Battery suggestions please - Toyota GR86, 86, FR-S and Subaru BRZ Forum & Owners Community

allowe · 12-08-2017, 11:13 AM

Today I went to go start my car and it wouldn’t crank over. I had a friend help me boost it and I drove it for 40 minutes. Turned off the car for 5 minutes to fill it up with gas, tried to crank it and again, it wouldn’t turn over. So now I’m shopping for a battery.

What’s the strongest battery I can put into my car? I do have a subwoofer installed and I ordered a vico power discharge pack for my dash cam which will cut out at 12.6 volt so I can start my car.

I’m currently looking at an optima yellow top (AGM). However, I heard that they cannot be charged back to full with the alternator which is a huge issue for me. I’ve also heard people ranting about them being POS.

I’m willing to pay a lot for a really good battery for the peace of mind.

Thanks for reading !

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JazzleSAURUS · 12-08-2017, 12:46 PM

I've had really good luck with the Interstate batteries for a 'regular' battery. Costco has them branded as Kirkland batteries pretty cheap too.

The Optima Blue Tops are deep cycles that are pretty epic, and if you want to shed some weight I really like the Odyssey PC680 and PC925. I've had a PC925 in my Forester XT for 3 years now and it's been great. After three weeks of sitting it still fired up, and it drove my car home 25 minutes when my alternator blew and I had to get it home to swap it. The battery was dead flat when I killed it pulling into my garage, but a night on a battery tender jr and it's been going another year since then with zero issues.

allowe · 12-08-2017, 05:07 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by JazzleSAURUS

I've had really good luck with the Interstate batteries for a 'regular' battery. Costco has them branded as Kirkland batteries pretty cheap too.

The Optima Blue Tops are deep cycles that are pretty epic, and if you want to shed some weight I really like the Odyssey PC680 and PC925. I've had a PC925 in my Forester XT for 3 years now and it's been great. After three weeks of sitting it still fired up, and it drove my car home 25 minutes when my alternator blew and I had to get it home to swap it. The battery was dead flat when I killed it pulling into my garage, but a night on a battery tender jr and it's been going another year since then with zero issues.

Thanks for your input! Blue optimas aren’t made to be used for such applications where it keeps getting discharged regularly.

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sharpsicle · 12-08-2017, 06:01 PM

Red tops are the best choice for heavy electronic load while the car is running, such as subs/amps and whatnot.

Yellow tops are great for people with electronics running when the car is parked (security, dash-cams, and the like). I run yellow personally and have no issues or complaints.

Both batteries will be charged by your alternator with no issue.

allowe · 12-08-2017, 06:37 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by sharpsicle

Red tops are the best choice for heavy electronic load while the car is running, such as subs/amps and whatnot.

Yellow tops are great for people with electronics running when the car is parked (security, dash-cams, and the like). I run yellow personally and have no issues or complaints.

Both batteries will be charged by your alternator with no issue.

I just bought a yellow top. Better be safe than sorry

. Are you running any dash cams? Or anything while it’s parked? Any problems with that battery?.

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guybo · 12-08-2017, 09:17 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by allowe

I do have a subwoofer installed and I ordered a vico power discharge pack for my dash cam which will cut out at 12.6 volt so I can start my car.

You got the best battery IMHO. Otimas are awesome batteries, if a little on the heavy side.

To protect the Optima and your alternator, get a capacitor for your sub. When the bass hits and there's a sudden huge electrical demand, the alternator and battery get a large sudden draw which shortens the lifespan of components. I don't know how big your amp is, but for the cost, a cap is a good investment and you'll have less distortion.

sharpsicle · 12-08-2017, 10:41 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by allowe

I just bought a yellow top. Better be safe than sorry

. Are you running any dash cams? Or anything while it’s parked? Any problems with that battery?.

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Yeah, a DR650S with cooling fans added on. Only problem I had was when they failed to shut off while it was parked for 4 days, but I jumped the car and got it charged back up in no-time.

Quote:

Originally Posted by guybo

To protect the Optima and your alternator, get a capacitor for your sub. When the bass hits and there's a sudden huge electrical demand, the alternator and battery get a large sudden draw which shortens the lifespan of components. I don't know how big your amp is, but for the cost, a cap is a good investment and you'll have less distortion.

This x1000. Can't recommend this enough to anyone with an aftermarket system. If you don't have one already, get a 1 farad right out the gate, you won't regret it.

allowe · 12-09-2017, 01:56 AM

Thanks both for your inputs!

My dash cam is a viofo a119. I heard that the parking system on it kinda sucks, so it’s going to be recording all the time. I will have a battery cut off pack (vicos) and was wondering, what’s the lowest voltage our needs to turn over and start

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JD001 · 12-09-2017, 04:48 AM

If your car is still under warranty you can get the battery replaced by the dealer. I had issues with my original battery, got it exchanged under warranty and (touch wood) not had an issue since (2years in).

ChrisW · 12-10-2017, 12:26 AM

I swapped in an Optima Yellowtop due to running a dashcam. Had it running over 24 hours and still above 12 volts the next day.

JazzleSAURUS · 12-11-2017, 10:15 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by allowe

Thanks for your input! Blue optimas aren’t made to be used for such applications where it keeps getting discharged regularly.

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I've used those to power reverse plows, a whole storm on one charge. I've had issues with lifespan on yellowtops, (sub-1 year,) but red tops have been fine in my experience too.

Good to know the blues are a bit more application specific than I had realized...

