Battery question

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Mike -

I have two red tops and have had no issues. First off you have to keep the idle up when winching...if you can install a hand throttle...even better. The red tops are a starting battery...thus, if you drain them below 12.6 volts you are going to have a hard time starting. If you go even lower you risk hurting the battery, such as below 10.5 volts. The reason is that the lead "paste" in the batteries (used to produce energy) is consumable meaning the more times you discharge the less "paste" you will have. This means that each time a gel based battery not specifically designed for high recycling (charging) is discharged you decrease the ability of the battery to hold a charge. Therefore, you should use a yellow top for anything that requires deep charge depletion repeatedly. The yellow top is great for cranking as well but, does not provide the intense 5 second burst that the red top provides. You can also use the two batteries together as long as there is an adequate isolator used. There is a really good chapter on batteries in the managing 12 volts book...I think you have my copy...
 
wngrog said:
This is the mack daddy battery of all time.

Made by Odyssey for Sears.

Sears: Online department store featuring appliances, tools, fitness equipment and more
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thats what I got the 27M...thats the one that weighs 2,000,000 pounds...thats the one that failed me 20 months in...
that the one that was $249... that is the one that cranked the 40, 500 times in one day at Razorback in June 09... that is the one I'm gonna fight with Sears about when I eat me some spinach...


BTW if you buy from Sears, check shelf life. They dont sell many of these. When I was at Sears getting mine checked out, they still had one on the shelf from when I bought one 20 months prior.

Check your date codes....
 
jesterb said:
Nolen seems to be getting pretty good service out of his red top. :)
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Its now official- Red top batteries will now be referred to as tooth fairies .

Any questions ? don't ask me.
 
Just go buy a $25 "second" from Exide on 80 highway! Really, they are $25. They also have the orbital in a second from time to time. I need to replace mine and will check tomorrow to see if they have any. They don't stay in stock long.
 
Bodean said:
Just go buy a $25 "second" from Exide on 80 highway! Really, they are $25. They also have the orbital in a second from time to time. I need to replace mine and will check tomorrow to see if they have any. They don't stay in stock long.
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Damn someone needs to buy by weekly for that price. I will buy a few extras at that price.
 
Here's my experience for what it's worth.

Bought a red top Optima a couple years ago. It lasted maybe a year and then wouldn't hold a charge. I took it to AutoZone and warrantied up to a yellow top. I haven't had a problem since.

Winch terminals need to be in the top posts as Bomar and Daryl said. The starting can be on the side.

I use quick connects on the positive terminals for the winch and the starting. I disconnect winch when not in use, as I don't trust my 15 year old Warn to lay off the juice when not in use.

To keep an Optima living a long healthy life in a trail rig, I suggest a trickle charger. I have a 1 amp trickle charger I keep on the battery while it sits.

Also, should your battery die, remember that Optimas require an unusual revival process. IIRC, you must charge through a normal "wet" battery with jumpers to the Optima. Correct me if I'm wrong on that one.



In short, I've used and recommend a Yellow Optima and have no experience with the other recommended batteries :popcorn:
 
I've gone through enough red tops. Quality has gone done in the Optimas and I will not buy another one again.

I'm running Odyssey batteries in my junk and my tow rig.

More expensive, but should last much longer.

Got them from here:
Odyssey Batteries
 
Jordan7118 said:
To keep an Optima living a long healthy life in a trail rig, I suggest a trickle charger. I have a 1 amp trickle charger I keep on the battery while it sits.
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Mine was on a trickle charger and it still died in less than 1 year.

IMHO, red tops are crap. They should change their name to Craptima.
 
I've had no problems with my 4 yr old red top even after draining it all the way down from leaving the lights on. Cam has problems with his yellow top.

Is it the batteries that's the problem or that a winch is hard on a system? We probably need dual battery set up with high output alternater. Cranking battery for start-up and deep cycle for winching and repeatedly draining the battery.
 
BillRiley said:
I've had no problems with my 4 yr old red top even after draining it all the way down from leaving the lights on. Cam has problems with his yellow top.

Is it the batteries that's the problem or that a winch is hard on a system? We probably need dual battery set up with high output alternater. Cranking battery for start-up and deep cycle for winching and repeatedly draining the battery.
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Odysseys will handle deep discharge like a marine battery. I was told it could discharge around 1000 before the battery was ruined. Design of the Odyssey provides both high cranking amps for starting as well as deep cycle battery features/

Discharging a red top 3-5 times will kill it.

The military uses Odyssey batteries exclusively. Hawker and Odyssey batteries are from the same company.
 
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