Battery Information (3 Viewers)

[laufer]

Great thread indeed, @cary!

I have a few more data points based on my ongoing research:

• Autozone Duralast Platinum AGM 24F and Advance Auto Parts AutoCraft Platinum AGM 24F look like they are made by Johnson Controls. East Penn does not make a 24F AGM.
• Autozone does not seem to carry the Duralast Platinum AGM 34R anymore, or at least it does not show up in their online catalog. I will try to check at one of their stores...
• O'Reilly Super Start Platinum 34R definitely looks like all the other rebranded Deka/East Penn Intimidator models.

I decided that the next battery for my UZN is going to be a rebranded Deka Intimidator group 34R. Given that I do occasional camping, scenic backcountry driving with light offroading but don't have a winch or refrigerator, I think the Odyssey or Northstar would be overkill.

The question is where to buy the battery. IMO this depends on the warranty and the size of the store network in case one has a warranty claim during a trip.

• Sears: 900 stores (and shrinking?), 3y free replacement.
• NAPA: 6000 stores but only 18-month warranty!?!
• O'Reilly: 4500 stores, 3y "limited warranty" but they do seem to mean free replacement.
• Sam's Club: I'm not a member.

It seems that O'Reilly is the winner over NAPA because of the warranty. And they have a store in Page, AZ.

 

[mickeyt]

How do these compare to the Optima Red Top batteries?

 

[laufer]

How do these compare to the Optima Red Top batteries?

My impression is that both are in the same segment of AGM batteries used for normal starting (see also this Optima FAQ) but these are higher quality, more reliable, US-made, and about 25% cheaper than the (current) Optima.

This is based on what I've been reading here and elsewhere, so I defer to the OP and others with first-hand experience...

 

[jaymar]

What about these?

http://www.lithionicsbattery.com/index.html

I have been hearing about these Lithium Ion batteries. They are considerably lighter than a standard car battery and appear to have some interesting features. Curious to know what other 'mudders may know.

Lithium ions are insanely expensive (and I say this as an Odyssey AGM fan; you can pay $2500+ for one lithium-ion Group 31 deep cycle) and a freaking hazard. Lightweight, sure; might be important for a race car. But if you'd ever seen one of these catch fire, you'd cross them off your list. Google "thermal runaway," then get an AGM.

 

[mickeyt]

NSB-AGM-31M Battery | NorthStar Battery
These sound like Sears former platinum and the odyssey marines. Are these overkill if you don't have many electronic

 

[DARKNESS]

I just had my Diehard Gold 34R Agm battery go bad after close to 3 years. It was just barely under warrantee and they replaced it for free. It would not accept a full charge and had begun to bulge on the sides. Anyone else had this happen? Is it just a bad battery or is it not compatible with the 80 charging system for some reason?

 

[Greg_B]

Nice writeup.

I don't see Crown Batteries on the list: Crown Battery | Battery Manufacturers | Industrial | SLI

I had a Napa go bad in my 80 so went to a local fellow who is a battery geek (that's a good thing). He recommended a Crown battery for my needs. He spoke highly of Northstar as well

Anyone else have experience with Crown Batteries?

gb

 

[jaymar]

NSB-AGM-31M Battery | NorthStar Battery
These sound like Sears former platinum and the odyssey marines. Are these overkill if you don't have many electronic

"Overkill?" What's that?

 

[TrickyT]

I just had my Diehard Gold 34R Agm battery go bad after close to 3 years. It was just barely under warrantee and they replaced it for free. It would not accept a full charge and had begun to bulge on the sides. Anyone else had this happen? Is it just a bad battery or is it not compatible with the 80 charging system for some reason?

A bulging AGM case is a symptom of overcharging. I'd monitor your voltage during charging and while driving to make sure your voltage regulator is doing its job.

 

[DARKNESS]

Thanks I'll take a look.

 

[MoGas]

I'm heading down to O'Reilly to get a Super Start Platinum 34R....... My Colorado built Optima Red Top finally is done......

Is the O'Reilly a DEKA?

 

[laufer]

I'm heading down to O'Reilly to get a Super Start Platinum 34R....... My Colorado built Optima Red Top finally is done......

Is the O'Reilly a DEKA?

I am reasonably confident it is. Looks just like the one on this picture.

I am planning to do the same when my current battery needs replacement.

 

[western flyer]

Sears Diehard Gold AGM 34R on sale $119.99 (reg $159.99) now:

Sears.com

 

[circleEight]

Thanks for the writeup. Currently in the market for a 31M battery.

 

[JCruse]

This year for a second, or house battery, I installed a Lifeline GPL-31XT 125Ah battery in a factory left side battery box. As far as I know I am the first to do this in an 80. The 31XT is a little taller than an Odyssey 31M and the same length - BUT it does not have the "fins" on the side to clip off and clear the side humps in the battery box. Cutting away the humps and putting about a half inch spacer between the box and the fender to clear some cabling and fit the J-hooks cured the length issue. The height might have been okay, but for safety's sake I cut away some other material on the bottom of the box to lower the battery, and all has been well since.

So there it is, another option for storing those pesky "hours", and getting 25 more of them to boot!




.

 

[mct75]

I still shy away from AGMs because I read over and over again that normal car alternators can't charge them correctly and you have to use special chargers once a month etc. or they will be damaged.

That said, I did crank my 80 with a PC545 that has 150 CCA, so they are nice batteries.

Anyway, has anyone ever installed an 8D battery in their cruiser? I think everyone in here is playing in the kiddie pool unless they have an 8D battery or two. This one is only $180 and will make humble any group 31 you can throw at it. 8D batteries can have nearly 500 minutes of reserve capacity! You could drive to another state with no alternator in the truck.

 

[Dissent]

The 8D looks perfect but is a smidge bigger than a 31M. Need to get a talented fabricator to build a frame rail kit (i.e. Metal Tech slider battery shelf) to get one of these bad boys into a Cruiser.

 

[mct75]

There's a few AGM 8D batteries that you could probably put in the back! Or maybe under it somewhere...

 

[TomOsborne]

When I was young I was sick and read the Old Man in the Sea while laid out on the couch. This write up reminds me of reading that book. I can't help but laugh at seeing you laid up reading about batteries, but holy moly this is the best article on batteries ever written. Here I come Autozone! Thank you.

 

[sunrk]

I'm having a lot of trouble in the very cold below zero C night/morning winter temps with my pair of Australian-made Century N70ZZL-4wd lead acid batteries that are now about 4 yrs old. I'm just about decided on replacing them with a pair of Northstar NSB-AGM27F's along with upgrading the alt from a Denso 80 amp to a Denso 120 amp unit.

NSB-AGM27F's are not cheap - here in Oz they retail around $600 each. But if they are really as good as they are claimed to be, that's likely to be money well-spent.

There don't seem to be any Australia-made 4wd type batteries any more as everything is basically imported now. Even Century appears to have stopped manufacturing batteries here.

----

Update - now Oct 2018 and I've been running with a pair of Northstar AGM-27F's for a while. No problems so far. I would have gone with Odyssey's but there's no model of Odyssey that is a direct replacement fit for the N70ZZ/ZZL that's the stock size in an 80.

I'm not using any special charging setup - just a regular Denso 110 amp alternator. That said I'm contemplating a Redarc BCDC electronic battery management unit however I tend to shy away from electronics in the 80 as the beauty of it is basically no electronics to go wrong!


Craig.