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New Battery Time

Discussion in 'Winches' started by Vanguard, Feb 27, 2007.

  1. Feb 27, 2007
    Vanguard

    Vanguard Take Off! Staff Member

    Vista, CA USA
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    Aug 30, 2006
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    2,256
    Well, it looks like its new battery time. I've almost finished wiring up my headlights and was doing some testing and the ol' exide doesn't seem to want to wake up from it's slumber. The load tester showed marginal on the voltage ~13V and under load showed weak. It wouldn't take a charge from my charger either, so I guess it's done for. </moment of silence>

    Assuming that there's no value left on its warranty, depends on if I can argue with Kragen again. Since, I'll be installing a Bellview winch, I'm going to go with an AC Delco Voyager Deep Cycle if I can find it. Any thoughts and please don't say Optima. $150 for a battery ain't gonna happen. :evil:
     
  2. Feb 27, 2007
    nrg0920

    nrg0920 New Member

    Raleigh, NC
    Joined:
    Feb 1, 2007
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    38
    I use the Exide Orbital. It is sealed like the Optima’s, but cost much less. I have ran it for over a year with no problems.
     
  3. Feb 27, 2007
    Vanguard

    Vanguard Take Off! Staff Member

    Vista, CA USA
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    That might be a possibility, especially if I can get some credit for the existing battery. I'm having a hard time finding ac-delco dealers in so cal.
     
  4. Feb 27, 2007
    w3srl

    w3srl All-around swell dude Staff Member

    Port Orange, FL
    Joined:
    Nov 6, 2002
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    4,275
    If it's the only battery Joel, you want a dual-purpose starting/deep cycle battery rather than a plain old deep cycle unit. Deep cycles take a LOT longer to fully recharge. ;)
     
  5. Feb 27, 2007
    sparky

    sparky Sandgroper Staff Member Founder

    Perth, WA
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    Sep 20, 2002
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    9,221
    What Steve said. You don't want/need a deep cycle unit unless you're winching most of the time while the Jeep isn't running or something silly like that.









    Optima

    <ducking>

    On a serious note, I'm only on my second one in 10 years or so. The old one went away in the TJ still happy.
     
  6. Feb 27, 2007
    jpflat2a

    jpflat2a what's that noise?

    Hermosa, SD
    Joined:
    Jul 30, 2003
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    8,513
    0nly $129 at Costco
    shake some sheckles loose
     
  7. Feb 27, 2007
    beeser

    beeser Member

    Arizona
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    Jan 8, 2003
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    587
    Sears will price match minus 10%. My Optima (Red) ended up costing me about $90. Took a digital photo of the price at Costco as a basis.
     
  8. Feb 27, 2007
    trickpatrick

    trickpatrick Done? LOL

    North Idaho USA
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    Nov 29, 2006
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    838
    I have gotten 7 years and counting on my AC delco

    My .02 cents
     
  9. Feb 27, 2007
    Dj

    Dj Gearhead

    Plano, TX
    Joined:
    Nov 26, 2002
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    111
    not to mention that a true deep cycle won't like you very much if you use it for starting the engine on a cold morning.
     
  10. Feb 27, 2007
    Vanguard

    Vanguard Take Off! Staff Member

    Vista, CA USA
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    I paid $105 for the red top in the Grand Cherokee. It failed after a year and had to be replaced (under warranty). I just don't think the Optimas are worth the extra coin, especially if I go with a yellow top.
     
  11. Feb 27, 2007
    beeser

    beeser Member

    Arizona
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    Jan 8, 2003
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    587
    Can't really disagree with you Joel. My Optima also failed after about a year. Sears replaced it free without a hassle but the thought occurred to me at the time that I would've probably been just as well served with a lesser expensive battery.
     
  12. Feb 27, 2007
    sparky

    sparky Sandgroper Staff Member Founder

    Perth, WA
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    Sep 20, 2002
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    Huh. Never had any issues with either of my red tops.

    Like I said in a forum elsewhere recently. It would seem that for every 20 or 30 or 50 people that like something and had good luck with it, one person didn't. Simple statistics, there's bound to be something go wrong for someone with something, especially mechanical devices...

