What Batteries
Lead Driver
Joined: Jun 2007
Posts: 6,757
Likes: 5
From: Corvallis, OR
Unless you do a lot of offroading and rockcrawling, I don't think the cost of Optima batteries is justified. I picked up a set of Interstate MTP-65 at a local tractor supply store for $87 each. Its hard to beat Interstate in quality and longevity.
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Post Fiend
Joined: Oct 2005
Posts: 10,626
Likes: 7
From: Plano TX and Brentwood TN
If you run alot of electronics too, that'll cost alot of electrical output. Especially if you run alot of aftermarket sound system and something that isn't power efficient like a CB, that'll suck it out of the regular ones.
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Lead Driver
Joined: Dec 2006
Posts: 7,092
Likes: 145
From: San Diego, CA
Only if the engine is off. If the engine's running then the alternator supplies the juice...
Post Fiend
Joined: Oct 2005
Posts: 10,626
Likes: 7
From: Plano TX and Brentwood TN
That's not enough depending on your setup. I don't have a CB(never really liked them but that's not relevant), so I don't have something that is totally inefficient, but what I do have is something that definately is draining with just one alternator when everthing is on(lights, radio(not the basic radio either Pioneer avic-z(or something like that, I'll have to look next time I'm at the truck)), amp(2 of them, one for door speakers other for sub), gauges, dashdaq) I get 14v on the Optimas, when I was using the bare minimum batters I was getting barely 13v, and both of those were on fresh batteries and one alternator. At first I thought the alternator wasn't up to snuff, but after I put in the Optimas(almost 2 yrs ago) it's held that charge, unless something else was going on only thing I could think of was the first batteries weren't up to snuff.
Posting Guru
Joined: Aug 2005
Posts: 1,473
Likes: 0
From: Coal Country, ND
I've had an Optima red top in my 79 for about three years and couldn't be more impressed, it got the truck fired off when it was around zero and the truck hadn't been started in a month. I'm sold on them. They're more money up front, but are supposed to last longer (I have yet to find that out).
Before next winter the '05 PSD is going to get yellow tops in it.
Before next winter the '05 PSD is going to get yellow tops in it.
Lead Driver
Joined: Jun 2007
Posts: 6,757
Likes: 5
From: Corvallis, OR
The Optima batteries charge and discharge differently than liquid lead-acid, so comparing voltage at full charge doesn't really tell you much. If you are wanting something to support a lot of steady current draw the yellow top is better than the red top, but then the high cranking amps of our engines will kill the yellow top faster. I'll stick with Interstates and spend about 40% as much as for new Optimas.
That's not enough depending on your setup. I don't have a CB(never really liked them but that's not relevant), so I don't have something that is totally inefficient, but what I do have is something that definately is draining with just one alternator when everthing is on(lights, radio(not the basic radio either Pioneer avic-z(or something like that, I'll have to look next time I'm at the truck)), amp(2 of them, one for door speakers other for sub), gauges, dashdaq) I get 14v on the Optimas, when I was using the bare minimum batters I was getting barely 13v, and both of those were on fresh batteries and one alternator. At first I thought the alternator wasn't up to snuff, but after I put in the Optimas(almost 2 yrs ago) it's held that charge, unless something else was going on only thing I could think of was the first batteries weren't up to snuff.