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Ken Bondy
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Advice on Batteries
I have been using two Odyssey PC1200 drycell batteries in my Hummer H1 for six years during which they functioned well. Recently they became very
weak (dead after three days of inactivity) and I replaced them with an identical set of Odysseys that I carried as a backup. I have a few questions
for you experienced off-roaders:
1) What is your preferred battery for your offroad vehicle? Wet cell or dry cell?
2) Is 6 years a reasonable expected life for these types of batteries?
Appreciate the help,
++Ken++
carpe diem!
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Pescador
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The Gel-cell by Optima seems to last a lot longer than the dry-cell. They will not spill and use a gel wrapped around a core. I used them also in my
aerobatic airplane and had at least 20 years on it when I sold it.
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Ken Bondy
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Thanks Pescador. The H1 configuration requires that the terminals be side-mounted rather than top mounted (The Odysseys can be used either vertically
or on their sides). Will this work with the Optimas?
carpe diem!
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Ken Bondy
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| Quote: | Originally posted by fishabductor
I use a Optima redtop in my built 1966 bronco with a 9000lb winch. Next time around I will go yellowtop. I have never used the Odyssey batteries, but
I have heard good things about them.
I thinks 6 yrs is outstanding, especially if the car is in Baja full timeo you run a winch?
I jumped my buddies rig yesterday with a dead battery. It was a 10y/o diehard that finally kicked the bucket. 10yrs on a sears battery is very
impressive.
[Edited on 8-14-2010 by fishabductor] |
Thanks fishabductor. The H1 is not based in Baja although it has made two long Baja trips using the drycells. I do have a winch but it is rarely
used. As I said to Pescador the terminals need to be side mounted.
carpe diem!
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Ken Bondy
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Thanks again fishabductor, and thanks for the link. I will check into the optimas.
carpe diem!
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TMW
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| Quote: | Originally posted by fishabductor
| Quote: | Originally posted by Ken Bondy
Thanks Pescador. The H1 configuration requires that the terminals be side-mounted rather than top mounted (The Odysseys can be used either vertically
or on their sides). Will this work with the Optimas? |
Not on a redtop Optima. |
I run red tops in my GMC and was in my Toyota and they have lasted longer than regular lead acid types. Why do you say the red top can't be on their
side?
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Ken Bondy
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Wow, that was great. Actually my H1 is a 1996 and the battery selector had it and took me right to the Redtop 78 (9078-109). The terminals are side
mounted. It looks like just what I need. Really appreciate the help.
carpe diem!
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Ken Bondy
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Thank you so much fishabductor, Pescador and TW. What an incredible resource this board is!!!
carpe diem!
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BajaGringo
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Assuming that your alternator and electrical systems keep the battery on an even charge, the bumps in the road will probably take a heavier toll on
the batteries than time. I tell everybody that if they have an alternator going bad they can expect their battery to quickly follow. Car batteries
don't do deep cycling very well. Personally I prefer the glass mats to gel in car batteries, especially in high heat.
But that was just my limited experience with gels.
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monoloco
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I had the red top Optimas in my f350 and they only lasted for 3 years, which was pretty disappointing considering the price and the fact that they
only have a 3 year warranty. I replaced them with Kirkland batteries that were less than half the price and have a 3 year full replacement and 100
month prorated warranty.
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woody with a view
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| Quote: |
however I heard it 2nd hand from an unknown source.
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that is usually regarded as FACT!  
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TMW
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| Quote: | Originally posted by fishabductor
I was just saying they didn't have side mounted terminals..However I now stand corrected as I just sent Ken a link with the redtop he needs for a H1
that is side mounted. My redtop is a top mounted style. |
I understand. The red tops I use have both top and side terminals. I got 6 years on the one I had in my Toyota. I got rid of the Toyota in 07 but kept
the red top as a spare. I usually have only gotten 2-3 years on a lead acid on any vehicle I've had. Maybe it's the desert heat.
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woody with a view
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my 03 tundra was starting strong on the original battery 6 years later. i replaced it tho, it's a no brainer that it was gonna leave me stranded soon.
i got the cheap walmart battery in it and notice now it is leaking from the vents. i guess and optima is in my future.....
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Debra
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Thanks for the opening for the battery question Ken.............
While on the topic, can anyone advise me about the best battery for solar panals? I hear the gel is what most in Baja use, but, can't find them up
here.......any advice?
Mean people suck!
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landyacht318
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There are 3 types of lead acid batteries.
Flooded
Absorbed Glass Matt(AGM)
Gel
While OPtimas and Odysseys are often referred to as gel batteries, they are not, they are AGM.
Gel batteries have very specific charging requirements and are not suitable for vehicular use unless they have their own special charger or voltage
regulator. Over charge a Gel once and it has lost a portion of it's capacity forever.
Optima a couple years back decided to rely on their good name and started cutting corners using recycled lead and other measures to fill the fat cats
pockets even further. They have since returned to the higher quality production but I won't reward them.
Optima's also have less amp hours(capacity) than a similarly sized Odyssey due to the 6 pack configuration. Agm's have less resistance, and Higher
CCA ratings, but not any more capacity than a flooded battery of the same weight.
Die hard platinum are a rebadged Odyssey. Same case, same manufacturer. Whether the internals are exactly the same is up for debate.
For more info than you ever needed to know about batteries:
http://www.batteryfaq.org/
Good luck.
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Mexicorn
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Great Thread!
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Cypress
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Thanks fishabductor, No matter what the problem there's at least one Nomad that has the solution.
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Taco de Baja
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My red top optima in my Tacoma is over 6 years old and still going strong. It has both top and side posts. I got it at Costco for $100. I have left
the interior light on by accident several times over night with essentially no loss in voltage. I also had it sit for over 30 days earlier this year
without starting it; again no loss in voltage.
Truth generally lies in the coordination of antagonistic opinions
-Herbert Spencer
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monoloco
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| Quote: | Originally posted by Debra
Thanks for the opening for the battery question Ken.............
While on the topic, can anyone advise me about the best battery for solar panals? I hear the gel is what most in Baja use, but, can't find them up
here.......any advice? |
Probably the best would be Surette flooded lead acid batteries provided there is
someone around all the time who understands how to maintain them. I got tired of battery maintenance and messy FLA batteries so I recently changed to
Concorde SunExtender AGM batteries. I haven't had them that long so I have no long term data on how they hold up but they sure are cleaner, which
incidentally what I liked about the Optima batteries. I was just disappointed in their service life and short warranty. From what I have read, I would
not consider gel cell batteries.
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monoloco
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The Concorde Sunextenders that I have are 305ah batteries and they are similar in size or maybe a bit smaller than an L16. Like I said, I don't have
any long term experience with them, but they seem to be really well made. The reason I chose them is because the self discharge rate is much lower
than an FLA battery (about 5% a month) so when I leave for a couple of months I will be able to remove the solar panels from the roof and not have to
worry about the batteries discharging or someone stealing my panels. It's also nice to not ever have to water the batteries or clean the terminals.
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