*Best* Battery?

[DaveInDenver]

AGM batteries are pretty typical in high reliability apps, like aircraft, marine, military. It's pretty much accepted that it's a step better. That's not to say a flooded lead acid is bad, but I don't think a trailered (assuming) dirtbike is an appropriate comparison to a vehicle that does 10 times or more the number of starts and under much more varied conditions. Just driving around daily on a truck with M/T tires is going to vibrate the heck out of the battery and that's before you throw in a few 100F or -5F starts, a few hundred commutes, a Rubicon trip, a few parking lot good samaritan jump starts, left on headlights once or twice, etc.

 

[Scott Brady]

Buy one of the quality AGM units, and find one with a high float voltage too, like the Odyssey, Deka, Lifeline, Discover. Electronics are happier with the 13v they see, my Discovery starts much better now too.

My G-Wagen has dual Odyssey batteries that the prior owner installed four years ago, and they are still going strong!

 

[BigAl]

Another vote for a yellow top, My jeeps sits for weeks between runs and always fires on the 2-3 crank. My yellow top is 4 years old now.

 

[winkosmosis]

Buy one of the quality AGM units, and find one with a high float voltage too, like the Odyssey, Deka, Lifeline, Discover. Electronics are happier with the 13v they see, my Discovery starts much better now too.

My G-Wagen has dual Odyssey batteries that the prior owner installed four years ago, and they are still going strong!

AGM are much worse at taking a discharge though. They need slow charging even more than normal batteries. So I've read on miata.net (Miatas used to come with an AGM trunk battery)

Edit: Looking at the Odyssey site that doesn't seem to be the case http://www.odysseybatteries.com/

 

[Lancer]

I have a 2005 KJ that I bought used at 1 year old from the dealer (it was a low - mileage demonstrator) and it came with a new Optima Red Top.

It's been an excellent starting battery in all weathers and conditions, but it doesn't respond well to being run down, and it is not recommended over here for use with a winch or other electrical accessories - the yellow top is recommended for that application.

I believe (although can't say for sure) that ARB in Australia recommend the Blue Top for use with winches or other high loads, and the Odyssey is certainly making big inroads into the market with a combination of reliability, power, and ability to be used as both a good starting battery and a good winch battery.

They (AGM batteries) are all relatively expensive, and for your personal requirements may be unnecessary, but I will certainly replace the Red Top I have for another AGM when the time comes.

 

[mdnky]

AGM are much worse at taking a discharge though. They need slow charging even more than normal batteries. So I've read on miata.net (Miatas used to come with an AGM trunk battery)

Edit: Looking at the Odyssey site that doesn't seem to be the case http://www.odysseybatteries.com/

Really just about any battery benefits from slow charging. Basically the faster you charge it, the more heat you generate. Heat is the worst enemy for a battery, closely followed by vibration. I personally never use anything above 2 amps on mine, less if possible (i.e. I have right equipment available at the time.)

I was at an Autozone a while back picking up some oil and a guy in front of me was picking up his battery they "charged" for him. The thing was sizzling, audible from a good distance away. They took it from less than 5v to 13 in under 45 minutes. Not good for the life of that battery.

 

[Hilldweller]

I work for JCI but not in the battery division; they're the ones that bought Optima.
Local retailers told me that the return rates for YellowTops were abnormally high for a while so I have a Sears Diehard Platinum in my trailer.

EDIT: after careful scrutiny, I went ahead and bought a RedTop for the Jeep in December '09, installed it in January, and it is performing well 11,000 miles later as of 4/27/10.

 

[whitecon]

Optima batterys got bought out a few years ago, and there quaility went down hill.

FYI, Omptia is owned by Johnson Controls.

 

[peekay]

Peekay, there are several reasons why AGM batteries are better, it just depends on if the reasons are important to you or not.
- Less sensitive to vibration
- Even "sealed" batteries outgas and can lead to terminal corosion, AGM's don't
- Can be mounted in any position
- Size for size they are generally more powerful.
- Longer warranty, at least with the Platinum.

Antichrist, I know the reasons people give for AGM batteries, but dollar for dollar, the "improvement", if any, is miniscule.

- Less sensitive to vibration [I don't even know what this actually means. Are lead acids sensitive to vibration? I surely haven't seen my quad and dirtbike's lead acids explode from vibration or exhibit any other effects even though they are exposed to vibration levels our trucks (unless you drive a trophy truck in the Baja 1000) will never even come close to seeing.]
- Even "sealed" batteries outgas and can lead to terminal corosion, AGM's don't [by the time the terminal corrodes, I'll just replace it with a $5 terminal from Autozone. I rather do that than having spent an extra $200-300 on AGM's.]
- Can be mounted in any position [true, but how many of us actually need to mount them sideways? Most people are just dropping them into the stock position]
- Size for size they are generally more powerful. [some, like the Odessey, appear to have higher CCA's. But when was the last time you needed more CCA's? If anything, we need more amp hours, and AGM's do not give you more amp hours.]
- Longer warranty, at least with the Platinum. [same anaylsis as the terminal corrosion. I could buy at least 2, if not 3, lead acid batteries for every AGM battery]

Out of all the stated reasons you give, the only one that is a meaningful difference from a standard lead acid is the ability to mount in any position and most people don't need that feature.

