Single battery recommendations

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I wonder who made those DieHard Platinum AGM batteries, they were great! I have a Superstart Platinum in my old F350 and it is holding up well, got it in 2017.
I believe they are made by the same manufacture as Odessey batteries. I also have two platinums that I’ve had for about 7 years now.
 
I run the Ford "diode trick" with a X2 Power Group31. This battery is a monster with 205AH /1150CCA rating, and comes with a 5 year warranty from Batteries Plus. I have run this battery in both my 100 and 200 with a fridge, and have never worried about starting when traveling somewhere remote. With the diode I see 14.5v at start up and hangs around 13.9v when at running temp. I have thrown it on my trickle charger to top it up, but that's maybe twice a year when I think about it. They aren't cheap or light, but they are damn good batteries.
 
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I have run AGMs in both a F350 and my 100 series for years without any charging modifications. No issues whatsoever. And the ford diesel will crank over strong on the coldest mornings.

I work part time at an auto parts store and check batteries and charging systems daily on many different vehicles. Most charging systems (on modern vehicles) put out 14.3 volts without any modification.

As for optima batteries. I see significantly more issues with the red tops than I do with the yellow tops. The yellow top is a better balance for both starting / light deep cycle use.
 
I run the Ford "diode trick" with a X2 Power Group31. This battery is a monster with 205AH /1150CCA rating, and comes with a 5 year warranty from Batteries Plus. I have run this battery in both my 100 and 200 with a fridge, and have never worried about starting when traveling somewhere remote. With the diode I see 14.5v at start up and hangs around 13.9v when at running temp. I have thrown it on my trickle charger to top it up, but that's maybe twice a year when I think about it. They aren't cheap or light, but they are damn good batteries.
I almost went into shock for 200AH that would fit, but it looks like a solid 100Ah, with a 220 reserve?
 
I am adding a 12000 lb winch and intend to run with a single battery for a while yet. Is there a good starting/deep cycle "combination" battery?

I’m a fan of the simplicity offered by a single battery setup. My recommendation would be a X2Power unit from Batteries+Bulbs. I had success with a Group 31 X2P in my Tacoma and, when the time comes, will replace the OEM battery in my 200 with a X2P.

Years ago I started the below thread on the Tacomaworld forum and the discussion kept momentum well after my sale of that truck. Some good info within:


Edit: I didn’t realize the OP was almost a year old; anyway, I hope this helps those reading this thread.
 
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I almost went into shock for 200AH that would fit, but it looks like a solid 100Ah, with a 220 reserve?

Yeah sorry, that is correct. It is indeed 100Ah with 220 reserve.
 
I’m a fan of the simplicity offered by a single battery setup. My recommendation would be a X2Power unit from Batteries+Bulbs. I had success with a Group 31 X2P in my Tacoma and, when the time comes, will replace the OEM battery in my 200 with a X2P.

Years ago I started the below thread on the Tacomaworld forum and the discussion kept momentum well after my sale of that truck. Some good info within:


Edit: I didn’t realize the OP was almost a year old; anyway, I hope this helps those reading this thread.
I actually bought the X2. My lead acid though is still going strong so the X2 is on a trickle charger in standby. I should have waited. Now I see how a AGM battery degrades when stored. Hopefully the smart charger will keep it healthy.
 
I actually bought the X2. My lead acid though is still going strong so the X2 is on a trickle charger in standby. I should have waited. Now I see how a AGM battery degrades when stored. Hopefully the smart charger will keep it healthy.
Thanks for the wealth of information here! Questions - I am amassing necessary materials to install a hidden winch and on the topic of batteries... Question for the many who have gone before me... Do i need to replace the otherwise stock battery to use a Seal ComeUp Gen2 12.5RS? I assume the answer is yes, but want to know what exactly occurs if I use this in otherwise stock truck? I am guessing huge draw from motor (depending amount of time used and load), but end up at minimum shortening the life of the stock battery?

If anyone has specific links for how they mod'd their electrical system specifically to support winch install, that would we be great!
 
Thanks for the wealth of information here! Questions - I am amassing necessary materials to install a hidden winch and on the topic of batteries... Question for the many who have gone before me... Do i need to replace the otherwise stock battery to use a Seal ComeUp Gen2 12.5RS? I assume the answer is yes, but want to know what exactly occurs if I use this in otherwise stock truck? I am guessing huge draw from motor (depending amount of time used and load), but end up at minimum shortening the life of the stock battery?

If anyone has specific links for how they mod'd their electrical system specifically to support winch install, that would we be great!
I am still running my Toyota stock battery and still only have one battery in the truck. I have been using my Warm Platinum 12-s without issue. An by using, I mean really use as in to pull my 7500 lbs up and over things I should not be attempting to go up and over. I don't do that every week or anything but I have had multiply recoveries in the same weekend without issue. I'm sure extended and repeated use will take a toll on the single stock lead acid battery but it is not that you need two battery's to run a winch. You may be buying a battery sooner than you would have otherwise but if your battery is healthy as you get on the trail, you will be fine on that trail.

I'm going to use my stock battery until it dies then replace wit the AGM and do the diode thing at that time.
 
