Batteries
- Thread starter trust
- Start date
jeepdreamer
Expedition Leader
More Intel...
Whats it for Trust?
a DD, a dedicated trail rig, expo vehicle/do it all?
None, some, or lots of the following?
Extra lights?
Winching?
Big old Boom-boom stereo (yeah, we found out about your other hobby...LOL)
Maybe sone more ideas of its use and needs will help?
Whats it for Trust?
a DD, a dedicated trail rig, expo vehicle/do it all?
None, some, or lots of the following?
Extra lights?
Winching?
Big old Boom-boom stereo (yeah, we found out about your other hobby...LOL)
Maybe sone more ideas of its use and needs will help?
yeah, that would have been helpful huh? well it is a sometime DD, longer off highway trail/camping vehicle primarily. Does see a lot of resting time (goes for a while not being driven), does have a winch and a couple of extra lights but not a bunch. Does need to power an ARB refrigerator overnight while on the trail. NO Boom thumpa stereo, in fact, the factory radio doesn't seem capable of picking up the sirius receiver two ft away so I listen to that with earphones and leave the factory radio off.
Another question, I've got it out and charged up, can I assume that if it still reads the same votage across the terminals later tonight, tomorrow and each of the next couple of days that the reason it's not holding a charge is not the battery but rather a hidden load in the heep somewhere I need to chase? Or will the unloaded voltage stay high until it sees a load?
Thanks, Hope that clarifies things
Another question, I've got it out and charged up, can I assume that if it still reads the same votage across the terminals later tonight, tomorrow and each of the next couple of days that the reason it's not holding a charge is not the battery but rather a hidden load in the heep somewhere I need to chase? Or will the unloaded voltage stay high until it sees a load?
Thanks, Hope that clarifies things
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Optima has always done the trick for me. Yes they are expensive, but you probably wished you spent the extra money and got one when you are out camping in the middle of nowhere and you have a dead battery. And the voltage can always be good but its the load that tells the story.
Maximus Ram
Expedition Leader
Trust, go to this section
http://www.expeditionportal.com/forum/forumdisplay.php?f=48
type in battery in the search. There are a few threads comparing Odessey,Optima, Diehard and others.
http://www.expeditionportal.com/forum/forumdisplay.php?f=48
type in battery in the search. There are a few threads comparing Odessey,Optima, Diehard and others.
jeepdreamer
Expedition Leader
My humble...
Just my humble opinion from a few years and a few trails...ahem.
For a DD that is 90% paved road and the rest nothing more than fireroads...Go with just a good quality, High CCA off the shelf batt with a warranty. Its gonna do what needs doing and unless it has a flaw will last quite a while.
For anything after that I go only dry cell. Optima is what I usually run only since they are available everywhere now days. Even Pep boys carries them but you gotta play price match there as they like to mark 'em up!
Why the extra expense...? Several reasons.
Last thing I want to encounter out in the boonies is a dead battery if I am counting on it. All my jeeps are manual so that can be aided but not always.
Off road will beat the crap out of normal "liquid" batteries. The vibrations and bangs and sloshing can cause the lead plates to unseat and then its almost a done deal.
A deep reserve, High CCA will work in most cases even involving a winch and OR lights as long as the entire system is maintained. A duel setup is not a bad idea but I only run that in one of my rigs. It is more than twice the cost (extra wiring and crossovers etc..) and while is good for long winching sessions (you can run one, cool the other as needed) or emergency self starts...you need to look at how much that is worth to you.
Just my humble opinion from a few years and a few trails...ahem.
For a DD that is 90% paved road and the rest nothing more than fireroads...Go with just a good quality, High CCA off the shelf batt with a warranty. Its gonna do what needs doing and unless it has a flaw will last quite a while.
For anything after that I go only dry cell. Optima is what I usually run only since they are available everywhere now days. Even Pep boys carries them but you gotta play price match there as they like to mark 'em up!
Why the extra expense...? Several reasons.
Last thing I want to encounter out in the boonies is a dead battery if I am counting on it. All my jeeps are manual so that can be aided but not always.
Off road will beat the crap out of normal "liquid" batteries. The vibrations and bangs and sloshing can cause the lead plates to unseat and then its almost a done deal.
A deep reserve, High CCA will work in most cases even involving a winch and OR lights as long as the entire system is maintained. A duel setup is not a bad idea but I only run that in one of my rigs. It is more than twice the cost (extra wiring and crossovers etc..) and while is good for long winching sessions (you can run one, cool the other as needed) or emergency self starts...you need to look at how much that is worth to you.
Thanks everyone, I'll take a look at the link you provided Maximus, thanks,
the one that I think is dying is an 850CCA Interstate, presumably a good battery, but it is about 48 months into an 85 month warranty. It read 13.4 Vdc when I took it off the charger last night, 13.0 vdc this morning when I checked it and 13.0 vdc just now (1900 MDT) so if it is not holding charge it's not losing it quickly. May have to start looking for a hidden load
Points well taken Jeepdreamer, this attery was sort of a fluke good deal or I'd have done another optima when the last one died for those very vibration concerns you mention. A dual system maybe in the future but that comes after a few other upgrades already in the queue.
the one that I think is dying is an 850CCA Interstate, presumably a good battery, but it is about 48 months into an 85 month warranty. It read 13.4 Vdc when I took it off the charger last night, 13.0 vdc this morning when I checked it and 13.0 vdc just now (1900 MDT) so if it is not holding charge it's not losing it quickly. May have to start looking for a hidden load
Points well taken Jeepdreamer, this attery was sort of a fluke good deal or I'd have done another optima when the last one died for those very vibration concerns you mention. A dual system maybe in the future but that comes after a few other upgrades already in the queue.
Maximus Ram
Expedition Leader
Trust, do you have an Autozone or something similar that you can take the battery to and have them test it ? It may have a bad cell .
I went to our local Autozone today for a load test, the kid who did it said it tested ok, had a full charge and everything was OK so I guess I'll put it back in and start chasing leaks. When that doesn't work I will likely make the trek to Sears for an Odyssey
Thanks for the input guys! I do appreciate it
Thanks for the input guys! I do appreciate it
Maximus Ram
Expedition Leader
So you thought the battery was bad because >>
I would start with the cables. Even if they look good,there can be corrosion under the covering. Went through the same thing with a couple of vehicles. The first thing I do now with starting/charging problems is change out the cables. It can be the cheapest thing to change first and saves you $$ in the long run.
I would start with the cables. Even if they look good,there can be corrosion under the covering. Went through the same thing with a couple of vehicles. The first thing I do now with starting/charging problems is change out the cables. It can be the cheapest thing to change first and saves you $$ in the long run.
Thanks Maximus, I've had the same issue in the past so I now use the terminals with the bolt and nut and cables with ring eyes on them, they are 00 welding cable with soldered on eyes that are then shrinkwrapped over a label. I'll do some resistance measurements though to be sure. Back to the first question, I first thought it was the battery because the last several times I went out to drive the Jeep the battery has been dead and that was something new and was occurring after having been driven enough to ensure it was fully charged, the period was also decreasing, that is It would be fine 3-4 weeks of not moving then 2 weeks then 1 then less than one and I hadn't added or changed any electrical loads....And the battery was 4 years old which is mid warranty (85months). So I pulled it out to do a full recharge with the charger and it immeduately seemed to lose a half a volt charge withing 3-4 hours. Besides, that's the most expensive thing it could be......