Latest Thoughts on Batteries?

[badandy73]

Another vote for Deka Intimidator. Been running one in the Bronco for 5 or more years now. Picked up another last fall for my Tacoma. Local auto electric shop (Deka dealer) was able to sell me a 'blem' AGM for about half the price. Cosmetic blem meant that it didn't come with a sticker or handle, killer deal.

 

[nvrstuk]

"East Penn fan too. They make the factory battery for US built BMW X5s. The great news is it's the exact same battery at O'reilly's with a Super Start Platinum AGM sticker, and $100 less. 4 year Warranty but one is on year 11 and the other is on year 9, all in Arizona heat...."


... and two days ago my SuperStart AGM Oreillys special died after 7 yrs. They DO NOT CARRY my 34/78 model anymore... which of course is custom mounted between the cage, wheel well and .... frustration here...

Deka Intmidator which is the same battery with different label my cost is $130 more... Optima is same price but if/when the Optima dies every town seems to have an Optima dealer... Deka is on line only for me or a 100mile each way drive... dang... more decisions and more metalwork...

 

[ba123]

Check Rock Auto.

I’ve bought two Deka Intimidator batteries this year from them and dirt cheap.

 

[ntsqd]

I failed to see the appeal of making Optima specific battery trays when they were THE Go-To battery, and I haven't had a good enough reason to change my mind on that.

7 years seems reasonably good for a battery. I know that some go for longer, but more don't last that long.

No idea just how interchangeable they really are, but the battery tray in the FSB will accept both 34/78's and 65's. O'Reillys lists both models for it. Might look to see if the battery of choice is offered in the Group 65.

 

[73azbronco]

Forget about the battery.. buy the best and most accessible warranty because they are all junk now.

buy autozone, they are on every corner in America, great warranty, no hassle swap, i get 6-7 years on a 5 year battery after free swap.

Avoid lithium unless you have the special charging and temp monitoring.

AGM way to go, and I think there is a NEW AGM, even better.

 

[73azbronco]

I failed to see the appeal of making Optima specific battery trays when they were THE Go-To battery, and I haven't had a good enough reason to change my mind on that.

7 years seems reasonably good for a battery. I know that some go for longer, but more don't last that long.

No idea just how interchangeable they really are, but the battery tray in the FSB will accept both 34/78's and 65's. O'Reillys lists both models for it. Might look to see if the battery of choice is offered in the Group 65.

My bad, bought Drivens Optima specific EB bronco battery tray, awesome looking, cant use any other battery though.

My current optima on year 7, but it is 24/7 on the grossly expensive optima charger tender. First optima lasted 12 months.

 

[ntsqd]

I wasn't singling anyone out with that comment. I know some guys really prefer them. I just never saw the point in limiting my options.

There is a LiPo made specifically to be a starting battery. I'm not really up on how it's different chemistry works in the real world. One example: https://dakotalithium.com/product/dakota-lithium-lto-automotive-cranking-battery/ (The only one that I know of, but I'll bet there's others.)

 

[Broncobowsher]

The general LeFePO4 battery is well known. But has flaws in the automotive world. There are temperature limits that are easy to push both limits. They don't like hot, over ~140°F isn't good. And charging them below freezing will damage them.

They work good in toys. I did a LiFePO4 battery well over a decade ago in a motorcycle, it was great. My latest motorcycle came with one. It's mounted on the handlebar, away from engine heat. And you don't ride below freezing most of the time. I have one in my boat, this is probably the most perfect as it never sees anything near the limits.

No way you could ever get one to live under the hood. Remote mount in a fair weather fun car, that would work.

 

[56f100bbw]

I have an Exide battery. Home Depot 3 year replacement. In my 76 bronco

 

[ntsqd]

The general LeFePO4 battery is well known. But has flaws in the automotive world. There are temperature limits that are easy to push both limits. They don't like hot, over ~140°F isn't good. And charging them below freezing will damage them.

