curse word around our yard! I just had a spring commission on a 40something footer that had 14 batteries to be installed... 8 8D's, 4 4D's and 2 #27's, all of them being AGM's... Which btw, AGM's and gels are generally about 10 to 20% heavier than a comparable lead-acid... Yay for me!!! :mad: :haha: :mad: :doah:
 
Picked up a Red Top off Craigslist, brand new $120 below the dealer's price (Canadian). We'll see how it goes. The Odyssey will be my Deep Cycle. Let the testing begin!

I will say this, the battery comes with every imagineable adaptor for all makes. My Odyssey has been nothing but a pain in the arse in this area. No factory hold downs available, a few aftermarket, but they are all pricey billet jobs. Although I believe the newer Odyssey's have addressed this.
 
My last beater had a red top Optima that was ~4 years old when I sold it. To my knowledge that battery is still cranking the motor in that vehicle. My Blazer has a red top in it that is now about a year old. It spins the motor over every time without complaint. A friend of mine has a red top that is over 6 years old in his truck. It isn't in the engine compartment, which helps alot. It's still going as well. I plan on getting a yellow top to put in the drivers side tray. They work, and they don't puke acid when they get hot. That's good enough for me.
 
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