Optima vs. Regular

[88xj]

I have been looking into adding a dual battery setup and I was wondering about which battery to add. Other than the ability to turn them on their sides and the side posts what is so good about the Optima batteries. Regular ones such as the Diehard Gold have equal cca and warienties for half the price. Could somebody explain why the Optima's are so good?

Thanks,
Doug

[Chris S]

Optimas are sealed. This not only means that you can mount them on their side, it means that if you dump your rig on it's side you don't have corrosive battery acid dripping on everything. Not really a huge concern to me, but important to some people.

Yellow top optimas are a "deep discharge" battery. They can still crank an engine, but they can also survive far more charge cycles than a normal battery. If I remember right a regular battery can survive 5-10 deep discharge cycles and a yellow top can survive 25-30. Note that I'm talking deep discharge, not drained flat.

Don't confuse a yellow top with a "deep cycle" battery commonly used as second battteries in motor homes and such. "Deep Cycle" batteries can be drained practically flat many times with minimal effect, but can't provide a starting charge and are not designed for the rapid discharge that a winch creates.

Also note that if you mix battery types you must use a quality isolator system. You sometimes see cheapy parallel setups for dual batteries without an isolator, but if the two batteries are not identical then one will always be trying to draw power off the other and it will drastically shorten your battery life. Even with two same model batteries they are never exactly the same, and some places will void your warrenty if you don't use an isolator.

Just curious why you want dual batteries anyway? One yellow top will suffice for most peoples use.

[ROKSURF]

One yellow top will suffice for most peoples use.
I too am running one yellow to Optima. I have yet to utilize it for its intended purpose (winching troublesome Fords, Chevys, Zukis, Ect. from peril) but I whole heartedly believe in their product. I will give a detailed report by the end of May. I can provide aperage draw over a first, second, and third line pull of an xd9000i Warn wich. I love statistical information, so look forward to seeing it! I also here the new Die Hard is equally comperable! I have yet to see it in action. Later, ROKSURF

[88xj]

Just curious why you want dual batteries anyway? One yellow top will suffice for most peoples use.

The reason that that I want another is that with only the 6in lights on I can see a noticable drop in rpms. In the near future I plan on adding a 700 watt power inverter, winch, extra ac pump for onboard air, and a larger ham radio and cb. The lights and inverter alone would be over 40 extra amps. You are right that I could probally get away with one battery, but I think in would be easier on the electrical system to have the extra capabilities. Also I have had my alternator go out before and I would like to have the security of an extra battery to help get me home.

Thanks for all the advice though
Doug

[eldiablo]

I had an optima on my sports car which has high compresion engine. I had to move it on a cold day and turned that cold, tight engine over. That battery lasted a good 10 min. of this and finally started the car!!

I think you should pick up the optima and try replacing the stock ground strap with a thicker one. The stock one has a hard enough time grounding the stock battery let alone additional equipement.