Red Tops are on their way out

[Glenn-BJ74]

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

I called Polar and they said their Globelite is now called Battery Alliance, still made by Johnson Controls. Their Deep Cycle RV is a conventional wet cell with 110 amp-hour rating. The Group 27 cost is about $95.00 each with a 18 month replacement and 36 month pro-rated warrantee.

 

[Fantom]

is that what he recommended for your application?

 

[Radd Cruisers]

Group 27 is a direct fit.

Group 31 needs a little massaging - but MUCH more power.

With a PTO winch, I don't think that the massive size/cranking amps is as important as good reserve capacity.


~John

 

[crushers]

i like the interstate batteries and have great luck with them. pricey but worth it.

hated Optima since the craze started a decade ago. over price POS.

 

[Granite Grinder]

Geez Wayne, your regard for Optima's is right up there with your love for air lockers.
I have Optimas (and air lockers) and haven't had any issues. The yellow tops in my 40 have been in the truck for over 9 years, still fire her up everytime. The blue tops in my 62 are at least 5 years old, no issues. Both trucks are 12V, having said that, I probably wouldn't buy Optimas again, but I don't want a battery (especially in my 40) that could leak while it's laying on it's side (or upside down)... not that has ever happened to me

 

[crushers]

each to their own ...
i have watched as members in the club went from "oh my god, the optima is the one to have" to "damn POS optima"

some might have good results, seems more and more are changing their minds.

the idea that a sealed battery will leak in the time it takes to get your truck back on its wheels is a joke. if you lay it on its side there is a LOT of other things to be more concerned about ... like driving ability, leaking oil and gas or diesel, leaking diff fluid ...

each to their own, to me they are over price POS and yes, right up there with those POS ARB lockers.

 

[Mud_Guppie]

as long as you don't hate V8's Wayne.

 

[crushers]

i LOVE the sound of V8s ... in someone elses rig. you won't find one in mine. last V8 cruiser i owned didn't make it home from the seller AND the crate motor that replaced it cratered in less than a year.
so
in my books, me and V8 Cruisers just don't work.

<but i must admit, over the decades i have thought of a Land Cruiser 1/4 mile track machine>

 

[d0ubledown]

<but i must admit, over the decades i have thought of a Land Cruiser 1/4 mile track machine>

still wont need a V8... a hopped up 1FZ fed & bottled will do the trick

 

[canucksafari]

as long as you don't hate V8's Wayne.

I hear he is even starting to like Nissan's, so anything is possible with Wayne - except liking government.

 

[crushers]

i will word it this way:
i would take a Nissan before a LJ/LN/KZ Toyota...

 

[Fantom]

My reasons for switching to sealed batteries was not in case of roll overs or side flops and it spilling, like Wayne said, at that point you have a lot of other things to worry about and the batteries are you're lower priority issue. I found that the damn things were leaking out in more common situations, steep up and down hill trails, off camber trails, etc. When one almost fell through what was left of the mounting tray due to corrosion from the acid I turned to sealed units and never went back. Optima has had a good product when they first started but since then things have changed and the quality has gone down. Others have stepped up and like the Deka for instance, made a much better product with larger plates inside and a more reliable unit. In the end, personal preference and budget dictates what we each choose.

 

[Wheelingnoob]

I too have had lots of problems with optimas, I went through 2 red tops in my Supra before going back to the lead acid. My dad went through 3 Blue tops in his Maserati before going back to lead acid as well. All the battery's were warrantied till the last ones, my 2nd red top and my dads 3rd blue top.

I'm starting to look at battery's for the 80 as the one in it is toast. I will be running dual battery's one starting one house. Anyone tried the Sears Diehard Platinum? From what I have reat there an odyssey battery re-badged.

I know you guys are mainly talking Diesel 24V right now but what are your recommendations for my use?

We will be going to Polar battery for the HJ60 replacements.

 

[Granite Grinder]

I've heard nothing but good on the Sears batteries.

 

[canucksafari]

I've heard nothing but good on the Sears batteries.

I believe they are also made by Johnson Controls. But Optimas are Johnson Controls own brand. Hmmm... not sure where that leaves us besides the fact that I like the LA batteries for my 24 rigs.

 

[Greg_B]

Leaves us with this: http://www.dekabatteries.com/assets/base/1081.pdf

AGM and GEL batteries are more sensitive to charging and need to be within certain specs. And as John has mentioned in some threads, if you move to a high end regulator, and manage the charge parameters...things change.

I'll end up with an AGM as a 2nd battery in my FZJ when it goes diesel. And I would use an AGM as the 12V house battery in a 24V truck, as you can manage the charge. However, the Sears (USA) Platinum (it's an AGM design) is apparently getting great results as the primary battery in folks rigs south of the line.

Is Optima as good as they used to be? Dunno, but sounds like even the 12V folks started having more issues. Be interesting to see what Polar says and who they recommend for AGM type batteries.

Sears USA platinum battery is a re-badged http://www.odysseybatteries.com/ battery: https://forum.ih8mud.com/80-series-tech/437566-school-me-sears-batteries-2.html#post6204626 Dunno who makes the Sears (USA) Gold batteries, but its the Platinum that are getting all the rave comments here. This is not the case with Sears Canada. Does Sears Canada even sell batteries?

And, as the only constant is change...this info is worth exactly what I was paid to post it up. R&D and improvement in battery design as well as changing re-branding and contracts may make all this information irrelevant for future info seekers.

gb

 

[Granite Grinder]

I know Polar doesn't recommend Optimas at all. They do sell them, but pretty much will talk you out of them... unless your heart is set on them.

 

[Glenn-BJ74]

Geez Wayne, your regard for Optima's is right up there with your love for air lockers.
I have Optimas (and air lockers) and haven't had any issues. The yellow tops in my 40 have been in the truck for over 9 years, still fire her up everytime. The blue tops in my 62 are at least 5 years old, no issues. Both trucks are 12V, having said that, I probably wouldn't buy Optimas again, but I don't want a battery (especially in my 40) that could leak while it's laying on it's side (or upside down)... not that has ever happened to me

Maybe you got them before their quality turned for the worse.

 

[canucksafari]

I picked up a set of 27s from Polar this morning. The RV batteries did not come with a left post positive set-up and 31s would have taken too much fiddling around for me. They assured me the 27s would be more than enough juice for what I wanted. All up, with the club discount they were just under $200 incl the gov's take. They have a nice small deep cycle gel mat battery there which i will likely pick up to connect to my 24-12V reducers. It's $130 but would fit nicely in many small spots.

 

[Glenn-BJ74]

I am comparing options over here with Polar. Is it a Battery Alliance?, what is the amp-hours, marine cranking amps, warranty. How much is the club discount and cost.

I found a Global marine deep cycle Group 27 (made by Yuasa in Korea). It is 105 amp-hours, 1,000 marine cranking amps (800 CCA) 170 minute reserve at 25 amps, cost = $109, warranted 24 months free replacement and 48 months pro-rated.

Island Battery said this Global battery is a dual purpose (i.e. Marine Deep Cycle), since it has a marine cranking amps rating.

True deep cycle for solar battery systems, etc., do not have cranking amps specs. That is the way to tell - no cranking amp ratings= true deep cycle, which are not designed for starting. The marine deep cycle have thicker plates than a starting battery, but not as thick as a true deep cycle.

He also said Johnson Controls make good batteries, but not the ones they make in Mexico.
Glenn