    I tend to put more weight on the community experience than just one or two bad ones. JMO.

    FWIW, I did have one of my red tops fall onto the header (the one in my CJ-5 now) and melted a bit, it's still fine vs. a Sears bat. I had that came loose, slid into my fan on my Firebird and disintegrated, rapidly. YMMV.
     
  13. Feb 27, 2007
    Vanguard

    Vanguard Take Off! Staff Member

    Vista, CA USA
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    The red top didn't stand up well against 3 year olds playing with the rear seat reading lamps. That being the case I'm not sure it would hold up well when winching. In any case, so far the second red top is holding up well, although it hasn't yet been subjected to a full discharge by 3 year olds. :D

    I've got to locate my big bucket of receipts and dig through it for the battery replacement stub. IIRC, Betsy has used up about 48 Months of a 72 Month warranty on an Exide battery that replaced the previously warrantied Champion "Truck/SUV" battery that was 2 years old. If there's a significant value remaining, I'll probably end up with whatever Kragen offers in the right Group Size for a Starting/Deep Cycle. Hopefully, it's only around $50-$75 out of pocket.
     
    Last edited: Feb 27, 2007
  14. Feb 27, 2007
    sparky

    sparky Sandgroper Staff Member Founder

    Perth, WA
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    Dang, that's the exact opposite of my experience with it. Lex drove my TJ on the battery alone for about a week once after the alternator had died...
     
  15. Feb 27, 2007
    beeser

    beeser Member

    Arizona
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    Jan 8, 2003
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    In all fairness with my Optima experience, it's highly possible the key was left in the ACC position when parked. The ignition switch is so worn that the key can be pulled out in any position. Sometimes it falls out when driving. I invested in one of those battery disconnect switches when the replacement battery was installed. Working out good so far.
     
  16. Feb 27, 2007
    Vanguard

    Vanguard Take Off! Staff Member

    Vista, CA USA
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    I'm not really upset with the first battery failing. Pepboy's did a good job handling the warranty and I was in and out of the store in about 5 mins with no arguments. If anything I'm being Dutch and don't see the value in paying $200 for a yellow top AGM battery vs a Lead-Acid alternative in a sub-$100 range.
     
  17. Feb 27, 2007
    Dj

    Dj Gearhead

    Plano, TX
    Joined:
    Nov 26, 2002
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    FWIW, I used to be in pretty tight with a lot of electric vehicle converters.

    When you buy batteries in bulk, as with anything, you tend to notice the bad ones sooner.

    The optima YT/RT batteries are pretty good, overall. They put out lots of juice and resist a lot of vibration.

    Not all installations are a perfect environment for a battery. If your alt/gen or charge regulator or what have you are bad, they'll kill a battery. Similarly, if you have a slow drain and jump start and expect the alternator to fully recharge the battery, that'll kill one too.

    And building an electric drag rail that can run 1/4 mi in 8.8 secs at 140 mph can kill a battery as well. With fantastically spectacular results. :)

    So, I guess what I'm saying is YMMV, but don't just blame it on the battery, especially if you're running a deep cycle in an SLA role, cuz that's a mismatched application. 8)
     
  18. Feb 27, 2007
    StraightToPlaid

    StraightToPlaid Ludicrous speed!!!!

    West Chester, OH
    Joined:
    Nov 21, 2006
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    338
    I may be in the market for one soon. The PO of my CJ fouled up the alternator wiring pretty badly and I'm wondering if it did a number on the battery. So far it's doing ok but AZ roasts batteries during the summer.
     
  19. Feb 27, 2007
    blevisay

    blevisay Oh Noooooooooooooooo! Staff Member

    Portland Tn.
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    Sep 20, 2002
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    ah you just Yadda yaddaed over the best part........8.8 sec........could you post details?
     
  20. Feb 28, 2007
    willys59cj5

    willys59cj5 Sponsor

    Gilroy, CA
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    The red top in my CJ has lasted more than 10yrs. I am sold on optimas and don't mind paying a little extra. If the other brand of gel cells is just as good why not save a little$$$$
     
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