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Optima batteries - pro / con?

4by4bygod

4by4bygod

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My dad is fixated on buying an optima battery because it supposedly won't ever leak.. he wants to use one in his C5, 'cause there's a bunch of electronics underneath the battery tray.. he's worried about the die hard just randomly leaking one day..

so he goes to autozone to buy one, and they say optimas are best for trucks 'cause they take a beating, but for a car that sits in winter, they don't hold a charge for very long..

so - are optimas worth the money for a street car that isn't winter driven?

should he buy whatever battery is on sale, and buy a "battery saver"?

should he not worry so darn much?
 
I'm pretty sure the opposite is true, Tom. I recall reading somewhere that Optimas hold their charge LONGER than conventional batteries while left sitting..........:dunno:
 
Mine got drained completely a couple months ago. Charged it slowly overnight (as per the instructions) and it worked like a champ after that. Still going strong. From what I have read, most people try to charge them too quickly, which leads to premature failure.
 
FWIW, the V3500 sat for 4 months with the batteries disconnected, in some damn cold temperatures. I hooked the batteries back up, turned the the key, and the truck started up with no problem.

I'm running dual Red Tops on that truck.
 
I run two red tops in my blazer, and after sitting for 8 months, the truck fired up with only a slight hesitation. and they are still going strong
 
my red top will hold 8 volts forever. However that doesnt seem to be enough to start the truck so I trickle charge it the night before I plan on using it. When its driven a couple days each week it works fine. If I let it sit connected for a week straight its right back down to 8 volts. I've left it sitting disconnected for a month now, just checked it on the volt meter... 8 volts.
 
I've got a red top in the K5 that was drained completley several times last year due to the move. I would move it from house to house and then it would sit for several weeks. I forgot about the LED on the alarm which completley killed it. Put a slow charge on there and it would fire up. THis did however kill one of the cells about 3 weeks before the 3 year warranty went out. Replaced it for free.:D
 
my red top sat in my crew cab for 8 months disconnected, dropped it in the blazer and she fired right up with no power loss at all.
 
I also have a red top and have only needed to jump it once, 5 below zero, setting for 2 monthes and it cranked for a awhile before I relized I was not getting any fuel. Very good batteries over all. J
 
BulldogK5 said:
and then it would sit for several weeks. I forgot about the LED on the alarm which completley killed it.
Click to expand...

there is no way a LED for an alarm would kill your battery.
you could leave a LED hooked up to a car battery for a year and the voltage drop would be less than 2 volts. An LED draws between 10 and 40 milliamperes, so it is safe to say something else is causing a draw in your eletrical system.
 
Dangit, why did you have to point that out. Here I thought I had it all fixed up. Now I must go find something else causing the draw.
 
while we are on the optima subject, what is reccomended for a Semi-daily driver/ work truck/ mud runner/ something to run winches front and back with accessory lights?
Red or Yellow?
 
babyburb said:
while we are on the optima subject, what is reccomended for a Semi-daily driver/ work truck/ mud runner/ something to run winches front and back with accessory lights?
Red or Yellow?
Click to expand...

If you are running high electrical loads with the possibility of using those loads with the engine off, go with a yellow top. That way you have a starting battery which is capable of deep cycling.

my $.02
 
I am very pleased with mine, one red & one yellow. I just went to buy another and it appears the price has gone up over the past 5 years. Anyone know who's got the best price?
 
bigjbear said:
I am very pleased with mine, one red & one yellow. I just went to buy another and it appears the price has gone up over the past 5 years. Anyone know who's got the best price?
Click to expand...

I saw today that sams club has them for 155.00..

Anyway, dad is still deciding what he wants to do.. he read through all of the responses, and says thanks for posting up... and I thank you too.. :waytogo:
 
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