The Car Battery

[biteme]

Just found this out over on the Supra forum from a fella who's nicely clued up on them.



This will make some of you raise an eyebrow or two, but, having owned an Optima I would not buy one. Ever. Again. They are far far far overrated and overpriced for what they do. Put it this way, I don't know of many pro SPL and ICE competitors who use Optima, most use HawkerOdyssey or Redflash batts instead.

An Optima is fine as a pure starter battery, whether it is their redtop, bluetop or deep cyle yellowtop. But, the minute you start to draw serious current, it will drown as the avg yellow top is only 55Ah and 690 CCA.

There are plenty of deep cylce gel batts out there for half the price of an Optima. Look to get the biggest CCA and Ah rating you can.

Some ideas for you:

75ah 760CCA (compare that to 55Ah and 690CCA from an Optima YT)
http://www.tayna.co.uk/067TE-Exide-C...P07-P7499.html (http://www.tayna.co.uk/067TE-Exide-Car-Battery-X-Tra-Plus-XTra-Plus-XP07-P7499.html)

105Ah 900CCA (compare that to 55Ah and 690CCA from an Optima YT)
http://www.totalbatteries.co.uk/i-Nu...les-I3791.html (http://www.totalbatteries.co.uk/i-Numax-CXV27MF-Sealed-Leisure-Battery--12V-105Ah-900MCA--500-Cycles-I3791.html)

Under £90 shipped to your door for either of those.

[GregLeBon]

Johnny, is this SPL / ICE specific......or just general battery...?

Cos if its just general battery........does it really matter what battery you get for day-to-day use...?

Surely the alternator does the work when the car is running? The batt is just a big capacitor across the alternator........?

Looking at the specs of the Optima, is it just looks that people buy them for, of is it the -18 degreesC CCA figure that makes it special?

I always thought that for hi-fi in your car, you put a super-duper gold-plated 1F capacitor across the power supply of your amp...?:shades:

And for racing, you simply went with the lightest battery you could get away with...? (is it the Red-top / Odyssey that they all use...?)

If a battery is really pricey, then it needs to bring something serious to the party........

Personally, I 'm currently using a Halfords Calcium battery, with a 3-year warranty, and it cost £70...I think its £99 now, mind you, for the same..?!

Iv'e also used the cheapest rubbish from the motor factors, and had no problems either.......

Seems to me that virtually any NEW battery will do the business, even in very cold conditions (UK winter, anyway)....the cheapies just cannot cut the mustard when they get beyond 2-3 years old, and they are asked to start the car in -10C after sitting for 2 weeks over xmas...? :roll:

Everyone will have varying opinions about batteries, but generally speaking, IMHO, you're better off buying a cheapo and replacing it every 12-18 months (preferably not waiting till the winter!)

If you WERE talking "specialist"....then scrap all the above: I'll get my coat........!:whistle:

[biteme]

It's mainly for high output ICE stuff - day to day, anything with enough cranking amps will do :)