Diehard Platinum vs Cheaper Dual Battery Setup

[Butch1979]

Looks like my battery is dead and it’s time for some upgrades! Initially I was thinking I would just purchased a group 35 Diehard Platinum and be done with this, however now I am thinking of buying cheaper batteries and installing a dual setup instead of one expensive battery.
Diehard platinum cost around $220
Regular Diehard group 35 is about $95 x 2 = 190 + $79 for slee tray = $269 + $135 for T-MAX 47-3800 Dual Battery Monitor = $404


Thoughts? I’m thinking that I should spend the extra money and get 2 good batteries instead 1 awesome battery.

Butch

 

[spressomon]

I would want a sealed type battery for the types of terrain I travel...that would be my only reservation about a "cheap" battery.

There are so many different opinions and theories about batteries...it makes my head spin. There's credence to some opinions to go with a less expensive but well matched aH/CCA battery and replace it like clockwork every three years...

I had problems with several batteries, namely Optima and then some, and finally a number of years ago bit the bullet and bought two Odysseys; they've been great.

But I travel quite often in to no-mans land and wanted, more or less, the best pair of batteries I could afford.

If your travels are closer to metro areas and/or where AAA can get to you then there certainly is a good argument for going with a lower cost battery option.

Many different variables...

edit: I would categorize the Die Hard battery you are considering as a good battery...not necessarily a "cheap" battery. These might be a great option for you. And to more directly answer your question: I'd personally go with two of the $100 Die Hards rather than one of the Die Hard Platinum batteries...given your dilemma!

 

[mint400]

I bought two sears group 34 platinums, the slee tray kit, and had them professionally connected in simple parallel for $80... for camping the second can be disconnected easily via the ground wire... all factory wiring maintained... the only weird thing is the posts are reversed but factory wiring was maintained as it just fit!... it works very very well on my 99... no weird wiring , charging circuits, and starts dam n fast now

 

[scottm]

Don't you need some sort of circuitry to protect the batteries from each other when they're unevenly charged? I know I've read about that here on 'mud, must be true.

I dropped in a much bigger and more widely available size 49 battery, works great, fits with no mods. https://forum.ih8mud.com/100-series-cruisers/556173-battery-size-49-will-fit.html

There was another thread going about another big battery, required some mods to hold it, someone made some special trays and hardware at one time.

 

[Butch1979]

On the fence

was going to use the T-MAX 47-3800 Dual Battery Monitor to connect everything...

I'm leaning towards just getting the Diehard Platinum 35 and worrying about additional battery later.

I think my money will be better spent on building the expo trailer (needs power also).

Cost comparison:

1 Diehard Platinum $220
2 Diehard gold and accessories $404

really wants the trailer pimped out, and I'm cool with that.

 

[Txanm]

Sears has 10% off all Marine batteries this week. There are only 2 difference I read about in threads between the two:
1.) Marine has the extra set of terminals.
2.)The warranty is only 3 years, not 4 like the automotive.

 

[paflytyer]

Sears in Colorado has 10% off batteries on Sundays. I think it's every other Sunday or something like that. Worth a call to find out.

 

[Gottagetone]

I have the Platinum and still wish I had the dual setup with another platinum. If I set my fridge on high it will shut off over night. I now run it on medium and it stays on longer but I would like the peace of mind of the dual setup with the ability to stay idle longer.

 

[nakman]

I have the Platinum and still wish I had the dual setup with another platinum. If I set my fridge on high it will shut off over night. I now run it on medium and it stays on longer but I would like the peace of mind of the dual setup with the ability to stay idle longer.

I concur with that. My fridge will kill my DHP overnight in the garage now that it's summer, and a constant 90°F in there. this winter I could go 2-3 days, but now that it's hot no longer the case. I can drive home from work on Friday, and by Saturday night I hear alarms beeping, and a 11.8v second battery, about ready to quit running the big fridge. There's no substitute for a 2nd battery IMO, some days I wish I had a 3rd.

 

[Layonnn]

I have the Platinum and still wish I had the dual setup with another platinum. If I set my fridge on high it will shut off over night. I now run it on medium and it stays on longer but I would like the peace of mind of the dual setup with the ability to stay idle longer.

I concur with that. My fridge will kill my DHP overnight in the garage now that it's summer, and a constant 90°F in there. this winter I could go 2-3 days, but now that it's hot no longer the case. I can drive home from work on Friday, and by Saturday night I hear alarms beeping, and a 11.8v second battery, about ready to quit running the big fridge. There's no substitute for a 2nd battery IMO, some days I wish I had a 3rd.

Do y'all have the large PM1 battery or the normal sized 35 series?

I have my optima yellow top dual battery setup in mine with 35 series Platinum as the primary.

 

[Gottagetone]

I run the 35.