They work good in toys. I did a LiFePO4 battery well over a decade ago in a motorcycle, it was great. My latest motorcycle came with one. It's mounted on the handlebar, away from engine heat. And you don't ride below freezing most of the time. I have one in my boat, this is probably the most perfect as it never sees anything near the limits.

No way you could ever get one to live under the hood. Remote mount in a fair weather fun car, that would work.

I just put some LiFePO4's in our camper. Finding a shore charger that will work the way that I want it to (i.e. not directly connected to the battery itself but at the monitor's shunt and the main breaker) has been a challenge.

Supposedly the Ti battery that I linked above is a starting battery. I would assume from that stated use that under-hood mounting is expected. I nothing more about them.

 

[Oldtimer]

Deka Intimidator 34/78, bought July 2012.

Bronco sits outside, was driven periodically until 2024, now a daily driver.
Sitting for long periods the fuel (refuse to call it gasoline) would evaporate from carb bowl.
Long cranking to start would drag battery down, so I got a 17W solar battery tender, placed it on bed of truck, under hard top with no regard to sun angle.

No problems in 14 years, but I probably just jinxed it.

 

[Broncobowsher]

I just put some LiFePO4's in our camper. Finding a shore charger that will work the way that I want it to (i.e. not directly connected to the battery itself but at the monitor's shunt and the main breaker) has been a challenge.

Supposedly the Ti battery that I linked above is a starting battery. I would assume from that stated use that under-hood mounting is expected. I nothing more about them.

I've got a Lithium Titanate sitting in the garage that I got to play with. It's a smaller motorcycle size. I'm not impressed with the voltage curve. While linear, it is steep. Voltage drops quickly. LiFePO4 has a very level voltage curve, it just doesn't drop much at any state of charge.

I'm running a Victron charger for my RV LiFePO4 battery bank. Paired with the Victron Shunt. Works good. Also have a Victron DC-DC and solar controllers. I can watch the battery charge while the A/C is running all off solar, at least in milder weather.

 

[nvrstuk]

Check Rock Auto.

I’ve bought two Deka Intimidator batteries this year from them and dirt cheap.

Rock Auto's prices on those Intimidator's Rock (pun intended). Those prices are $100 less than Amazon or the only store I could find that carries them.

Problem is I need one tomorrow, so I bought an Optima Yellow and will change the hold down by welding on some plate and use a clamp to hold it down.

It is a super tight custom fit so no other size fits. 1/4" larger in two dimensions and I have to move my roll cage (yeah, right) or cut into the inner wheel well and extend the mount towards the rear tire (yeah, right)... so the 34/78 is what I need. Optima had one, Orielly's are everywhere so I guess that's what I'm doing. Cost $100 more than the Intimidator that would take 7 days to get here... and I'm leaving for a "Back To Classics" Bronco event the day after it would (supposed) to get here... ain't betting on that so back to an Optima. Ran them in the "90's when they were the best thing since sliced bread.

 

[73azbronco]

if cheap might want to check born on date. Surprisingly most recent battery I bought was built 1 month prior to me buying it. I had an optima that was 6 months old before I bought it.

 

[nvrstuk]

Yeah, this Optima is 2 mo old. I usually always buy 1 yr old 4D & 8D for heavy equip. Things cost waaaay too much.

 

[ba123]

The Deka I got for the Bronco as my backup battery was less than 1 month old.

The one I just got for my Porsche doesn’t have a manufacture date sticker that I can see but I do see it was shipped from an auto parts store (Parts Authority) and not a warehouse where it was collecting dust. I’m sure there’s a date sticker somewhere but it’s installed and don’t see it.

 

[73azbronco]

they usually melt the month year into battery case

 

[ba123]

they usually melt the month year into battery case

Never seen that on any battery I’ve owned.

 

[73azbronco]

it's not done well

 

[ba123]

I just looked both of these batteries over again and there is no stamp on either. Both just have a sticker. I did find the one hiding on the Porsche battery.

There is this on the side of the. Bronco battery: