The Stovebolt Site Forums The Shop Area The Electrical Bay Best 12V battery for the buck???

Need some opinions for my best choice on a 12 volt battery. I've changed all my old cars over to 12 volt, so when a dead one turns up I always have a donor. Just pulled the Optima out of the 46 on turkey day to stick in my 02 pickup. Now reading the Optima is no longer what it used to be.
Anyone???
Thanks
Jim

Where'd you read that? I've had no problems with my 6v Optima.

I think batteries IMO are a shot in the dark. I bought a cheapie for my Malibu and just recently saw he warranty and its 7 years old and going strong. I also have had a 12 volt NAPA cheapie in my 49 Chevy for more than 10 years. On the other hand a friend and a neighbour both put new AC Delco batteries in there vehicles about 3 years back and both need replacing.

Thanks for the feeback, I searched this site for Optima and found the negative comments. May just shop around.
Thanks

It is true, there have been problems with the quality of Optima batteries recently. Especially since JCI bought them out and moved production South of the Border. I've had 3 of them in my truck just over the last 6 years. First one died on me after about 4 years, and the company I got it from had quit selling them (Sears Auto), most likely due to warrantee issues. I looked into getting them to warrantee it for the remainder, but with shipping, the cost was only about $20 away from a straight up purchase of a new one. The second one came from 'Zone, and I got about a year out of it. So far, the current one, which was the warrantee replacement of the 'Zone battery, has held up fine.
I will admit, next battery I put in it will most likely not be an Optima.

I've ran the optima but had free replacement after almost 3 years. That said the replacement is doing well. However, I run the DieHard in my 37. Its been in it for about 4 years now and never any problems. It sits and sits but has never let me down anytime I'm ready to do. I may do DieHards in the rest of my vehicles?

I run Exide Batts in all my vehicles here in central PA, the "WINTER ARMPIT" of the world an have found none better.
just my 2 pennies.
Tim

Just a tip about storing batteries. Never leave them on a cement floor. Put them on a piece of wood or cardboard. The cement does something to the battery which I forget. Somebody here will know.

Re: story auto battery on cement floor

Most likely it could result in a drain to ground, if you have a dirty battery?

This clarifies nothing.

Maybe this answers the question?

????

This is another 'Law' that my father lived by, we didn't dare challenge Dad. So I'm still not storing batteries on the concrete floor.

Where is the coldest spot in the garage? That's right the concrete floor, if you don't want your battery to freeze set it on a wood block and make grandpa happy.

Last winter, I inadvertently left two Optima 6v batteries on my unheated garage floor (I do not recommend doing this). We usually have two weeks in Jan/Feb of days in which the high reaches 0-5 F). I fully expected problems in March when I tried to start my Suburban on a 40 F afternoon. Without even charging the battery, the engine started right up. A few weeks later, I took the other uncharged 6v Optima to my COE and it started right up. Maybe this has something to do with those "problematic" Optima batteries or just dumb luck.

Still, I normally take batteries out of all my hibernating vehicles and store them off the ground in a warm room (better safe than sorry).

By the way, does anyone know if there is an Optima 12v lawn/garden tractor battery?

Its been covered here

https://www.stovebolt.com/ubbthreads/ubbthreads.php?ubb=showflat&Number=592285

Tim, why put them in hibernation? There is nothing better than a run in town on a sunday afternoon in the winter....makes folks look at you like your crazy .... but I do see you live in NY and it gets COLDER up there....or so I have heard! It was 32 here this morning and I'm freezing on the school bus. LOL

Alvin,

The main reason the trucks go into hibernation is because of the problems resulting from the sanding and salting of the roads.

Also, I have neglected to make the heater functional (as a deterrent to driving in the winter).

32 for you at this time of year must be a rarity? We are in the 30s today (50s yesterday - very nice).

I thought we had outgrown that old myth about batteries sitting on concrete. How cold is the battery tray when it's 10 degrees out ?
I have found regardless of what brand the battery is, the best one for longevity is the one which is used frequently and maintained properly. I have always gotten more years from a battery in a vehicle that I use verses the ones which sit a bunch between use.
I've had the big name batteries and the ones from Wally World and see the same results.

Take care of your battery and it takes care of you is what I think.
I've had some bad batteries from the git go but it doesn't seem to point to any one brand.

Dan

I have been using the Max batteries from Wal-Mart - 3 yr replacement, and always a walmart around when you are traveling. But I have been interested to try out an interstate battery. Not cause of anything spectacular about the battery, but I recently read an article about the company and they are a family owned, very good christian business. I like to do business with good folks, even though it may not always be the absolute cheapest.

