Battery Options
 

Just wondering, if not keeping the stock battery, which did you choose?

Asking from the perspective where battery is used to run the engine, not which is best to run an audiophile's sound system.

FYI poll's just top results from a google search.

I voted Braille, but I'm using the Big Crank labelled version although they're the same battery along side with the Deka and a few others I believe. Weighs in at 18.0lbs IIRC and I had it sitting around anyways.

Ever since Interstate purchased Optima their batterys arent as good as before. Your just paying for the name. Unless you have an off roading then theirs no point in buying one unless your trying to save some weight or getting it for the looks. Pretty expensive just for a pretty battery if you ask me.

If you just do some everyday driving/track theirs no need for it.

Braille Lithium Ion Batteries 600cca (roughly) at 9lbs = epic win far more than the car requires and really light. but expensive.

Each brand offers many differnt models. If you are polling regarding audio systems I am suggesting type and capacity is more important than brand.

Hawker makes odyssey.

Stock will be fine for a dd. Lightness cost money, how light do you want to go?

Just tried to jump and recharge a Hawker Odyssey PCJ680. Would never want that experience again. They don't stay charged long and don't like being recharged after losing it. Not a daily driver kind of battery in my opinion.

I got a Braille B14115 AGM. 11lbs(5.2kgs), have had it in the car for about 2 months now. No problems what so ever. Haven't found the need to use the battery tender/trickle charger either. As long as your not making short trips you should be fine. Daily commute is 20+mins anyway.

Don't forget Deka, they make the Brailles (but sell much cheaper).

For a DD car you probably don't want to reduce the battery capacity too much beyond stock, switching to AGM and dropping a little bit of capacity should shave a respectable amount of weight off.

Optima batteries suck. I went through 7 Red Tops in 4 years. Went and purchased a cheap autozone one and haven't had an issue since.

That said, I'm keeping the stock battery until it dies. It handles my stereo without an issue.

go with this

http://www.lithiummoto.com/battery-sizing.html

In the summer, run a Lawn and Garden battery. I use them in my WRX that I RallyCross.

thing is they are an AGM battery, same as the optimas. they have to be treated as such. they cannot be charged like a normal battery, never go over 2 amps on the charger and they are very sensitive when near their full charge. Odyssey are very good batteries when properly maintained and can be reliably used in a dd. you just can't go jump and charge one like a normal acid battery, it's normal that it won't fully charge if done normally due to the construction of the battery itself, it takes more time for the chemical reactions to take place.

I'd go with the odyssey if you're looking at a slightly lighter battery with a good amount of reserve and power. if you want super light, the braille looks pretty good for a light battery.

like others said, optima isn't what it used to be.

I've run an Odyssey battery in my MR2 for 4 years now, and I bought it used from a guy who probably had it for 2 or 3 years before me. After 4 winters of sitting in cold storage with no trickle charger, it finally lost its ability to hold a charge. I replaced it for a mere $116 shipped. Definitely worth the weight savings and the longevity over a wet cell battery!

I've replaced more Optimas than I want to think about. And dammit, the BMW I just bought has one in it... grrrr. Unless you're trying to run a ridiculous sound system, don't get an Optima.

There I fixed it for you. Optima uses an arranged glass mat, the same as odyssey, but due to patient issues they package it differently. For a stereo system an odyssey is still the better way to go.

I ran a pc680 for three years, with close to 1000 watts in the car, all year round in east coast Canada winters and the sold it to a racer. He used it for nine more years. After that I used a pc925 which last quit a while to.

Deka. Made in the USA and not marked up like the other brands.

Hahaha, I just lost some weight and kept my stock battery. =P

I get that you can use it and many people have. But there are times when my car sits for days at a time without being driven in the cold and I make lots of short drives where the oil doesn't have time to get to temp and the alt doesn't charge the battery very much. I need my battery to start the car EVERY day no matter what. The Hawker Odyssey line of batteries is VERY good, I'm just unconvinced that they're the best the choice for a DD. Trickle-charging isn't an option (outdoor storage) and it's a hassle. I'm not shit-talking the battery, it just doesn't work my needs. The PC680 also doesn't have the CCA I want; the PC925 is a lot closer in that respect, but doesn't have the weight saving I would want.

true enough. i used to do a lot of 3-5 km drives to get to work. now i moved and am going at least 20 minutes so it's less of an issue for sure. I'll have to look into those lipo batteries.