Suggest a Battery
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Post Fiend
Joined: May 2006
Posts: 10,007
Likes: 4
From: Central Florida
Suggest a Battery
I am fed up with my optima Blue Tops, they seem to only last long enough for the warranty to expire. I am ready to try something else. For my set up I do need the threaded post and top post, with a bit of work I might be able to get to a dual post setup to work. I'd prefer deep cycle as well. So what's out there and good? I'm kind of leaning towards Exide's Orbital series.
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Post Fiend
Joined: May 2006
Posts: 10,007
Likes: 4
From: Central Florida
I want something more exotic than a flat lead plate/ sulfuric acid battery. Plus the deep cycle is fairly important to me. I am running a winch and a little bit of stereo, my alt can keep up pretty well, but I'd like to have the headroom when everything is running and I don't think a conventional battery will support the loads as well.
A little info, Warn M1200, 6 ton winch. Currently only 200watts of amplifier, 100 watts of RF transmission. I have a 230 amp Alt, which should support everything pretty well if I figure stock needs about 120amp with all stock accessories on, I have 110 amps of headroom until the winch or aftermarket accessories kick in. I don't have a clue what the winch draws, but I suspect 250 amps or more under load, which means I will need 140amps plus from the battery over several minutes.
A little info, Warn M1200, 6 ton winch. Currently only 200watts of amplifier, 100 watts of RF transmission. I have a 230 amp Alt, which should support everything pretty well if I figure stock needs about 120amp with all stock accessories on, I have 110 amps of headroom until the winch or aftermarket accessories kick in. I don't have a clue what the winch draws, but I suspect 250 amps or more under load, which means I will need 140amps plus from the battery over several minutes.
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Joined: Jan 2001
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From: Virginia
A deep cycle is not made to perform during high current demands. It's for steady long period draws with deep discharges.
If you need a battery to kick in during short periods of high current draw while the engine is running, and also have the best starting power during hot and cold temperature extremes, a starting battery is going to spec out and perform better than a deep cycle battery.
If you want a compromise, then a marine starting/deep cycle is a inbetween style battery with better starting performance than a deep cycle, and can still handle some deep discharges at the same time.
If you need a battery to kick in during short periods of high current draw while the engine is running, and also have the best starting power during hot and cold temperature extremes, a starting battery is going to spec out and perform better than a deep cycle battery.
If you want a compromise, then a marine starting/deep cycle is a inbetween style battery with better starting performance than a deep cycle, and can still handle some deep discharges at the same time.
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Post Fiend
Joined: May 2006
Posts: 10,007
Likes: 4
From: Central Florida
I had great luck with the deep cycle Yellow tops years ago. These marine batteries must be built different than just being a yellow top with studs. I got an email from optima saying my charger may not being fully recharging the battery, so as the suggested I have another battery in parallel to it and on the charger. If this works, I may have a second one to do this too.
The blue top never had an issue with starting, it didn't seem to have as much reserve as the yellow tops did though. I can only guesstimate what I need, so if you have a suggestion on what starting battery would do, I'd love to learn. I have to figure that if the accys are on and I have the stereo turned up so I can hear it while running the winch, I will need at least 125 amps more than the alt produces. So where do I find out if the battery can release 125 amps for say 3 minute intervals?
The blue top never had an issue with starting, it didn't seem to have as much reserve as the yellow tops did though. I can only guesstimate what I need, so if you have a suggestion on what starting battery would do, I'd love to learn. I have to figure that if the accys are on and I have the stereo turned up so I can hear it while running the winch, I will need at least 125 amps more than the alt produces. So where do I find out if the battery can release 125 amps for say 3 minute intervals?
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Post Fiend
Joined: May 2006
Posts: 10,007
Likes: 4
From: Central Florida
I am in a 6000lb truck, I doubt a 12v battery that will do what I need will change that significantly. So the only real factor I would be terribly concerned with is fit. I'd love to have a rebuildable battery, one where I could wipe down or cast new plates for as needed. As long as the plates aren't more than 20lbs each or require an extremely exact alloy, I'd be good for casting. I have a couple hundred pounds of something near 80/18/2 lead/tin/antimony, but there is probably some zinc in there too. But I haven't seen or heard of rebuildable batteries in a long time.
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Lead Driver
Joined: Dec 2006
Posts: 7,092
Likes: 145
From: San Diego, CA
I had a red top in my F-150 for 7 years with no trouble at all. I've have two red tops in my 250 for the better part of a year with no problems (and a dying starter).
I've read that if you use your electrical system with the ignition off a lot then the yellow top is the way to go. The red top with 800cca and 1000ca does me just fine and it takes most of that to turn my rig over in the morning.
I've never used the blue tops (never had a boat or seasonal vehicle). My red tops are the 34/78 style with top posts AND side threaded posts.
Just my .02
I've read that if you use your electrical system with the ignition off a lot then the yellow top is the way to go. The red top with 800cca and 1000ca does me just fine and it takes most of that to turn my rig over in the morning.
I've never used the blue tops (never had a boat or seasonal vehicle). My red tops are the 34/78 style with top posts AND side threaded posts.
Just my .02
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