Re: Hi-Tech Gel Batteries

[Flimflam]

Thanks to BITOG and all the knowledgeable and helpful guys 'n gals in it, I finally found out what the colorful and curvaceous automotive batteries in COSTCO are. They are the newfangled Optima's. Well, yesterday, I went to COSTCO to check out the same Optima's, and the helpful guy there told me they are not so popular nowadays. It is pretty much a "hit and miss" thing with hi-tech batteries, he said. Buy, install, and use at your own risk. Any opinions on this?

 

[theguru]

Optimas are great batteries, just much dearer than the standard. Unfortunately the average public will buy the cheapest, not the best.

 

[cryptokid]

optimas own! i will never buy a normal flooded cell battery again!

also, exide orbital batteries are basically the same thing as an optima. i would consider ANY battery which is similar to these type of batteries. anything in my opinion is better than a stanrard flooded cell.

with a optima type battery, you never worry about terminal corrosion. you never worry about keeping the cells up on water, you can mount the battery upside down if need be, although i cant think of any reason you would need to do this (maybe a custom application?)

exide orbitals have a really good warranty program, and the exide company is a good company when it comes to the warranty. my exide lost a cell, meaning the thing only put out 10 volts when fully charged, one of the cells quit working. it still started the car ok, it cranked a bit slow but it worked in the meantime. i never had a reciept as i found this battery for free. i called up exide and told them what happend and basically asked them if there is anything they can do for me. they said not to worry about the reciept and gave me a new orbital!

i like a company which looks out for their custimers. i didnt even pay for the battery and they still gave me a free replacment. that to me is alot.

 

[Eddie]

Has Optimal resolved the problem with their high failure rate???? I won't pay 3X cost for a high failure rate battery. Any good wet cell will go 4-5 years and a near zero fail chance.

 

[patel]

any more reply. Because I just bought COSTCO 1000 CAA battery for $60. I can still have a chance to upgrade for OPTIMA. What do you think guys?

COSTCO Kirkland or OPTIMA?

Which is best?

 

[theguru]

Optima Rules!

 

[outrun]

Get the Optima Deep Cycle Yellow Top!

Those do not have the problem.

In fact I can give you all and insider tip on Optimas from Johnson Controls the makers of Die Hard, Optima, AC Delco, and Interstate batteries to name a few:

The "problem" ones are the Red Top Group 75/35!!!

However the Red Top 34/78 and Yellow Top 34/78, Yellow Top 51 & 51R, Marine Group Blue Top 24 & 31 are all PERFECTLY FINE!!!

Odysee are also excellent.

The Yellow Top is my recommendation even if minimal tray fabrication is necessary. The benefits and "high TBN" of sort for deep cycles are make them more than worthwhile for street use.

Fleet, Ambulance, Police use deep cycles for these amp hungry applications.

Only wild card, we need to find out if upgrading circuit breakers to deal with these high amp starter loads?

 

[JustinH]

guys, don't go for the gel cell batteries unless you have a serious stereo, or you are going to something smaller for a race application.

Consumer reports rated motorcraft batteries as being the best and they are. No matter what you vehicle, spend 80 bucks on a motorcraft battery and they last. The oem battery was just replaced last year in my 96 tbird. Hmm, thats 7 years on the factory battery. I did a bad thing and put in an exide, because the dealer wasn't open on saturday and sams club was.

The exide works fine, the car is a street strip car anyway.

 

[Flimflam]

quote:

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Originally posted by outrun:
Get the Optima Deep Cycle Yellow Top!

Those do not have the problem.

In fact I can give you all and insider tip on Optimas from Johnson Controls the makers of Die Hard, Optima, AC Delco, and Interstate batteries to name a few:

The "problem" ones are the Red Top Group 75/35!!!

However the Red Top 34/78 and Yellow Top 34/78, Yellow Top 51 & 51R, Marine Group Blue Top 24 & 31 are all PERFECTLY FINE!!!

Odysee are also excellent......(rest deleted....)

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Thanks a bunch, outrun. I will drop in at my nearby Costco and scope out the yellow and blue top Optima's.