AGM Shootout?!

[ENDLIFE]

The time has come to get a new battery got the old rust bucket, but I need to hear from people with experience with Duracell and Optima AGM batteries. I just upgraded to a one wire high amp alternator to accommodate the massive amount of amp draining electronics I run, so I need a decent and long lasting battery to top it off.

OR

OR

 

[Broncobowsher]

After my last couple of visits to SEMA, my next battery will probably be a Northstar. http://www.northstarbattery.com/transportation

They have there roots in telecommunication backup battery thechnology. From what I have seen in person I have not found anything bad about them. Built with virgin Lead. Not recycled. Slightly better price point then the big names.

Currently (yea, I see the pun) I have a couple of Odyssey batteries. They are really good. First one took a dump right away and was warrantied without hesitation. That replacement dates back to about 2008 and is still going strong. Second I put in first part of 2011 in my daily driver (Diehard Platinum back when they were rebadged Odysseys, not that way today). Where traditional batteries would eat it in 2 years this one is still going strong. Even abused it a few times via ARB fridge and it recovers. Have nothing bad to say about it.

Optima was great. Got sold, turned into complete junk. Turned around and realized that what they were selling was a reputation and not a warranty. From what I have seen in the past several years it looks like they are back to a good battery. But that stuff from about 2007 give or take a few years was worthless. Left a bad taste in my mouth. I say I am avoiding them, but my last car took an odd sized battery and there was an Optima that fit. The only AGM battery that I found that was the right size so I got it. Can't say much about it, only 6 months old.

 

[Crude dude]

I only use AGM batteries as well. I also went through horrible times with Optima, I didnt know they were getting back to better quality but good to know. For the last several years I have used AGM batteries from Autozone or Oreilly Auto parts, they are the same battery and made by Deka. I also went through a few of them that died for unknown reasons. I have 2 in my 2007 Cummins and 2 in the wifes Powerstroke Excursion. They typically last me anywhere from 2.5 to 4 years. Not sure if this is good info, just sharing my story.

 

[bronconut73]

I was lucky and didn't need an Optima during that bad QC time period.
Put three in the boat last year. They are awesome. You can abuse the hell out of them and they always charge all the way back up. Excellent trolling motor battery.
Mount in any direction. Never have to worry about corrosion or gasses escaping.
I have one in my garage right now that I bought in 2001. I used it in my eb for a decade or more and replaced it because it was too old to trust in my opinion, but I can charge it up and it will hold a charge.
Anyway I really like Optimas.
Spec for spec the Odysee's are the best thing out there, but they are a little expensive... Hell seems like all batteries are a bit expensive anymore.
Hard to buy a truck battery for less than $100 bucks today....Making the occasionally "on-sale" Optima for $169 not so bad....

 

[904Bronco]

I have a few Odyssey batteries, had duals in my 77 EB, On my second set of duals in my 2002 7.3 Superduty. 1st set lasted 7 years. I have a single in my in my 68 with the winch. They have provided good service, but prices have creeped up...

And I bought a used red top Optima that is now 10 years old and still going strong in my 71 Bronco.

 

[ENDLIFE]

I only use AGM batteries as well. I also went through horrible times with Optima, I didnt know they were getting back to better quality but good to know. For the last several years I have used AGM batteries from Autozone or Oreilly Auto parts, they are the same battery and made by Deka. I also went through a few of them that died for unknown reasons. I have 2 in my 2007 Cummins and 2 in the wifes Powerstroke Excursion. They typically last me anywhere from 2.5 to 4 years. Not sure if this is good info, just sharing my story.

That's good info in my opinion. I was leaning to the Duracell for the price, but I found a dealer up north from that I can get an Optima for almost the same price as the Duracell. I was unsure if Optimas were still junk, so I thought I would bring up the question.

 

[Prizefighter]

Sears sells an AGM battery. I bought it after doing a bit of reading. It was expensive and hasn't given me any problems but the verdict is still out. I also bought a yellow top Optima for my other Bronco

 

[yfz450sew]

I've had an Optima red top in my "resto in process" rig for the last five or six years with little time on a charger and it still cranks my high compression 351 with no trouble at all. Best battery I have ever owned.

 

[Glass Pony]

I must have been the lucky one. I'm 57 years old and I have had many cars, trucks, 4x4's, boats, and jet skis over the years and the only battery that REALLY sucked was the Optima. That Optima didn't last a year.
Needless to say I didn't reward them by buying another one.

