Red Tops are on their way out

[Glenn-BJ74]

My Optima Red Tops are on their way out, after only 4 1/2 years. Not what I expected from such an expensive battery, especially for the amount of 'smart' charging they have had over the years. I was thinking of going to the yellow tops, but I read others have had poor luck with Optimas.

[FONT=&quot]The Deka Intimidator looks like a cross between a starting battery and deep cycle (e.g. marine battery), which seems like a good fit for me with the ARB fridge running overnight. What other batteries are thre out there that are good for starting and moderate RV draws. The ARB fridge draws 3 amps at 12 volts.
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[AJAEbj42]

Interstate SRM-29 Deep Cycle. My wife's company uses these in their Greenhouse picking carts that they manufacture. All-day use, re-charge over night, repeat.

Not sure if they would fit in the LC, though.

Interstate Batteries Batteries - Pure Lead SRM29 replacement battery

 

[canucksafari]

Last winter I bought a set of Johnson Controls LA batteries from Polar Battery Home Page for my wife's Safari. I was pleased with the price of about $160 (BHST) for both of them. I'll be getting another set this week for my Safari as the original JDM ones have finally died after 5 years and who knows how many more in Japan.

 

[sailor]

Consensus in the marine field agrees Optima quality has dropped dramatically. I wouldn't touch one. Polar has a number of AGM alternatives in many sizes.

 

[bj70_guy]

You probably did well to get 4.5 years out of them Glenn.
AGMs in general don't like to be charged in series. I turfed the red tops my 74 came with in favour of a couple of Globelite group 27 deep cycle/starting "RV" batteries. 675CCA, 850CA.
They have heavier duty plates than the regular starting batteries and are supposed to be pretty tough.
Cost was about $97 ea plus taxes and levies. Close to 3 years now, so far so good.

I think they've been rebranded now, possibly Johnson Controls. If Jason sees this he can tell you what's in his truck, his are newer but the same battery.

Might be worth a call to Polar for any recommendations. They know their stuff.

 

[Glenn-BJ74]

If AGM batteries do not being like being charged in series (which is the way the truck charges them - not the way I charge them) then the only alternative we have is the conventional flooded cell type.

The downsides of flooded cell is they need water (no big deal), but more importantly they are not as vibration proof or leak proof.

 

[Fantom]

Glenn, as soon as you ask about batteries you'll have a different opinion from each person. I would recommend to call Polar Battery yourself, tell them the application, power demands and approximate physical size and they will recommend the one that fits. Call me first as I get good pricing there.
As for the Deka, I've had the Intimidator batteries in my truck for almost a year, they've done great, I've left the truck in the long term parking lot for 2+ weeks while out of town working and the voltage was the same when I returned. The 3rd battery that I use for the fridge when camping works all night long and gets a charge during the day when I drive and has not complained at all. I've run that one down to 10VDC on many occasions when we spend less time driving and more being parked.

 

[Greg_B]

Glenn, as soon as you ask about batteries you'll have a different opinion from each person. I would recommend to call Polar Battery yourself, tell them the application, power demands and approximate physical size and they will recommend the one that fits.

There are "lots" of threads on this as Mat has suggested. It's kinda like asking what the best oil is. With that said, there are some consistencies that start appearing.

Locally most say phone or visit Polar.

Penn State/Deka come up as great batteries in peoples experience.

Napa Canada batteries are apparently made by Penn State/Deka.

24V don't like AGM long term.

For some light reading...

https://forum.ih8mud.com/diesel-tech-24-volts-systems/354570-new-battery-advice.html

https://forum.ih8mud.com/diesel-tech-24-volts-systems/343921-12v-parallel-batteries-question.html

I've got the same RV batteries as Norm in my BJ74. We both got them the same time.

hth's

gb

 

[Glenn-BJ74]

Thanks everyone - I wanted to confirm my thinking that the Optimas are over-rated and over-priced and that AGM are sensitive to charging and are great for 12 volt systems, but not so great for series 24 volt systems.

I will read all that stuff, call Polar on Monday and look into the Globelite deep cycle.

