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#1 |
Registered User
Join Date: Aug 2006
Location: Redmond, WA
Posts: 6,332
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What's the "right" battery if I might drain it dead?
Some of my vehicles don't get driven very often, and if I forget to put a maintenance charger on it, it's really hard on most batteries to be allowed to drain until dead.
Are there any batteries that are more "tolerant" of that? Of course the solution is not to do it, but if an Optima can take that and laugh it off, it might be worth the price premium. If not, am I as good off grabbing a generic Costco battery as anything else? I'd prefer to buy online if I can get it at a decent price (nothing local to patronize, and if I can avoid an hour round trip, I will!). Thanks, Dave
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1970 GMC Sierra Grande Custom Camper - Built, not Bought 1969 Pontiac 2+2 427/390 4-speed Coupe 1969 Pontiac 2+2 427/390 4-speed Convertible |
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#2 |
Senior Member
![]() Join Date: Jun 2005
Location: Winona Lake, IN
Posts: 6,286
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Re: What's the "right" battery if I might drain it dead?
Marine deep cycle battery.
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70 C/10 SWB 402/TH400/3.73 "The Needy Beast" 200,000 Mile Club Disc Brake Club Owner installed options: Front Sway Bar Power Steering Power Brakes Cigar Lighter Courtesy Lights Deluxe Side Markers Wiper Delay Power windows Power Locks Sniper EFI 2015 Silverado 1500 LS 4.3/6L80/3.23 lowered 2" front & rear |
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#3 |
Registered User
Join Date: Dec 1999
Location: Austin, TX, USA
Posts: 7,721
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Re: What's the "right" battery if I might drain it dead?
Deep cycles most likely to come back from the dead, but I'm an Optima fanboy. I think I have 12 of them, the oldest are 12 years old.
The secret is either a disconnect switch or just disconnecting the batter when you park it. An Optima keeps charge for at least 6 months disconnected.
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44 Willys MB 52 M38A1 64 Corvette Coupe 68 Camaro 'vert LT1 & TH700 69 Z/28 355 12.6's @110 69 Chevy Short Step 4 1/2"/7" drop 72 Jimmy 4WD 4spd 4" & 35's 02 GMC 2500HD 4x4 Duramax |
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#4 |
Senior Member
![]() Join Date: Jan 2001
Location: Orem, Utah
Posts: 7,921
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Re: What's the "right" battery if I might drain it dead?
Marine or RV deep cycle batteries will tolerate many more complete discharges than ordinary batteries.
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#5 |
Old member
Join Date: Jan 2002
Location: Liberty, & Garden City S.C. , U.S.
Posts: 19,936
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I have had good luck with the Odyssey batteries. They will hold a charge for 12 months after a full charge. So they say.
Phenomenal starting power and massive deep cycle reserve power in one battery! Some batteries provide enormous cranking power. Others, deep cycle reserve power. The revolutionary ODYSSEY® battery is designed to do both. How is this possible? The answer begins with flat plates made of 99.99% pure lead - not lead alloy. Pure lead plates can be made thinner, so we can fit more of them in the battery. More ODYSSEY battery plates mean more plate surface area. And that means more power – twice as much as conventional batteries. In fact, ODYSSEY batteries are capable of providing engine cranking pulses in excess of 2250 amps for 5 seconds – double to triple that of equally sized conventional batteries, even at very low temperatures. And they can handle 400 charge-discharge cycles to 80% depth of discharge. This extreme combination of power and performance makes ODYSSEY batteries perfect for a range of applications, including automotive/LTV, marine, commercial, and powersports. ![]() http://www.odysseybattery.com/extreme_batteries.aspx
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1971 LWB Custom, 6.0LS & 4L80E, Speedhut.com GPS speedometer & gauges with A/C. 20" Boss 338's Grey wheels 4 wheel disc brakes. My Driver Seeing the USA in a 71 ![]() Upstate SC GM Truck Club 2013,14 and 2016 Hot Rod Pour Tour http://upstategmtrucks.com/ Get out and drive the truck this summer and have some fun! It sucks not being able to hear! LWB trucks rule, if you don't think so measure your SWB! After talking to tech support at Air Lift I have found out that the kit I need is 60811. Per the measurements I gave them. Ride height of truck inside spring and inside diameter of springs. |
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#6 |
Registered User
![]() Join Date: Jan 2013
Location: portland oregon
Posts: 156
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Re: What's the "right" battery if I might drain it dead?
