The Best Car Battery

[Gerard Jebaily]

I recently upgraded the battery in my vehicle from a Duralast Gold Liquid cell to the Yellow Top Optima Gell Cell. After about an hour of discussing with the manager over which battery would be best thats the one we ageed would be best for a "storm chaser vehicle" So far the battery has done great. The best part is that it can be deep cycled. With all the electronics that we run, this may be a good investment. The battery was about 180 bux but I dont have room for a second battery under my hood. I will edit a little bit later with the specs of it.


Edit: The battery claims to have

765 Cold Cranking Amps
870 Crankin Amps
55 Amp Hours
120 Reserve Capacity minutes (whatever that is)

What interests me is the fact that this Automotive battery claims it can be deep cycled so it should be better at providing power to all my electronics with the engine off.

 

[John Erwin]

I recently upgraded the battery in my vehicle from a Duralast Gold Liquid cell to the Yellow Top Optima Gell Cell.

Those are good batteries. I use a "Red Top" for my primary battery and a "Yellow Top" for my second battery - all the extra electronics run off the second one. I also upgraded my alternator though to handle the extra load when the vehicle is running.

 

[Brian Kluck]

Optima gell cell's are a very good battery. I have been using the red top for years and never had a problem.

***edit***

Sory, I'm at work and did not have time to get detailed on why I like the battery. I have a "slightly" modified SHO Taurus and was always having problems with regular batteries draining down at idle. The car has been tuned to rev well beyond the stock range (in the roughly 8000 rpm range, the V8 just sings there) and to save the alternator from having a heart attack at those RPM's I put s slightly larger pulley on. This however, reduced the charging capabilities below an already poor factory level. The gell cell performs much better than the regular batteries did in the cars current configuration. This with the added radio and electrical equipment has put alot of additional demand on the electrical system and the Optima has performed very well.

The only draw back to the gell cell batteries is they don't like to be ran dead. I would advise any one who is installing one to also purchase a battery miser. It will kill power to the car if the battery voltage drops to low. If something is left on and you leave the car, it wont be dead when you get back. They are very nice.

 

[Jason Foster]

Another option

I agree that the Red Top and better yet, the Yellow top batteries are really good, especially if you only willing to replace the stock battery. As I've said many time, be sure to check Consumer Reports too.

However, I prefer to run seperate Gel Cel batteries that are not connected to the vehicle battery at all (except through a recharger). Gel cells have much long Amp/hour ratings, I can easily run all day with lots of equipment including the laptop. I'm not sure if the soon to be installed field lights and may strobes (I hate to use them) will decrease the run time significantly. I run two 60 amp/hr now, which are about the size of a typical car battery. Plus I can use them for public service and other ham radio events. I've even used them with an inverter to power my wired power tools.

A good alternate source for finding out about batteries is a marine store. That might be around for you central state folks, but if any lives near and ocean or gulf, they're easy to find.

 

[Robert Rohloff]

I had a Subaru Forester and the alternator was only 90 amp. It was easy to get a yellow top Optima for it. It helped a lot. It was going to cost a lot for a high output alternator. So I took the Optima and put it in my new Honda Ridgeline with a 160 Amp alternator. Really have no issues now....

 

[D. Hayes]

What ever you do don't let a red top go dead. I've changed out 2 red tops in the last 2 years because of the battery going dead and from then on out it wouldn't hold a charge over 2 days. Wife some how killed the first battery when I was deployed. Then a faulty electrical device killed my second battery. I've went to the yellow top and so far so good. I plan on adding a second yellow soon as I find a good battery holder I can mount on the side of my frame rails.

 

[John Erwin]

What ever you do don't let a red top go dead.

You shouldn't let any battery go dead.. permanent damage occurs. Even deep-cycle batteries like the yellow-top can suffer damage if the discharge is significant. Best to sort out why the batteries are going dead to begin with...

 

[Dan Robinson]

I've used $30-$40 Wal-Mart batteries with no problems. I've found I get the same lifespan out of them as I do with batteries that cost over $100. The cost of a high-performance battery or a second battery system is more than replacing the primary battery annually for several years, and eventually even the most expensive battery will need replaced.

 

[John Erwin]

I've used $30-$40 Wal-Mart batteries with no problems. I've found I get the same lifespan out of them as I do with batteries that cost over $100. The cost of a high-performance battery or a second battery system is more than replacing the primary battery annually for several years, and eventually even the most expensive battery will need replaced.

And there's some advantages in going that route; for instance I think Wal-Mart gives you roadside assistance with those batteries too?

However that setup will not work for all situations, including mine. I use my vehicle for my ham radio activities and for Storm Chasing and can sometimes have a lot of equipment installed. I often am stopped somewhere with the engine off and need to be able to power that equipment for a significant period of time; thus the need for a battery that can deep-cycle. I also want to be able to start my vehicle afterwards, which is why I have a dual battery system. With the car running and everything on there can be a significant draw on the system; a high-output alternator handles that nicely.

Basically I'm saying that everyones needs will vary depending on how they use their vehicle.

 

[Gerard Jebaily]

The last thing I want to do is take a chance with my battery. There are a few things all chasers should have in top notch condition. Battery, Alternator, Tires(especially), Brakes, Wipers, Headlights to name a few. These items on our vehicles will need to be at high levels of performance and reliability since we demand so much out of them. A failure in one of these can really ruin your day and possibly put you in a dangerous situation so im not gonna skimp out on any of them. If I had room under my hood for a second battery, that is prolly what I would have done. But since I can only take one battery, I want the best money can buy. So far the battery works great! And I will feel a little better about putting strain on it with my equipment running and the engine off knowing that it can be deep cycled. Of course I will be careful to keep that at a minimum.

 

[D. Hayes]

You shouldn't let any battery go dead.. permanent damage occurs. Even deep-cycle batteries like the yellow-top can suffer damage if the discharge is significant. Best to sort out why the batteries are going dead to begin with...

I never planned on it. but a few months after I installed the yellow top I had a faulty relay on a set of lights go bad and drained my battery dead. The yellow took forever to charge back up and it never acted like it never happened. So I have to say from experience the yellow top is a better battery.

 

[David Drummond]

I've used $30-$40 Wal-Mart batteries with no problems. I've found I get the same lifespan out of them as I do with batteries that cost over $100. The cost of a high-performance battery or a second battery system is more than replacing the primary battery annually for several years, and eventually even the most expensive battery will need replaced.

Been using the Walmart 3 year free replacement batteries for years. Had to replace one a couple of times. In and out flat out exchange, no hassles.

Best thing is, I can get a warranty exchange nearly every 50 miles or less on the plains.