Batteries self-discharging on concrete- - - - - -that's as out of date as "keep it running while adding water to the radiator". The radiator advice went obsolete in 1928 when they put a water pump on the Model A, and the switch from wood case batteries to hard rubber in the mid-1930's stopped the self-discharge problems on concrete. Today's plastic battery cases have such a high dielectric rating the battery could sit half-submerged in water and not self-discharge. BTW, discharged batteries freeze. A fully-charged battery will go to many degrees sub-zero with no freezing concerns. If a battery is stored in cold conditions, it does need to be trickle-charged occasionally, but that's also true in hot conditions.
Jerry

Simple cure for all these miths is a "Battery Tender" ...I have them on my AD,motorcycles,boat and even my riding lawn mower.
They all will turn over just fine even after months of storage and battery replacement is next to nill.
THEY JUST PLAIN WORK.
my Bass Rig is stored inside under roof but not heated storage every winter just plugged in to the battery maintainers, and as long as the batts are charged and kept that way they cannot freeze or go bad.
just my 2 pennies.
Tim

I've had batteries from the same manufacturer last 7 years, or die the next day (went through 3 in a week once). Seems to be a hit or miss type thing really.
Altho it's been more hit than miss, I try to make it a point to buy from places that back the products they sell so I dont have to worry about it if it is a miss.

I couldn't see the point in paying the money for an Optima when I could get the same technology from a Napa knock-off at a more tollerable price. Been in the beast since I bought it, and even after not getting used often & even sitting for a few months it's worked just fine.

Couldn't have said it better myself, Jerry. Exellent explaination.
Just a quick word about Interstate. While a good company, they do not actually manufactur their batteries. They are manufactured by Johnson Controls, as are many fo the other big names out there, like Die-Hard, Farm&Fleet, Auto Zone, Advance Auto, and the OEM batteries in many Ford and Chrysler products. Not saying it's a bad product, only that they don't actually make them.
BTW, Wal-Marts batteries are made by Exide, as are the ones from Napa.

[/quote]

Just a quick word about Interstate. While a good company, they do not actually manufactur their batteries. They are manufactured by Johnson Controls, as are many fo the other big names out there, like Die-Hard, Farm&Fleet, Auto Zone, Advance Auto, and the OEM batteries in many Ford and Chrysler products. Not saying it's a bad product, only that they don't actually make them.
BTW, Wal-Marts batteries are made by Exide, as are the ones from Napa. [/quote]

Most folks would be surprised at how many products are not manufactured by their source companies. That includes things from bread to spray paint. The fact that some other manufacturer makes the product does not make it an inferior product. Each product is produced to the standards and requirements of the company that orders the product. It may be cheaply made or of high quality, whatever is required.

I've had the best and most expensive batteries take a crap. I have had the cheapest batteries last for years. I'm not convinced there is a whole lot of difference in a lead/acid batteries.

I think some of the keys to good battery life are;
1. Keep the battery and the terminals clean.
2. Keep the acid/water levels up. (At least check the levels before charging or storing on a battery tender)
3. Keep the battery in service. Use it.
4. Have battery tenders on them when not in use.
5. Keep the battery tied down when in use. Don't let them bounce around in the battery holder.

We've had very little luck with any batteries lasting lately in our farm tractors and trucks, so we've been getting from Wal-Mart. They're cheaper than most batteries, they last just as long if not longer, and when they die, you don't even need a receipt to get a replacement. Just my thoughts on the matter.

We did the WalMart thing on Dad's motorhome for a while, but replacing batteries twice a year got to be more hassle than it was worth. When it was only once a year, it was better, but lately, Wally World batteries have become too junky to even think about!
Jerry

I still have the IRWIPI battery (February 2007) from WalMart.

Guys, use a Battery Tender on the vehicles you don't drive regularly. It will save you a lot of time. I use them on the 4 wheelers, tractor and all cars except the daily driver. Nothing is more frustrating than hearing that "click" when you want it to go and it won't.

Hank

Hank,
Is a "tender" a trickle batt charger?

A "Battery Tender" is different from a traditional trickle charger.

The "Battery Tender" brand has 6v and 12v products.

There's also the BatteryMINDer, a 12VDC 15 Watt float/tender that is solar. No power cords to mess with if you dont have garage/barn space.

Mythbusters did a show about batteries on a concrete floor and determined it was a myth.

About fifty years ago the owner of the filling where I was working had been a motor pool mechanic in WW2. He claimed that the Army spread the story that a battery would discharge if sitting on a concrete floor in order to prevent battery acid spills on the concrete. The Army's theory was that the mechanics didn't care if they spilled acid on the concrete, but the mechanics did not want their batteries to discharge.

Hoyt

Like many of you I have used verious brands of batteries over the years. I must agree that Wal-Mart batteries are crap. I have never gotton more than three years out of one in a daily driver. I bought a wal-mart Deep Cell four years ago and and only used it twice. I have used a tender on it and now it will only charge to a 65% rating. I completely drained it with a trolling motor and attempted to recharge on a low setting, same thing 65% I started buying Die-Hards from sears and have alway's gotten the full month plus rating from them. I know they are not made by sears, however I like doing buisness there. I really have no complaints about them. I plan to replace the batteries in my 07 Diesel with them.