Just get a couple batteries and swap them in when needed.
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#7 |
Registered User
Join Date: Apr 2012
Location: Covington, GA
Posts: 386
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Re: What's the "right" battery if I might drain it dead?
My experience with Optimas (at least the regular red top - I suspect yellow top versions are different) is that they're less tolerant of being drained than a conventional battery. They're more of an impact / vibration resistant unit but their construction doesn't help with being deep cycled. However, marine deep cycle batteries are meant to stand up to this.
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Matt Cramer 1972 Chevy C10 - 4.8 swap, long bed, and maybe one dent free body panel somewhere - SOLD 4.8 LS build thread |
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#8 |
2WD Jimmy
![]() Join Date: Mar 2005
Location: Davis County, Utah
Posts: 2,564
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Re: What's the "right" battery if I might drain it dead?
[QUOTE=Andy4639;7676920][B][COLOR="Red"]I have had good luck with the Odyssey batteries. They will hold a charge for 12 months after a full charge.
/QUOTE] Yes, but they aint cheap. Don't get me wrong.. I own one. [QUOTE=Matt Cramer;7677014]My experience with Optimas (at least the regular red top - I suspect yellow top versions are different) is that they're less tolerant of being drained than a conventional battery. Its not that they are less tolerant, its just that the charger won't sense them if they re completely discharged. It takes an Optima charger to reawaken them. |
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#9 |
Registered User
Join Date: Jul 2010
Location: MD
Posts: 1,937
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Another vote for Optima blue top deep cycle marine. Have two that are approaching 14 years old and still going strong.
The pamphlet that came with them said no high amp charging. So these have only seen the 2-amp setting on my chargers. Which may have something to do with their longevity.
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1969 c-10 Step Side Long Bed. I-6 250cid = ![]() |
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#10 |
Registered User
Join Date: Feb 2016
Location: Westchester, NY
Posts: 602
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Re: What's the "right" battery if I might drain it dead?
Well you can't just throw a deep cycle battery into a normal vehicle because of charging incompatibility issues, or have I been wrong all of these years?
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1968 C-10 Suburban - Original 396/TH400 2002 Transam WS6 - M6 - Black/Black - Evil Garage Queen 2000 Silverado - DD - Small lift+Body lift+35" Duratracs+4.88's + Eaton TruTrac - Monster Truck 2010 Cadillac CTS Wagon Sport - Wife's DD and the only classy car we have. |
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#11 |
Registered User
![]() Join Date: Jul 2015
Location: 2nd left past the stump on a dirt road.
Posts: 2,629
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Re: What's the "right" battery if I might drain it dead?
Nice Andy, I know what to pit that Optima battery against when I add the additional battery tray!
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#12 |
Registered User
Join Date: Feb 2012
Location: Ruskin Florida
Posts: 4,561
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Re: What's the "right" battery if I might drain it dead?
I have both An Optima Yellow Top and deep cycles. My yellow is an 07 and my deeps are Walmart $60 cheapo's. My yellow just keeps on trucking but when I replace others in the fleet I go Cheapo Wally world. So far one has lasted past the 1 year warranty by two years. I run duals in my avatar and throw a trickle charger on the sometimes when i think about it but they keep on working So I am happy. Really surprised at them. I never run them til they are dead but still.
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#13 | |
Senior Member
![]() Join Date: Jan 2001
Location: Orem, Utah
Posts: 7,921
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Re: What's the "right" battery if I might drain it dead?