 

[sailor]

I wonder if the AGM Series issues are related to the crappy automotive alternator regulators we have in our trucks? AGM has a different charge profile and float voltage than lead acid, after all.

 

[Cruisin']

After talking to a guy at Polar, I was convinced to go with the deep cycle Marine RV. He explained that due to the plate construction they are resistant to vibration, and will take repeated depletion and recharging. They were under $90 each.

The sticker on mine says they're Battery Alliance, Deep Cycle Marine RV. 675 CCA, 845 MCA. Been over a year and I'm happy so far, though I don't have a pile of power consuming stuff in my truck.

-Jason

 

[neoworm]

They are expensive as hell but I've been running Odysseys for the last six years. I still have yet to replace one and the one in my pickup truck has seen a lot of abuse.

They're not for everyone due to the price but they are the best batteries I've ever used.

 

[Radd Cruisers]

If you were to replace the voltage regulator in your BJ74 with a marine type regulator that had the proper charge parameters for an AGM, you would probably be okay.

It is AMAZING that you got 4.5 years from the Optimas in your application.

Good flooded batteries do not need to have water added. It's more about the battery construction (plate material) if they're going to need water topping up or not. You want "Calcium/Calcium" construction.

Some battery makers place the bottoms of the plate envelopes in resin to reduce vibration damage.

Most deep cycles have much thicker plates than starting batteries and are less prone to plate breakdown than starting batteries. Also, they usually have more space in the casing below the plates to allow for shed material to collect without shorting the plates.

Marine batteries - the only difference in some is the stud style post top and how they are rated.


~John

 

[Vanny]

Consensus in the marine field agrees Optima quality has dropped dramatically. I wouldn't touch one. Polar has a number of AGM alternatives in many sizes.

I love hearing that after buying one (Optima) a couple of weeks ago.

 

[jfc]

Napa Canada batteries are apparently made by Penn State/Deka.

gb

Price is high though I think they were glose to $150 each,

I wish I lived closer to Polar Batter and get me some of them Globelites (Denys lasted ~10 years before the exploded), I even got a rebuilt battery from them for $50 and it lasted ~7 years in the benz.

 

[sailor]

"I love hearing that after buying one (Optima) a couple of weeks ago."

But marine technicians are even more opinionated than Land Cruiser owners so YMMV. I don't think Optima penetrated the marine market extensively beyond the trailerable boats, and who cares about those anyway. (lol)

 

[Scalp]

I got a set of large deep cycle RV batteries from Polar Batteries last year. They were pretty heavy to get into the BJ74 and a snug fit. Possibly Globlite, around $80. each. So far, they have been great.
Gary T just threw out some 4 year old red tops that unexpectedly died on him. No more Optimas for him either.;p

 

[BC40]

I love hearing that after buying one (Optima) a couple of weeks ago.

That's how I felt after buying a dual purpose blue top thinking I was getting something good about two years ago. So far no problem, but it's in a 12V system so I'm hopeful it will last a while. I have my winch cables hooked to it so the extra posts are handy.
Next time I'm getting a decent conventional lead/acid battery. The one from interstate that's in my 40 has been in there over 8 years now; always starts even after months of sitting.

 

[canucksafari]

Anyone have experience with Costco's Kirkland batteries in a 24V system? I see they are Johnson Control made batteries just like Globelites from Polar.

 

[wrongway around]

i ran those johnstone controll batteries for years ,in my airstream bus and trucks,loved them you could suck the life right out of them.went to buy a couple more,they said they were not good for vehicles and would not warrenty them.i ended up talking to some big wig down the states,he called me .told him my great experiences with them he could not beleive me.but they are the ones that shaw and rogers,and probably bctell use on the telephone poles for there backup transformer power 380 buck 15 years ago.they have to replace them good or bad after a set time.much like any wheelchair that has a life support system running off it,but the wheelchair ones are half the size .the plates are nice and thick meant to be drawn down and recharged repeatedly {best electric fishing motor battery money can buy}put it in a cooler and your fishing for a week.a old guy used to sell them at the cloverdale swap meet 25 and 50 bucks