So this week I noticed the starter feels like dieing. I hate the starter on the 4wd. I have a Mopar High Performance starter that is 4 years old, so it should last longer than that I was thinking. So I decided to clean up all the terminals to double check first. It turns out It's my Optima battery Red top battery. I can't believe it is dead. It lasted me 8 years with heavy to medium load on it. I have 2 Optima batteries installed. One Red top under the hood and One Yellow top under the bed. So I just move up the Yellow top and will buy a new Optima within a week or so.

So what kind of batteries does everyone have? Any one else have Optima? How old is your battery? And what is the longest battery you ever owned?

Just for those who don't know about Optima batteries. Optima batteries are the best batteries you can buy. There is 3 kinds, Red top for high cracking, Yellow top for Deep cycle, High endurance, and a Blue top for marine life and boats. They all are Gel packs. No battery acid EVER! No maintenance. Can mount any where and even upside down. Can take more vibrations and more heat and more use then any other kind of batteries. And recharges way faster then others. I love these batteries.

 

The battery that was in my truck when I bought it died about 2 months later. I really wanted to put in an Optima battery but I didn't have the money at the time. The battery died on my without warning. The battery I got was the absolute biggest Duralast battery they sell at Autozone. So far I've been very happy with it though. Between it and the 2 farad capactior for my sub, my electrical system runs like a top. In fact, I accidentally left my lights on the other night (that is the first time I've ever done that) and my battery was completely dead in the morning. I jumped it, drove it to school, and that afternoon it cranked the truck up like brand new. If it lasts me 4 years I'll be happy, cause it cost about half what one of those Optima Batteries cost, and you said you got 8 years out of it.

Just out of curiosity, Crazy, what is the second battery for?

 

Optima batteries are nice...

 

For me the 2nd battery is a back up battery. After killing my battery listing to the radio after a few hours of use in the middle of no where.

I did a side job of yard work that paid in full for the new 2nd battery. So ever since then I only had the batteries die once. I left the lights on for a long time, don't remember how long.
I once left my lights on for a long time while hiking. Somewhere like 8-10 hours. I went back to the truck and it took a second but it started right up. That is why so if I make a stupid mistake in the middle of no where I am safe. And sometimes I have the radio on for hours and I like the fact that I never have to worry. And before the Optima batteries I was going through a new battery every year or 2. And the Electrical fans draw alot of power.

 

I never knew about Optima batteries. I had a Sears Diehard that was in the truck for about 6 years. I had even left the lights on for 6 hours before and it started right up. This past winter I replaced it.

How are the Optima batteries in the cold? For those of you who have cold. 

If you have the deep cycle under your bed, how is it wired up? For extra stuff?

 

i forget what brand my battery is, acdealco or something of that sort. this one i've had for a year, and it's been in 2 different cars but resides in my dakota now. the first one of this brand i had it lasted a VERY long time. it comes with a 6 year guarantee, and cost me about 72$ (from my dad's shop at cost) retail is about 135

 

For me there is no difference in the cold. The coldest I have had it was probably 10 deg. fahr.

I have it wired up by having the Ground going directly to ground and 2 thick wires that go to the battery positive.

Now you can get a battery Isolator kit that keeps the batteries from draining into another incase of one dies. But unnecessary with new good batteries.

 

When my batteries gave me problems it was somethign like -15 F out. Once you get to as certain point I don't think anythign helps except warming the battery and running a few accesories prior to cranking it over to get the thing working a little.

 

I thought I needed a new battery last spring. Got got a AutoZone battery which has worked good so far. (The few times I've used the truck, haha)

At work, we have diesel-driven power units we use to supply power to aircraft, and most of the time the batteries (2 each) in them are yellow or red top Optimas. I've thought about "trading" lol.

 

When i comes to wiring multiple batteries as long as CCA & CA and specs like that arethe same you can just wire them in parellel and not worry about draining. Now i have done this w/o them being the same i actually used two diff batterys and had no problem but i would reccomend an isolator to properly charge each battery.