Best type 31 battery?

[allan5oh]

Ok before the optima cheerleaders come in, I'm going to throw in a curveball. What's the best type 31 battery for deep cycle only, with amp-hours being 95% of the buying factor.

Also, I noticed theres two different optima 31's, yet the specs are all the same?

[allan5oh]

Ah, figured it out... Post Vs. Stud... There's even a marine one...

[Rev.Vassago]

All together now!


OPTIMA!


OPTIMA!



OPTIMA!



YAAAAAAY OPTIMA!

[roadranger]

I just put in 4 Interstate ECL batteries for under $400 - the ECL stands for Extreme Cycle Life 8) . http://www.interstatebatteries.com/w.../tech_talk.htm

[Birken Vogt]

I have always used Interstate MHD batteries (Mega Heavy Duty) in fire trucks which is what I used to do for a living. They take some pretty good abuse.

I don't really care for Optimas, they are kind of expensive and I don't really care if the battery in my truck works when upside down anyway

Birken

[allan5oh]

Uh oh, looks like the interstates beat out the optimas in RC (reserve capacity). I wonder which battery is better for being cycled.

[allan5oh]

Here's a good FAQ:

http://www.windsun.com/Batteries/Battery_FAQ.htm

Some AGM(Absorbent Glass Mat) battery specs:

http://www.odysseyfactory.com/specs.htm

http://www.optimabatteries.com/publi...cal_specs.html

Some "traditional" lead-acid battery specs:

http://www.interstatebatteries.com/w...GHHEQSNT3A2TSE

http://www.cat.com/cda/components/fu...7&x=7&id=90282

[allan5oh]

Looks like the optimas are actually kind of weak for what I need, the odyssey batteries are superior.

[allan5oh]

Damn, cheapest I can find the Odyssey is $250, that's a lot of coin!

[Rev.Vassago]

Damn, cheapest I can find the Odyssey is $250, that's a lot of coin!

You get what you pay for when it comes to batteries.

[allan5oh]

Absolutely, given my high demands for batteries(deep cycling them, as well as starting the truck when it's -50 out), I wonder why I haven't invested in a quality battery in the first place.

What's really odd is why do people think they need 1000 CCA's? I've survived just fine up here in cold winter with 850 CCA's. With the 1000 CCA batteries, the plates are much thinner, and will disintegrate much sooner.

[Birken Vogt]

What's really odd is why do people think they need 1000 CCA's? I've survived just fine up here in cold winter with 850 CCA's. With the 1000 CCA batteries, the plates are much thinner, and will disintegrate much sooner.

Just looking at a bigger number....

Birken

[allan5oh]

Found where I can get 4 for $229. I wonder how much shipping would be.

[Rev.Vassago]

Found where I can get 4 for $229. I wonder how much shipping would be.

Probably about $771.

[allan5oh]

Hmmm.. deka batteries. Theres a local dealer and they have a VERY good price. They said $225 Canadian per battery. I can't argue with that whatsoever. They used to be an optima dealer, but said they "dry out" and all of a sudden don't work. You can put a little voltage to them to get them to "kick" but it will keep happening.

Anyways, heres the specs:

http://www.dekabatteries.com/assets/base/0010.pdf

1125 CCA, almost as much as the odysseys(they're rated at 1150, but sometimes 1090, depends where you get the info?) and 195 RC (10 less than odyssey). The optimas are only 900 CCA and 155 RC. Yes it's an AGM like optima/odyssey.

I think I'll try them out. I'll let you guys know.

[Birken Vogt]

Deka comes OE in a lot of trucks I have seen, so they have to be worth something

Birken

[allan5oh]

I just realized most of their commercial batteries are regular type batteries, they do have a AGM 31 battery, but it's pretty weak in the CCA department.

[bob h]

.............. still trying to understand why anyone would pay $250 for 1 battery ................ :-(

is the cover chrome?

[Rev.Vassago]

.............. still trying to understand why anyone would pay $250 for 1 battery ................ :-(

is the cover chrome?

Perfect timing. I am currently sitting at a Peterbilt shop right now, as my alternator took a dump this morning. I drove about 150 miles here on 3 Optima batteries ($200 a pop), with only 11 volts showing on the gauge. It was pouring rain out, so I had to run my headlights, mirror heaters, and wipers, the entire way.

I've had trucks with standard batteries that shut down at that voltage, because the trucks CPU couldn't draw enough power to keep it running.

[allan5oh]

.............. still trying to understand why anyone would pay $250 for 1 battery ................ :-(

is the cover chrome?

Bob I have pretty unique needs, up here in Winnipeg. I'm simply looking for the best. If regular batteries last 2 years here, trust me its a miracle. Winter is so hard on batteries.

Now what if those $250 batteries last 10 years? Take $80 per "regular" battery, multiply that by 5 and you have $400 to replace every battery every 2 years. If one of those $250 odyssey batteries can last 8-10 years, you're money ahead. Not only that, you have a more reliable truck.

I'll tell you one time it was -52 with the windchill. I had run the espar engine heater for 4 hours. I used the volvo engine pre-heat for the full 2 minutes(warm up intake air). I had *just* changed the batteries to 4 975 CCA batteries a couple weeks ago. It definitely turned very slow. Usually down to -30 I tend not to have problems though.

Also, I'm considering running a 12 volt or maybe a 120 volt air conditioner. My dad has the latter, runs off the inverter. He basically has to change his batteries once a year.