Quote:
I don't know if the same is true about marine deep cycle batteries because I don't own one. |
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#14 |
Registered User
Join Date: Feb 2012
Location: Ruskin Florida
Posts: 4,561
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Re: What's the "right" battery if I might drain it dead?
Both in my truck are marine deep cycles from Wally World and they have been fine for 3 years.
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70 swb 4x4 406sbc 700r4 203/205 d60/14blt locker yadda yadda http://67-72chevytrucks.com/vboard/s...88#post6935688 Yeller 72 Blazer 2wd conversion project "No Daggum Money" http://67-72chevytrucks.com/vboard/s...d.php?t=550804 LS1-T56 3.73 LSD super budget build Blanco-2014 Sierra SWB https://67-72chevytrucks.com/vboard/...d.php?t=810350 |
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#15 |
Registered User
Join Date: Dec 1999
Location: Austin, TX, USA
Posts: 7,721
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Re: What's the "right" battery if I might drain it dead?
Starting and deep cycle are the two main battery types. Deep cycle marine usually means the type of terminals it has. Regular lead top and 5/16" studs.
But Gel type batteries are just better IME than lead acid batteries. And if you will NOT run them down when you aren't using them (ie disconnect it when it sits) they stay charged and last a LONG time in my experience. I just took the 12 year old Optimas out of my Duramax truck and retired them to a couple of square body farm trucks. If they fail next week I got my $ worth but I'm betting they go a couple more years. In 2004 I was getting Optimas for $90 at Sam's Club. That ship has sailed but I put the same style Red Top back in both positiions. If you do discharge an Optima fully, they can likely be restored, but NOT with a conventional battery charger. If you use Google to inquire about how to re-charge a fully drained Optima you can see how to do it with a regular charger and a battery. Or an AGM specific charger.
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44 Willys MB 52 M38A1 64 Corvette Coupe 68 Camaro 'vert LT1 & TH700 69 Z/28 355 12.6's @110 69 Chevy Short Step 4 1/2"/7" drop 72 Jimmy 4WD 4spd 4" & 35's 02 GMC 2500HD 4x4 Duramax |
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#16 | |
Old member
Join Date: Jan 2002
Location: Liberty, & Garden City S.C. , U.S.
Posts: 19,936
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[quote=Tom Vogel;7677021][QUOTE=Andy4639;7676920][B][COLOR="Red"]I have had good luck with the Odyssey batteries. They will hold a charge for 12 months after a full charge.
/QUOTE] Yes, but they aint cheap. Don't get me wrong.. I own one. Quote:
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__________________
1971 LWB Custom, 6.0LS & 4L80E, Speedhut.com GPS speedometer & gauges with A/C. 20" Boss 338's Grey wheels 4 wheel disc brakes. My Driver Seeing the USA in a 71 ![]() Upstate SC GM Truck Club 2013,14 and 2016 Hot Rod Pour Tour http://upstategmtrucks.com/ Get out and drive the truck this summer and have some fun! It sucks not being able to hear! LWB trucks rule, if you don't think so measure your SWB! After talking to tech support at Air Lift I have found out that the kit I need is 60811. Per the measurements I gave them. Ride height of truck inside spring and inside diameter of springs. |
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#17 |
Registered User
Join Date: May 2016
Location: Henderson NC
Posts: 975
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Re: What's the "right" battery if I might drain it dead?
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#18 |
Registered User
Join Date: Jul 2010
Location: MD
Posts: 1,937
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Re: What's the "right" battery if I might drain it dead?
Their website states the deep cycle are dual-purpose. For both starting and high accessory loads. Vibration is the enemy where marine batteries are concerned. Same with off road vehicles. Reason I went with Optima in the first place. My old Cj7 was eating batteries for breakfast and had zero troubles after going with the Blue top. Wanted the extra screw terminals for accessories. Price was so good I got a second to use in my GTO.
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