 

[charlie6976]

I went with NAPA AGM.

NAPA Legend Premium 75 Month AGM Techology

 

[Apogee]

If I'm not mistaken, East Penn Mfg (DEKA) is manufacturing the Duracell AGM batteries: http://www.eastpennmanufacturing.com/east-penn-releases-new-duracell-automotive-batteries/

My best guess is that these are made on their AGM "Intimidator" product lines, but they may have tweaked the designs for cost, performance, etc. I haven't been in their plant(s) for several years at this point, so I'm somewhat out of touch. That said, I wouldn't hesitate to run just about any EPM battery.

Hawker manufactures the Odyssey batteries and arguably make a higher performance product than most, but you pay for it. I've had similar issues with Optima batteries noted above...had some really good ones that last years longer than they should have, and others that didn't make it a month. There was definitely a rough spell several years back, but the reason I wouldn't buy another one (or comparable cylindrical cell design battery) is just for power density reasons. Six rectangular groups stack much denser than six cylinders with air gaps between them. More lead equals more power and/or life.

I don't have any experience with Northstar.

 

[jw0747]

Deka Intimidator.

 

[forrest36]

Sears sells an AGM battery. I bought it after doing a bit of reading. It was expensive and hasn't given me any problems but the verdict is still out. I also bought a yellow top Optima for my other Bronco

I got the sear AGM in my Bronco. I've had it for about a year now no problems and I got it on sale for about $100.

Sent from my Nexus 5X using Tapatalk

 

[Broncobowsher]

What does Sear's sell for an AGM these days? I got one of the older Odyssey batteries back when they were being rebranded. But I've heard they no longer carry those and the new Platinum is a different rebrand, but I don't know which.

For $100, you probably got a good Odyssey as they were clearing them out making room for the new stuff.

 

[forrest36]

What does Sear's sell for an AGM these days? I got one of the older Odyssey batteries back when they were being rebranded. But I've heard they no longer carry those and the new Platinum is a different rebrand, but I don't know which.

For $100, you probably got a good Odyssey as they were clearing them out making room for the new stuff.

I'm pretty sure mine is one of the rebranded Odyssey batteries. I believe the die hard advanced gold battery was a rebranded deka intimidator at one time but I'm not sure if that's still true.

Sent from my Nexus 5X using Tapatalk

 

[5001craig]

I purchased an Odyssey battery about ten months ago. It has worked perfectly but I don't drive it a lot and keep it on a .75 amp Genius charger when I'm not driving it. It's hard to say anything bad about it when it works and you pay that much for a battery.

But they say the Odyssey's can take discharges better and hold a charge longer between uses than a "normal" battery. I'll check back when it stops working. I need a new battery for the pontoon and am thinking about another Odyssey.

 

[needabronco]

I've had good luck with Optima's. The Yellow's in my camper are 12 years old, YES you read that right. They are starting to show their age but are refusing to die. My Bronco has a red top in it that is 8 years old and has never had any issues, the first one lasted 2 years... My Dodge has had a pair of used oil field reject batteries in it for the last 4 years, they were used batteries and I honestly have no idea how old they are, but they were completely discharged and recharged several times. I guess they are all junk right?

 

[ntsqd]

If you really want a long lasting car battery you'll invest in a better alternator regulator. Those put in passenger cars and trucks are about as stupid as they can be and still work. That alone is likely the biggest reason why car batteries don't last as long as they could or should. I'll guess the regulators used in long haul trucks are better and I know those used in blue water marine applications are better (3 & 4 step charging algorithms) but are not inexpensive!

 

[DuneBuster]

The old standby SLI (Starting, Lighting, Ignition) auto battery had pocket cells with little compression (push) across the plates, so over time they disintegrate and died.
AGM cells are tightly packed so they resist vibration and that disintegration and the acid does not go bad as fast as the old SLI's did.
Yes AGM is a bit more expensive but you get a more reliable longer lasting battery.
I've used AGM's in Jetskis and have seen 6-8 years life vs 1-2 for old flooded batteries.

I'm a fan of the DEKKA batteries due to experience.

 

[KyleQ]

Deka or the Sears AGM seem to be the best choices. There is a huge thread on Pirate about AGMs