I would understand it more if the AGM battery has truly different characteristics, e.g. like a lithium ion or nimh battery, which are relatively lightweight and can truly deeply discharge. But at least for 99% of users, including the ones on this board, the "features" of an AGM are just a marketing ploy to get more people to spend more money. It's a solution searching for a problem.

 

[Antichrist]

Less sensitive to vibration [I don't even know what this actually means. Are lead acids sensitive to vibration? I surely haven't seen my quad and dirtbike's lead acids explode from vibration or exhibit any other effects even though they are exposed to vibration levels our trucks (unless you drive a trophy truck in the Baja 1000) will never even come close to seeing.

No, batteries don't normally explode from the effects of vibration. They are filled with acid, not nitroglycerin. But the plates are subject to loss of the lead paste, buckling and other internal failures. These failures can easily lead to internal shorting which pretty much means you need to replace your battery.

- Even "sealed" batteries outgas and can lead to terminal corosion, AM's don't [by the time the terminal corrodes, I'll just replace it with a $5 terminal from Autozone. I rather do that than having spent an extra $200-300 on AGM's.

Corrosion forms even when you can't see it. Yes, you can do monthly maintenance and remove your terminals and wire brush them, dip them in a liquid baking soda solution, brush the battery posts and clean them with the solution, but how many people really do that? If not the corrosion reduces the conductivity and therefore the voltage (volt drop) getting to the electrical components like your starter and winch motor. Two items in particular that have their lives shortened when they aren't getting proper voltage.

- Can be mounted in any position [true, but how many of us actually need to mount them sideways? Most people are just dropping them into the stock position

Probably most, but some people do in fact mount them on their sides. I haven't seen anyone mount them upside down though.

Size for size they are generally more powerful. [some, like the Odessey, appear to have higher CCA's. But when was the last time you needed more CCA's? If anything, we need more amp hours, and AGM's do not give you more amp hours.

If a battery starts out with a higher CCA, then that means it has more power to start your car when it's older, when the temperature is lower reducing the % of CCA available, at the same time oil is thicker and the engine is harder to turn over, or needs to crank longer. In addition to all that, a wet cell battery would also need to overcome the resistance in the corroded terminals.
A rather brief look comparing AGM's with top of the line wet cell batteries looked to me like AGM had the edge. Not by a lot, but some, when it came to the RC.

Longer warranty, at least with the Platinum. [same anaylsis as the terminal corrosion. I could buy at least 2, if not 3, lead acid batteries for every AGM battery

Where are you getting batteries with specs equal to the Platinum for $75?

I'm not saying AGM's are for everyone. Some people don't mind the added maintenance and care needed with wet cell batteries. Nor do they mind more trips to the store to buy another battery.
Others would prefer to install a battery and not have to worry about it again for 8 or 10 years. You pays your money and you takes your choice.

 

[dieselcruiserhead]

I haven't read all the posts but I've owned and researched (online, etc) Optima Red and Yellow, Excide Orbital (which I had the best results with) in addition to all of the water batteries, Interstate, Sears Gold, Wal Mart, Duralast, etc..

My conclusion now is definitely the Die Hard Platinum for about high $100s/low $200s for a number of reasons. A cheaper Odyssey basically with a nice reserve power feature in addition to the ruggedness...

 

[saburai]

Sounds like the Die Hard Platnum is the one for me:sombrero:

Does anyone know what group size a '99 XJ takes?

Also, as I mentioned in my original post, is it possible/ worth while to do a bit of trimming of the tray to squeeze the next size up in there?

Many Thanks...

 

[SunTzuNephew]

Optimas are junk Once its dead yellow or red you can't jump it you have to CHARGE it. just get a maintenance free deka.
thats my two cents

I bought a Red Top Optima for a vehicle last year (about a year ago). from Amazon (yes, Amazon....who shipped it via USPS, for $5!).

About 3 months ago I left the GPS plugged in for a couple of weeks, and the battery was flat (<10v).

I got a jump, drove around for an hour, and the battery has been just fine since.....

I have Optimas (Red and Yellow) in all the vehicles, and Blues in trailers and boats. I won't buy another brand, ESPECIALLY one from Sears.

 

[Hilldweller]

Also, as I mentioned in my original post, is it possible/ worth while to do a bit of trimming of the tray to squeeze the next size up in there?

Many Thanks...

The battery that will fit will likely already have 20%-30% higher CCA rating. You might still need to mount it creatively; I helped a coworker fit a Platinum in his truck the other day and we had to fab a bracket and relocate the cables.
They're great batteries though.

 

[saburai]

The battery that will fit will likely already have 20%-30% higher CCA rating. You might still need to mount it creatively; I helped a coworker fit a Platinum in his truck the other day and we had to fab a bracket and relocate the cables.
They're great batteries though.

Thanks Bill!

You didn't mention it but it's worth a shot...

Do you remember the size?