 

[RobRed]

I bought two sears group 34 platinums, the slee tray kit, and had them professionally connected in simple parallel for $80... for camping the second can be disconnected easily via the ground wire... all factory wiring maintained... the only weird thing is the posts are reversed but factory wiring was maintained as it just fit!... it works very very well on my 99... no weird wiring , charging circuits, and starts dam n fast now

The terminals are reversed because the 34 is not the correct battery for a drop in replacement of the stock battery - a 35 or 27 would be.

I currently have a diehard Plat 34 in the Aux position and I'm waiting for my Les Schwab Special (PO put it in) to die in the main, to be replaced by a group 31 DH Plat.

 

[nakman]

Do y'all have the large PM1 battery or the normal sized 35 series?

I have my optima yellow top dual battery setup in mine with 35 series Platinum as the primary.

Group 34 here, die hard platinum marine. main battery also a group 34 deka.

 

[Romer]

Group 34 for the backup and group 35 for the primary, both Die Hard Platinums. make sure you get the terminals on the right side as there are two options at least with the Group 35

 

[jgray]

Group 34 for the backup and group 35 for the primary, both Die Hard Platinums. make sure you get the terminals on the right side as there are two options at least with the Group 35

Will the group 34 fit on the Slee tray? If not what are you guys using? I have almost everything I need to run DB's and want to make sure I have all my ducks in a row before I begin cabling everything up... I have already run cabling to 3 additional external fuse boxes throughout my 100... Just need to drop in my second battery and I should be able to easily hookup anything needed in the future...

 

[Romer]

Im using the Slee tray. There is a thread in here on my IBS dual battery install with photos

 

[jgray]

Thanks Ken! I do recall reading your DB install... More of a premature post without searching first on my part but thanks for the quick answer... Sounds like I can just go ahead and order the Slee tray...

 

[Newps]

Hey Butch I think your logic is right on. I just picked up a Costco Kirkland group 65 battery for my 80. It was $92 bucks out the door, including giving them my old core. Here’s the breakdown of the different battery’s cost, specs and warrantees. Hope this helps. Looks like you can get 2 Costco group 65’s batteries + half the cost of a battery management system for the price of one Sears Diehard Platinum.

Specs on the Costco Group 65 are:
- Cranking Amps = 1,000
- Cold Cranking Amps = 850
- Reserve Capacity = 150 minutes.
- Length = 12 inches
- Width = 7- 7/16 inches
- Height = 7- 5/8 inches
- Retail = $75.99

Specs on the Costco Group 34 are:
- Cranking Amps = 1,000
- Cold Cranking Amps = 795
- Reserve Capacity = 105 minutes.
- Length = 10 – 5/16 inches
- Width = 6- 7/8 inches
- Height = 7- 13/16 inches
- Retail = $68.99

* Costco warrantee – First 3 years 100%, next 5 are pro-rated. Take bad battery back get a new one.


Specs on the Sears Diehard Platinum Group 65 are:
- Cranking Amps = ???
- Cold Cranking Amps = 930
- Reserve Capacity = 135 minutes.
- Length = 11 - 4/5 inches
- Width = 7- 1/5 inches
- Height = 7- 2/5 inches
- Retail = $219.99

Specs on the Sears Diehard Platinum Group 34 are:
- Cranking Amps = ???
- Cold Cranking Amps = 880
- Reserve Capacity = 135 minutes.
- Length = 10 - 9/10 inches
- Width = 6- 4/5 inches
- Height = 7- 4/5 inches
- Retail = $219.99

* Sears warrantee – First 4 years 100%, next 4 years are pro-rated. I read numinous stores on the web about people’s problems taking a Sears battery back. Everything from they can not find there info. in their system, even though Sears says you do not need to keep your receipt. To they need to run a complete electrical diagnosis on your vehicles. To the battery is fine, it’s your electrical system. To flat out not honoring their warrantee. Only 1 person out of about 30 different complaints said it was no problem they just took it back and got a new one.

*What is reserve capacity?
Reserve Capacity, (RC) is a battery industry rating, defining a battery's ability to power a vehicle with an inoperative alternator or fan belt. The rating is the number of minutes a battery at 80 degrees F can be discharged at 25 amps and maintain a voltage of 10.5 volts for a 12 volt battery. The higher the reserve rating, the longer your vehicle can operate should your alternator or fan belt fail.

 

[Layonnn]

Are the costco batteries AGM batteries or normal batteries. If so that is probably the absolute cheapest AGM on the market. So i am guessing it is not. Apples and oranges comparison if its not AGM.

 

[Newps]

The Costco batteries are a wet cell battery not an AGM battery. The comparison I made was from a performance vs. cost vs. number of batteries vs. warrantee perspective.

For the price of (1) AGM Sears battery you can get (2) Wet Cell Costco batteries with the same performance and a better warrantee (debatable) and half the cost of battery management system. Which was the question the original poster was asking because the Sears Diehard Gold is also a wet cell battery.