Topic: Battery Time?

[Jeffy]

Well, since this past winter my battery seems to be slowly going down hill.  I can hear the alternator strain a bit as it charges.  Once I've been driving for a while it quiets down and everything it well until the next day.  The battery will still take a charge and has plenty of CC's to turn the engine over but I think it might need to be replaced.  I replaced the alternator a few years ago so that should still be fine.  The gauge has been reading at a bit over 14v for at least the past year.  Digital VOM on my HAM reads 12.3v so the battery is probably getting charged while driving.  I should also mention my Optima is circa 1998 IIRC.

[FourbangerYJ]

You gonna get another of the same or switch?

[Jeffy]

You gonna get another of the same or switch?

I'm thinking Optima Yellow Top.

[sharpxmen]

why not red top?

[Jeffy]

why not red top?

Because the Yellow Top is a Deep Cycle/Starter.

[easyup]

I'm in the same situation and our heat is hard on batteries.  I can get an Optima Yellow d3478 (750CCA and 3 years free replace) for $190 locally or a Sears Diehard  Platinum 3478dt (880CCA and 4 years free replace) for $180 on a current Sears special, normally $200.  Used Optima's in the past, great battery, and I am sure they have sorted out their problems from the move of the manufacturing to Mexico. Sears Platinum  is made by Odessey Batteries an excellent company, with the special price I think I will go Sears if it is in stock.    

[Jeffy]

I'm in the same situation and our heat is hard on batteries.  I can get an Optima Yellow d3478 (750CCA and 3 years free replace) for $190 locally or a Sears Diehard  Platinum 3478dt (880CCA and 4 years free replace) for $180 on a current Sears special, normally $200.  Used Optima's in the past, great battery, and I am sure they have sorted out their problems from the move of the manufacturing to Mexico. Sears Platinum  is made by Odessey Batteries an excellent company, with the special price I think I will go Sears if it is in stock.     

Is Optima still having issues?  When I bought mine it was before they sold to Johnson Controls.  That was before everyone like Excide and Napa had their own versions.  Those were all copies of the Group 75/25's and a new battery to the line up.  Mine's the old tried and true 800U or Group 34/78.  Never had any problem with it till this winter.  Voltage seems to drop when left overnight.  Starts up OK though.  Probably because of the high CCA.

I've heard good things about the Diehard Platinum.   I've looked at the Platinum P-4 - Group Size 34/78DT in the past.  I don't believe it's a Deep-cycle battery though.  They have the Marine Platinum PM-2 - Group Size 34M that is though.   No change in price which seems weird.  I need the extra terminals and the deep-cycle will be nice since I've got the winch and all of the other stuff.  I've probably drained my Optima down to nothing several times over it's lifetime.  Sears actually has a 10% off right now so the battery is $179.  Problem for me is tax is 10% which spoils any good deals.  Still, maybe I should give them a second look.  So thanks for reminding me about the Diehards.

[FourbangerYJ]

I have loved my Odessey 1200 for many years! I'd buy one again, even though they are pricey!

[jfrabat]

I'm going Optima yellow top when mine dies; saw one getting REALLY beat up in our last wheeling trip (the white Jeep had alternator issues, and it still got the Jeep back on the road with only 3 jumps in 2 days), and I gave mine a thorough workout with all the winching I did (same goes for the Superwinch, by the way).  Besides, yours lasted 10 years; that's a nice feat all by itself!

[Jeffy]

I have loved my Odessey 1200 for many years! I'd buy one again, even though they are pricey!

What's the advantage other then size and a little weight for going with the PC1200?  Diehard Platinum's, more specifically the P-4 and PM-2 are Odyssey PC1500.  I do like the warranty (4 yr/100month pro rate) and the fact that Sears is just about everywhere so they're easy to get replacements for no matter where I may be.  They cost about the same as a Optima Yellow Top but have 130cca more and still deep-cycle.

Besides, yours lasted 10 years; that's a nice feat all by itself!

13 years if you're counting.  I was looking at Odyssey's site and they list their lifespan to be 12 years with average replacement 4-6 years.  I think the oldest Optima is something like 20 something years old.

[FourbangerYJ]

What's the advantage other then size and a little weight for going with the PC1200?  Diehard Platinum's, more specifically the P-4 and PM-2 are Odyssey PC1500.  I do like the warranty (4 yr/100month pro rate) and the fact that Sears is just about everywhere so they're easy to get replacements for no matter where I may be.  They cost about the same as a Optima Yellow Top but have 130cca more and still deep-cycle.
13 years if you're counting.  I was looking at Odyssey's site and they list their lifespan to be 12 years with average replacement 4-6 years.  I think the oldest Optima is something like 20 something years old.

Don't know about those Die Hard ones I have not done any research. Mine has knurled brass terminals that are threaded to you can add your winch leads to them. The Odessey lineup don't seemed to mind being discharged and recharged over and over again. Some of the other brands have problems if you discharge alot.
If Sears has them then it would seem like a great way to go.

http://www.batterymart.com/p-odyssey-pc1200mjt-battery.html
This is like the one I run. I forgot they have various models of each size. The only changes are the terminals.

[Bounty Hunter]

Optima Bluetop, similar to the yellow with the addition of 2 stainless studs on top.

[Jeffy]

Don't know about those Die Hard ones I have not done any research. Mine has knurled brass terminals that are threaded to you can add your winch leads to them. The Odessey lineup don't seemed to mind being discharged and recharged over and over again. Some of the other brands have problems if you discharge alot.
If Sears has them then it would seem like a great way to go.

http://www.batterymart.com/p-odyssey-pc1200mjt-battery.html
This is like the one I run. I forgot they have various models of each size. The only changes are the terminals.

I think the PC1200 is one of their original compact designs.

http://www.odysseybattery.com/autospecs.html

The Diehard Platinum are made by Odyssey Battery and are just re-badged Odyssey batteries.  I've also heard that the Odyssey's don't have the side terminal problem like the Optima does which is good if you want to run a winch off the side terminals. I guess they use larger copper straps that can handle high amp draws without heating up.  I'm thinking about going with the Marine battery since it had posts on it already.  I have screw-in posts on the Optima.  It would force me to clean up my wires a bit as well.

http://www.sears.com/shc/s/p_10153_12605_02850090000P
http://www.sears.com/shc/s/p_10153_12605_02850134000P

[jfrabat]

Optima Bluetop, similar to the yellow with the addition of 2 stainless studs on top.

Isnt the Blue top the deep cycle one and the red top the CCA one and the yellow the one in between?

[Jeffy]

Isnt the Blue top the deep cycle one and the red top the CCA one and the yellow the one in between?

Yellow and Blue are the same except the blue has threaded posts.