Looking for Optima Battery part #

Hi, going to purchase two new batteries for my 53' M38a1, it has been converted to 12 volts, and was wondering if anyone has the part or model number for the Deep Cycle Optima Battery that will fit inside the cowl battery box. Or maybe there a much better battery out there that will fit? Please let me know your opinion.

 

"Deep cycle" is not appropriate for a battery used for starting, as I understand it. Heavy discharge rates are damaging to them - and a normally a vehicle battery is should never cycle below about 60% capacity.

Traditionally, deep cycle is for slow discharge, but extended use, like a golf cart, fishing motor, or lights in an RV. Maybe optima is different. Some batteries now are sold as combination types but I have my doubts.



From the Optima website -

"Starting Lighting Ignition (SLI) batteries excel in high start output where only light surface cycling takes place.

Deep-Cycle batteries are designed for applications that require deep, repetitive amperage drain, like trolling motors, electric wheelchairs, RV house power."

 

I have two batteries because I can. One battery starts and run the Jeep only and the other is a deep cycle battery and it runs all of the accessories, such as Warn winch, Power inverter, lights, welder. etc you NEVER hook up all of those accessories to your "start battery", you can, but if it fails you walk. The batteries I have had died and want to upgrade to Optima hence the post.

 

I run an Optima yellow top(deep cycle) in a jetboat. It is only used for starting the engine as there are no other accessories installed. I just installed a new one last year. The last only lasted 9 years...

 

Yellow top is type sold as the "dual purpose," not a full-on deep cycle.

 

It looks like Yellow Top is the ticket! Just checked out a video on Youtube and they went through the three colors Red, Yellow and Blue but the case color is the key, dark gray is for starting, light gray is deep cycle. The yellow, like you said, is a dual purpose. Thanks, now just need to find the dimensions of the Yellow top batteries and I'll be set....

 

You might want to do some more research before buying Optima batteries. They had a GREAT reputation,,,, up until about four years ago before they were taken over by (IIIRC!) Johnson Controls. Since then they haven't been so great!

 

here are the specs for all the yellow top models. i had a red top in my daily driver years ago and wasnt impressed, only lasted a little over 6 months befor it stoped holding a charge.
http://jci_media.s3.amazonaws.com/4713/4583/5068/YELLOWTOP_Full_Specs_Sheet.pdf

 

Supertrooper this what I've been looking for, thanks!
Joe51 I've been reading the same thing and the reviews are not that promising, might have to back up and do more research.

 

Yep!! First red top I had in my 3B lasted 10 years, the second 6 months. Will not be buying another Optima (running an Odyssey now).

And I do run everything off one battery, including the welder. To me, having dual batteries is just packing around another 60-70 lbs of unnecessary weight.

 

Diehards used to be made by Johnson Controls as well. I used to unload the trucks at a Sears Auto Center I worked at out of high school.

I don't know if that holds true today or not.

 

When I was a kid Die Hard was THE battery to own. The Platinum seems to be one of their best battery. I'll have to check out Odyssey haven't heard about them in the past. The two batteries comes from my Cable Television days, if your battery fails on your bucket truck and you are in the middle of no where you are stuck there until you are rescued. I apply this logic to my Jeep. Besides, it came from the factory that way, so why not?

 

I have to agree that Optima quality is low compared to what it once was. The last two Ive had didn't last long.
Odyssey is a very good quality battery. Price in the past has been high but they are finally becoming affordable for the average Joe.


Sent from my iPhone

 

I've had one or two interstates in a Harley. They seemed no better or worse than anything else.