Optima Red Top - Failed While Winching?

[alia176]

The diehard platinum is a deep cycle battery. One designed to handle heavy winching, unlike the red top. Also, I think if you can afford it, a dual battery system IS a good idea. Even if you do have a deep cycle battery, the winch still drains it the same amount. It just doesn't ruin the battery like it does a starting battery. But once you are drained to that point, the backup battery sure is nice to get you started again.

Traditionally, a deep cycle battery is the worst candidate for winching type operation. A Red Top and any other starting battery is perfect for winching. A deep cycle battery is designed to discharge slowly, like a boat trolling motor. A typical winch can draw upwards to 600 amps and this is not favorable for a deep cycle battery.

The purpose of a deep cycle, and why it is favored by the marine industry, is that it can be discharged all the way to minimum voltage and recharged back up to full voltage repeatedly. Hence the name "deep cycle". This would normally kill a typical starting battery, including the Red Tops.

However, it seems that a DH Platinum can be used for starting and deep cycling. Even though the DH line has a normal starting and a deep cycle battery, it appears as though they are both constructed similarly with the addition of 3/8" terminal on the deep cycle battery.

There is more info on the DH Platinum line constructed by Odyssey batteries on this site. A search will reveal this info.

HTH.

 

[solidfrontaxle]

Aren't most the yellow tops supposed to be dual purpose as well?

 

[woody]

IIRC, Blue Top Optima's are designed for starting AND deep cycle use...Red's are starting 'only' and Yellow's are 'deep cycle' only

I've run them all and stick to the Red for price and warranty

 

[JohnnyC]

I run a dual battery set-up

they are optima copies made by Excide...one i've had since 92 and the other since 97...very happy with them

 

[alia176]

I used to run a Excide Orbital but haven't had the best of luck with it. I think I exchanged two of them in a three year period under warranty (NAPA). Not sure why it didn't like my electrical system

I think the Yellow & Blue top battery are dual purpose batteries. The Blue top has a 3/8" lug for marine applications.

 

[miked]

I'll chime in here with experience on the Blue top. I have a group 31 and a Warn 12K and have done some heavy pulls without issue. One of my favorite sayings is: Most batteries don't die, they're murdered.

All of my friends that have had a Red top "die" have done things like leave them at 70~80% charge after short trips, or run them all the way down AND let them sit that way. The one that 'died' on me, suffered a very hard and abused life before I knew how not to treat them.

 

[cruiser88]

Woody the new ones are made In mexico. I have been through 3 Red Tops........yes they exchanged both but even the third one was dead.....right off the shelf.

I run nothing but Red tops, no complaints....duals in the 80, single in the 40...

anyways....WHERE is your winch connected? Side posts or Top posts?

MUST be connected to the top posts, or you WILL have battery problems....

 

[Josie'sLandCruiser]

Hi All:

Brian, could you please explain this a bit more?

I have a four-post battery in my FJ40 - the top (main) posts are connected to the starter and ground, while the side (auxiliary) posts are connected to the electric winch.

What is wrong with this set-up?

How can both the starter and electric winch be connected to the main (top) battery terminals??

Thanks!

Alan

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anyways....WHERE is your winch connected? Side posts or Top posts?

MUST be connected to the top posts, or you WILL have battery problems....

 

[Mark W]

The side terminals tend to have lighter duty connections inside the battery... most batteries with the dual connections are like this. They can melt internally under the heavy and continuous load of a long winch pull.


Easy to connect both to the top terminal.
Use marine type cable ends with a post and wing nut securing cables with eyes on the end.


Mark...

 

[Mark W]

All the way back to the original post... why do you call it a failed battery when you simply ran the battery down? It happens... you just needed to take a break and let the alternator pump some power into the battery.


Not a failure... just tasking the battery more than it could service.


Mark...

 

[solidfrontaxle]

The side terminals have thin wires connecting them to the top terminals. If you winch off the side terminals they will burn up because you are drawing way too much current through a wire that isn't designed for it. Optima recommends that you don't winch off of the side terminals. You can, however, connect the starter to the side terminals.

There are many ways to connect both the winch and the starter to the top terminals as well. Go to the auto parts store and look at their electrical section. You can get plenty of ideas.

 

[woody]

Military top post battery terminals, clamps, connectors for batteries

 

[cruiser88]

True........winches require many amps

All the way back to the original post... why do you call it a failed battery when you simply ran the battery down? It happens... you just needed to take a break and let the alternator pump some power into the battery.


Not a failure... just tasking the battery more than it could service.


Mark...

 

[alia176]

Military top post battery terminals, clamps, connectors for batteries

can be found in any NAPA.

 

[Bogo]

As for batteries in parallel. Unless they are of the same type, capacity and age, DON'T DO IT. If you want to parallel different types, then use an isolator between them. An isolator will allow them to be charged together, but automatically separates them when the alternator isn't charging.

 

[73fj40lc]

The side terminals have thin wires connecting them to the top terminals. If you winch off the side terminals they will burn up because you are drawing way too much current through a wire that isn't designed for it. Optima recommends that you don't winch off of the side terminals. You can, however, connect the starter to the side terminals.

There are many ways to connect both the winch and the starter to the top terminals as well. Go to the auto parts store and look at their electrical section. You can get plenty of ideas.

I sure am glad that I read this post. I have the red top in my 40 and had everything connected to the side like the PO had. Luckly lately I have used the winch on my Z71 at the hunting club instead of my 40. I will change the 40 to the top posts immediatly. Thanks so much for the info.