Batteries

[Yotahead52]

About to install dual batteries. What are you guys running now? I’m reading that optima and odyssey have fell off in quality quite a bit with lots of failures. Opinions would be appreciated !!

 

[GLTHFJ60]

Batteries plus bulbs x-power

 

[SeanLX]

Interstate from Costco seem to be a pretty good option too. (about $80 each for an Interstate battery is pretty good)

 

[lt1fire]

Another plus for interstate on the budget front. The MTP brand is great.

 

[mtweller]

Having good luck with Duracell flooded lead acid from Batteries+

I think I'm done with AGM, personally.

 

[jynx]

I think I'm done with AGM, personally.

Out of curiosity, why would that be? I'm starting to lean that way myself, but would be interested in another opinion.

 

[Yotahead52]

Me as well. Like i said before a couple of times, I’m reading a lot online about failures, short life cycles, ( 1 year or less ), and warranty refusals or delays. On both Odyssey and Optima. The two standards in my book without going nuts on some of the $400 plus options out there. Love to hear details

 

[little_joe]

Curious about the lack of enthusiasm for AGM as well...

I would not buy an Optima/Johnson Controls. There's a couple of other manufacturers of AGM - Northstar, Deka/East-Penn, others? Had a Northstar from Batteries+, their branded X2 Power, and that was perfect; but cannot stomach the current price. If the East-Penn/Deka have subsided in quality, that would be shame as I am looking at them now for my 4R.

 

[GLTHFJ60]

I'm still a big AGM fan, if only because of the lesser tendency to cause corrosion on the posts. Have AGMs in my ford and in Moonshine.

 

[mtweller]

Out of curiosity, why would that be? I'm starting to lean that way myself, but would be interested in another opinion.

Purely anecdotal - I've had 2 red top and a Diehard Platinum failure. The first red top was a warranty replacement, and Sears had stopped selling the Diehard with sideposts, so I farted around figuring out what to do and missed the window.

It's all probably my own fault since I've only recently come to appreciate battery tenders, but it's a lot easier to stomach replacing an $80 battery than a $200 one.

 

[weejub]

Anyone use these yet?

Duracell Ultra BCI Group 24M 12V 525CCA AGM Marine & RV Battery - SLI24MAGMDC at Batteries Plus Bulbs

Group 24 12 volt AGM replacement deep cycle battery for marine, boat and RV use. Stay out on the water longer with this powerful 78 amp hour deep cycle battery!

www.batteriesplus.com

Group 24F Car/Truck Duracell AGM battery replacement - SLI24FAGM at Batteries Plus Bulbs

Group 24F Duracell AGM replacement battery made for low maintenance and dependable engine starting power. Designed for Ford, Toyota, Vermeer, Hesston and more

www.batteriesplus.com

These are the white body AGMs from Batteries Plus.

I have only used the X2 and they are amazing, but a lot more.

 

[jynx]

Purely anecdotal - I've had 2 red top and a Diehard Platinum failure. The first red top was a warranty replacement, and Sears had stopped selling the Diehard with sideposts, so I farted around figuring out what to do and missed the window.

It's all probably my own fault since I've only recently come to appreciate battery tenders, but it's a lot easier to stomach replacing an $80 battery than a $200 one.

I feel this 100% with 6 trucks in a "parked" state the majority of the time, keeping good batteries properly topped off is a chore. I think im probably going to end up with mostly lead acid in the fleet with AGMs in things that can be tended properly or are driven regularly.

 

[lt1fire]

optima has gone way down...... curiously the optima in the bronco is ancient but still cranks like a meth'd up gorilla. May be one of the last really good batches.

They are still decent batteries just not what they used to be.

 

[Comet]

AGM charging cycle appears to be problematic with older electrical systems unable to recognize and charge the batteries optimally. I heard that somewhere right after I bought an AGM as a second battery in the 2001 Tundra using the RedArc dual battery isolator. DC/DC charger would change the optimal charging issue in my situation but at $468 vs. $210 for the isolator, I think I will hope that the AGM dies under warranty. Lead acid for the win/replacement as far as value goes.

