Odyssey battery choices

[Broncobowsher]

Since you are already laying the batt on its side, would you consider a low profile batt that was equipped with side posts?

I would, but it has to be sealed. No flooded cells inside the cab with me. Price is a factor as well. What have you got?

 

[RRRAAAYYY2]

Sorry I havent been around. We have bee ngetting pounded by snow for the last week. I know it is Canada, but I live in what is nick named the Banana Belt, as we get less than 10 feet a year. Buffalo by comparison is 1 hour a way and they will get 30 feet.

Batteries do not have much of a mark up in them. Costco sells batteries for less than what most distributors pay. It is not because they sell more, it is because they sell a different battery. Costco and other companies like that distribute products that were "built for them for a price". i.e. Costco went to Optima and said, we want 10,000 batteries at $119 each. Optima probably said we only have a 20% mark up on the $165 distributor price right now. ($132 Optima cost). Costco would say so? So then Optima does some math, They figure out that in order to stay profitable, they now have to make the battery for $86 (Still need $33 to be profitable, so higher mark up) instead of $132. Send engineering out, and they do that. The battery weighes 6 lbs less, and has warranty issues like crazy, but they sell an extra 10,000 of them to Costco.

Then the distributors lose lots of sales to Costco, so they start asking for lower prices, and the next thing you know, no more good Optima's are made, and everyone gets the $86 dollar battery. They have now lost so much business that they are starting to produce the old style again, and are selling at over $200. Too bad, nobody trusts them anymore, LOL.

Dollar for dollar the Deka Intimidator is the best value I know of. Typically they can be found for $120 to $130, and I have only known two guys (out of thousands) that have had issues. But with Deka issues are resloved very quickly, and usually painless. (I dont know any horror stories).

Odyessy is also available relabelled at Sears and the PC1500 is a better battery than the Intimidator. I dont know that it is a $50 extra better battery though. I also have had two nightmares with Odyessy, myself. Not with the PC1500's, but still their warranty and testing is not BCI standard anymore. This worries me. SEARS here in Brantford has really changed as well, used to be a solid store. Now I have had issues with warranty and product quality, not happy at all with the results.

 

[Broncobowsher]

Good to hear. I used the $50 discount I had with Summit and the PC1500 should be here withen a few hours (watching the tracking number, currently out for delivery).

I will keep the Intimidator in mind this spring when I get ready to take the boat out. That 10 year old Optima can't last forever. Don't want to get stuck on the lake and tell people that the 10 year old battery finally went out.

 

[Broncobowsher]

OK, it's here. Dang that thing is heavy. Lot more lead in that thing then an Optima.

 

[RRRAAAYYY2]

40% more lead. The Optimas usually weigh 36lbs, Intimidators 42lbs, PC1500's were 54lbs, now listed at 52lbs sometimes (not sure if it is just an error in printing or not)

 

[jesus888]

Dollar for dollar the Deka Intimidator is the best value I know of. Typically they can be found for $120 to $130, and I have only known two guys (out of thousands) that have had issues. But with Deka issues are resloved very quickly, and usually painless. (I dont know any horror stories).

Ray,

Which DEKA Intimidator are you talking about specifically? 9A31, 9A34, 9A34M, or 9A78DT?

Also would this battery work well with a dual battery setup? PS, I'm not sure where we're gonna mount the batteries, we have a tube front clip, so probably gonna be some fab work to get em to fit close to each other...

Thanks for any help!

 

[RRRAAAYYY2]

9a34 34m and 78DT are all the same price I think. Was recommending RemyBattery and Autobarn to purchase. The 9A31 will be around $50 more as it is a bigger battery (wider and taller). It is group 31 size, and a very powerful battery.

Yes they would work well in a dual battery setup. Here is a long explanation of designing dual battery setups: http://www.svapowerproducts.com/html/dual_batteries.html
Had the link handy as I just posted it on another thread.

 

[jesus888]

9a34 34m and 78DT are all the same price I think. Was recommending RemyBattery and Autobarn to purchase. The 9A31 will be around $50 more as it is a bigger battery (wider and taller). It is group 31 size, and a very powerful battery.

OK, awesome article... but I'm still a little unclear on exactly which battery you would suggest? My rig isn't gonna run a hellofalot of extras, maybe a small amp (for the stereo), a winch, and a few auxillary lights. I've already got the Painless dual battery kit, but I need to choose the battery I'm gonna buy 2 of... do you have a suggestion? Do I need the 9A31? or will I be fine with any of the other 3 we're talking about?

Thanks again!!

 

[justinoshea]

Does Deka make a battery that is very close to the dimensions of the 'battery formerly known as Optima red top'? not sure what 'group' size the red top is/was.

 

[jesus888]

9a34 34m and 78DT are all the same price I think. Was recommending RemyBattery and Autobarn to purchase. The 9A31 will be around $50 more as it is a bigger battery (wider and taller). It is group 31 size, and a very powerful battery.

RRRAAAYYY2, bump for which battery you suggest that I purchase 2 of? Do I need the 9A31? or will the 9A34, 34M, 78DT work fine? If the latter, which model out of the 3 should I buy Sorry, I'm acting like a newb, because after 3 years, I still am!! ;D

 

[jesus888]

RRRAAAYYY2:
from my understanding your link doesn't talk about having an isolator; except in one scenerio using high output stereo. so to be clear of your description just wiring dual batteries is all you need no need for isolators. All the articles I have read about using isolators only gives you the advantage of having a jump battery. If that be the case why not just use a high end battery and http://www.batterybrain.com/batterybrain.pl. This seems to solve the problem of needing a jump battery. From what I gather from your article just wire batteries together and use battery brain and you never have a worry

 

[jesus888]

I guess, to be more clear, is the only reason to have dual batteries (beyond having double the cranking amps?)

 

[jesus888]

My goal is to have enough power for when I am doing a lot of winching or using auxillary lights, I don't want to be stranded when it comes time to crank again... so confused

 

[RRRAAAYYY2]

Does Deka make a battery that is very close to the dimensions of the 'battery formerly known as Optima red top'? not sure what 'group' size the red top is/was.

The Optima's are based on the group 34 size, which is also the same size as 78. The onlt difference between 34's and 78's was one was top post while the other is side post. The 78DP is a dual post (top and side posts).
So any of the 9A34's or 9A78's should fit in the same tray, as long as it is square and doesnt have the rounded edges to fit Optima.

 

[RRRAAAYYY2]

RRRAAAYYY2:
from my understanding your link doesn't talk about having an isolator; except in one scenerio using high output stereo. so to be clear of your description just wiring dual batteries is all you need no need for isolators. All the articles I have read about using isolators only gives you the advantage of having a jump battery. If that be the case why not just use a high end battery and http://www.batterybrain.com/batterybrain.pl. This seems to solve the problem of needing a jump battery. From what I gather from your article just wire batteries together and use battery brain and you never have a worry

The idea of having two or more batteries is it gives your greater capacity and more cranking amps. So when you add a high load the battery voltage does not drop as far, so it is easier on your equipment. i.e. you start faster, winch faster, etc.
It also allows you play or use equipment with the key off longer. i.e. twice as long as with a single battery before you have to start your vehicle again.

As for the battery brain, seems like a novel idea. You just would not want it to address a high load situation, as it would stall your motor out and damage the alternator if activated while the engine was running.