Busybee · 10-14-2019, 07:25 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by ChrisW

I swapped in an Optima Yellowtop due to running a dashcam. Had it running over 24 hours and still above 12 volts the next day.

Do you mind asking the model number of the optima yellowtop. Did you do anything extra or just take out the old and put the new one?

thanks

HaXx · 11-24-2019, 11:51 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Busybee

Do you mind asking the model number of the optima yellowtop. Did you do anything extra or just take out the old and put the new one?

thanks

anyone? im gonna need a new battery in the spring, i was thinking id go yellowtop. as much as i want a lith ion, i dont want to mod the battery tray for the smaller unit.

Edit: dont know why i asked, instead of googling optima yellowtop for brz lol. here it is
https://www.optimabatteries.com/en-u...2.0L&find=find

HaXx · 11-25-2019, 12:08 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by solidsnake11

https://www.ebay.com/itm/4-HEADWAY-3...72.m2749.l2649
I used 8 of these and built a battery placed in a plastic ammo box.

what are you, some kind of electrical engineering genius? is that you tony stark? elon musk?

12-08-2017, 11:13 AM	#1
allowe Senior Member Join Date: Sep 2016 Drives: FR-S Location: mississauga Posts: 576 Thanks: 227 Thanked 122 Times in 89 Posts Mentioned: 7 Post(s) Tagged: 0 Thread(s)	Battery suggestions please Today I went to go start my car and it wouldn’t crank over. I had a friend help me boost it and I drove it for 40 minutes. Turned off the car for 5 minutes to fill it up with gas, tried to crank it and again, it wouldn’t turn over. So now I’m shopping for a battery. What’s the strongest battery I can put into my car? I do have a subwoofer installed and I ordered a vico power discharge pack for my dash cam which will cut out at 12.6 volt so I can start my car. I’m currently looking at an optima yellow top (AGM). However, I heard that they cannot be charged back to full with the alternator which is a huge issue for me. I’ve also heard people ranting about them being POS. I’m willing to pay a lot for a really good battery for the peace of mind. Thanks for reading ! Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

12-08-2017, 12:46 PM	#2
JazzleSAURUS Senior Member Join Date: May 2015 Drives: 15 BRZ LTD, 05 FXT Location: Western MA Posts: 1,032 Thanks: 561 Thanked 560 Times in 353 Posts Mentioned: 10 Post(s) Tagged: 0 Thread(s)	I've had really good luck with the Interstate batteries for a 'regular' battery. Costco has them branded as Kirkland batteries pretty cheap too. The Optima Blue Tops are deep cycles that are pretty epic, and if you want to shed some weight I really like the Odyssey PC680 and PC925. I've had a PC925 in my Forester XT for 3 years now and it's been great. After three weeks of sitting it still fired up, and it drove my car home 25 minutes when my alternator blew and I had to get it home to swap it. The battery was dead flat when I killed it pulling into my garage, but a night on a battery tender jr and it's been going another year since then with zero issues. __________________ SOLD: 2015 WRB BRZ Limited ('02 WRX BBS, S-04's, Stoptech Sport pads, MXP SP, AVO drop in filter, Mishimoto Intake tube, decatted header, OFT 93 Stage 2 EL Tune, Kartboy rear shifter bushing, Whiteline transmission and subframe lockout bushings, ST Coilovers, SPC Camber bolts w/smaller crash bolt, SPC LCA's & SPC Toe Arm bushings, Red TOMs, TRD Wing.)

12-09-2017, 01:56 AM	#8
allowe Senior Member Join Date: Sep 2016 Drives: FR-S Location: mississauga Posts: 576 Thanks: 227 Thanked 122 Times in 89 Posts Mentioned: 7 Post(s) Tagged: 0 Thread(s)	Battery suggestions please Thanks both for your inputs! My dash cam is a viofo a119. I heard that the parking system on it kinda sucks, so it’s going to be recording all the time. I will have a battery cut off pack (vicos) and was wondering, what’s the lowest voltage our needs to turn over and start Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

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12-08-2017, 06:01 PM	#4
sharpsicle Certs You Dont Care About Join Date: Mar 2017 Drives: 2013 Galaxy Blue BRZ Location: Milwaukee, WI / Tampa, FL Posts: 230 Thanks: 34 Thanked 131 Times in 80 Posts Mentioned: 1 Post(s) Tagged: 0 Thread(s)	Red tops are the best choice for heavy electronic load while the car is running, such as subs/amps and whatnot. Yellow tops are great for people with electronics running when the car is parked (security, dash-cams, and the like). I run yellow personally and have no issues or complaints. Both batteries will be charged by your alternator with no issue.

12-09-2017, 04:48 AM	#9
JD001 Senior Member Join Date: Apr 2015 Drives: Subaru BRZ Location: UK Posts: 6,261 Thanks: 7,980 Thanked 6,500 Times in 3,638 Posts Mentioned: 26 Post(s) Tagged: 2 Thread(s)	If your car is still under warranty you can get the battery replaced by the dealer. I had issues with my original battery, got it exchanged under warranty and (touch wood) not had an issue since (2years in).

12-10-2017, 12:26 AM	#10
ChrisW Member Join Date: Nov 2017 Drives: Subie blue 2017 limited Location: Texas Posts: 13 Thanks: 0 Thanked 9 Times in 5 Posts Mentioned: 0 Post(s) Tagged: 0 Thread(s)	I swapped in an Optima Yellowtop due to running a dashcam. Had it running over 24 hours and still above 12 volts the next day.

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