 

[S4Cruiser]

Timely post as the two 7 year old sears die hard platinums in my Duramax are on their last leg. While they lasted a while, I went through a couple early in the warranty period. I‘d use them again but they are no longer rebranded odyssey’s.

I think I may give the Costco wet ones a try, especially for the price.

And the sears marine platinum in my grey truck is dead but...it never gets driven so...

 

[Comet]

I currently go to the Interstate Warehouse locally and get their “blems” for under half the list price and a 1 year warranty. It’s funny to go there and see them slap a Honda, Volvo, or other manufacturers sticker on the battery and call it good.

 

[little_joe]

AGM charging cycle appears to be problematic with older electrical systems unable to recognize and charge the batteries optimally. I heard that somewhere right after I bought an AGM as a second battery in the 2001 Tundra using the RedArc dual battery isolator. DC/DC charger would change the optimal charging issue in my situation but at $468 vs. $210 for the isolator, I think I will hope that the AGM dies under warranty. Lead acid for the win/replacement as far as value goes.

I've been running across the issue of proper charging quite a bit lately while shopping for a battery. I tend to believe this is a genuine issue as the AGM's seem to have different charging characteristics than lead acid. However, I have no idea if it's a universal issue, an issue w/ certain brands, or what. Guess I need to learn more.

 

[little_joe]

Anyone use these yet?

Duracell Ultra BCI Group 24M 12V 525CCA AGM Marine & RV Battery - SLI24MAGMDC at Batteries Plus Bulbs

Group 24 12 volt AGM replacement deep cycle battery for marine, boat and RV use. Stay out on the water longer with this powerful 78 amp hour deep cycle battery!

www.batteriesplus.com

Group 24F Car/Truck Duracell AGM battery replacement - SLI24FAGM at Batteries Plus Bulbs

Group 24F Duracell AGM replacement battery made for low maintenance and dependable engine starting power. Designed for Ford, Toyota, Vermeer, Hesston and more

www.batteriesplus.com

These are the white body AGMs from Batteries Plus.

I have only used the X2 and they are amazing, but a lot more.

Those are made by East-Penn, I would not hesitate to get one (and may just do that): East Penn Releases New Duracell Automotive Batteries - East Penn Manufacturing

 

[GLTHFJ60]

AGMs have the same chemistry as flooded lead acid. They have the same charging profile. I'm open to any evidence to prove the contrary, but I've personally not seen an issue. AGMs are better in every way as compared to flooded lead acid, except for cost.

Absorbent Glass Mat (AGM) Battery Information - Battery University

Learn what differentiates Absorbent Glass Mat (AGM) batteries from other lead acid battery types

batteryuniversity.com

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Dc-dc chargers are only necessary if you're charging a battery off your alternator that requires higher volts than your alternator can put out, or if you've got dissimilar battery chemistries charging from the same souece. My current example, of charging AGMs and a lifepo4 battery array off of the same alternator is an example of that, although I'm going to try some magic to avoid needing a dc-dc charger.

 

[Yotahead52]

Am I correct, without using the googlator, that agm batteries Main difference is that instead of parallel plates they’ve wrapped the plates into spirals. Therefore creating more surface area in the same size package? That’s the way I understood It before. The more I read It looks like the biggest problem is that people just aren’t using/charging AGMs properly. A little research yields an issue that most people are only getting about 80% out of them as a result. But there still a lot of threads out there on plate to plate failures which is driving the idea that quality has diminished at Optima. I wanna start my dual battery system with two brand new batteries because as you guys know that dissimilar batteries can cause issues when the old one drags the new one down. Just wanted to make a good decision and see if any of you folks have had any of those issues. For the most part it sounds like you have not. I’ll probably end up with two Optimas when it’s all said and done. I’d like to see this thread continue. I’ve enjoyed the opinions.