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I’m a fan of the simplicity offered by a single battery setup. My recommendation would be a X2Power unit from Batteries+Bulbs. I had success with a Group 31 X2P in my Tacoma and, when the time comes, will replace the OEM battery in my 200 with a X2P.

Years ago I started the below thread on the Tacomaworld forum and the discussion kept momentum well after my sale of that truck. Some good info within:


Edit: I didn’t realize the OP was almost a year old; anyway, I hope this helps those reading this thread.
Thanks for the links. I did a cursory reading through the rabbit hole that followed. I’ve run the X2P for a number of years after researching it, but alas was unaware of the charging concern. It seems you favor the Ford “diode trick“ over the Aussie plug-and-play options?
 
From what I'm seeing, the "diode trick" only works with certain MY LCs. I don't think it works on the 2016+. That's why I'm looking at the group 31 upgrade for the primary battery. The Deka SLA battery and Slee tray + terminal extensions. I've got the parts but no battery yet. I've had no time to even see if I could put the current group 27F in the larger tray and have it secure.
 
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I am still running my Toyota stock battery and still only have one battery in the truck. I have been using my Warm Platinum 12-s without issue. An by using, I mean really use as in to pull my 7500 lbs up and over things I should not be attempting to go up and over. I don't do that every week or anything but I have had multiply recoveries in the same weekend without issue. I'm sure extended and repeated use will take a toll on the single stock lead acid battery but it is not that you need two battery's to run a winch. You may be buying a battery sooner than you would have otherwise but if your battery is healthy as you get on the trail, you will be fine on that trail.

I'm going to use my stock battery until it dies then replace wit the AGM and do the diode thing at that time.
This is great piece of mind and will do same!
 
Thanks for the links. I did a cursory reading through the rabbit hole that followed. I’ve run the X2P for a number of years after researching it, but alas was unaware of the charging concern. It seems you favor the Ford “diode trick“ over the Aussie plug-and-play options?

I have not personally done the diode install, but I’m still running the OEM battery in my LC. When I had a X2Power AGM in my Taco, I simply topped the AGM off each month with a wall charger. Not sure if the diode mod was known back in ~2016 timeframe.

I believe @mep1811 has the diode installed in his 200 and could chime in with feedback.
 
I have a diode installed on an AGM (Optima Yellowtop). Unless I wall charge it the battery will equalize around 50% capacity (per the Optima wall charger). I am patiently waiting for the battery to fail so I can get a quality SLA in there. I am likely to go with a remarketed Deka Group 31.
 
I have a diode installed on an AGM (Optima Yellowtop). Unless I wall charge it the battery will equalize around 50% capacity (per the Optima wall charger). I am patiently waiting for the battery to fail so I can get a quality SLA in there. I am likely to go with a remarketed Deka Group 31.
would you say sticking with a solid lead acid upgraded to group 31…plus an auxiliary AGM deep cycle with redarc charger to get the volts up to the required 14.7-14.9v…would be the “ideal,” albeit heavy, option for a 200 with a winch?
 
would you say sticking with a solid lead acid upgraded to group 31…plus an auxiliary AGM deep cycle with redarc charger to get the volts up to the required 14.7-14.9v…would be the “ideal,” albeit heavy, option for a 200 with a winch?
Others will have more experience on what would be best for two builtin batteries. I'm inclined to say that you'd be fine with one battery for normal winch use. My focus on a second battery would be for 'house' use, and for that I got a portable battery solution.
 
Others will have more experience on what would be best for two builtin batteries. I'm inclined to say that you'd be fine with one battery for normal winch use. My focus on a second battery would be for 'house' use, and for that I got a portable battery solution.
In the case of a single, would you recommend a 31 agm or a 31 SLA?
 
Duracell Marine AGM Group 31 battery. Deep cycle + Starting. Takes a charge at least twice as fast as a typical flooded lead acid, has tons of reserve capacity, can be run down really low and still charge back up without damaging cells, and if you buy it at SamsClub it's an unbeatable deal: Let us know you're not a robot - Sam's Club - https://www.samsclub.com/p/duracell-agm-deep-cycle-marine-and-rv-battery-group-size-31dtmagm/prod3590232?xid=plp_product_3
Is our alternator system set up to properly charge this agm?
 
Is our alternator system set up to properly charge this agm?
Our alternators on the 200 series are plenty capable of charging an AGM battery. I'm currently running an Autocraft Platinum AGM that has been in the truck for just over 3yrs now. When it finally dies in a couple more years I'll be replacing it with a Duracell Marine AGM Group31. I run 3x Duracell Marine AGM Group31 batteries on our boat. And on long days when we are anchored and listening to music the two setup as house batteries will get completely drained, and they charge right back up without any problems. You can't do that with lead acid batteries without significantly damaging and reducing their life. The boat is just running an old school Delco style marine alternator.

Float charge on our alternators sits at around 13.5-13.9V and full load charge sits well above 14V. And if I remember correctly our alternators are around 180amp, which is awesome when you upgrade to an AGM because the AGM batteries can take a charge much faster than a flooded lead acid battery. AGM batteries can also deliver power output at a higher rate than a flooded lead acid battery.
 

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