TomSeller
Super Member
I don't know, haven't had one of my "junk" yellow top Optimas fail yet. 6 years on the first.
Lets talk car/truck/tractor batteries ??
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I don't know, haven't had one of my "junk" yellow top Optimas fail yet. 6 years on the first.
Diamondpilot
Super Star Member
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True, but it creates heat and that creates resistance.
Fallon
Super Member
Ohm's law - Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
Less voltage or higher resistance means fewer amps going through the circuit. Fewer watts (amps * volts) in a circuit means less capability to do work in any form (put out light, spin a starter, etc.)
Also when encountering resistance, there is voltage drop. And that dropped voltage is turned into heat. So keep your cables & connections corrosion free. That resistance will affect discharging & charging of the battery. More heat & less voltage. Also batteries need around 13.5v to fully charge. If they don't get this, they won't fully charged, leading to a downward spiral as they start sulfating.
As a battery ages (ages a lot faster the longer it sits at higher levels of discharge) the sulfur from the depleted hydrosulferic battery acid combines with the lead to create insulating (extremely high resistance) lead sulfide crystals that slowly choke the lead plates to death & also physically damage them. The lead sulfate increases the batteries internal chemical resistance to charging & discharging.
Desulfating battery chargers hit the batteries with blasts of electricity tuned to the resonance frequency of lead sulfide crystals. That causes them to shatter & restores some of the batteries performance in many circumstances. It's not snake oil like you may think, but isn't a miracle cure either. It won't fix a completely dead cell or a shorted cell. You can actually make your own desulfator for $10 in electronics or so.
Less voltage or higher resistance means fewer amps going through the circuit. Fewer watts (amps * volts) in a circuit means less capability to do work in any form (put out light, spin a starter, etc.)
Also when encountering resistance, there is voltage drop. And that dropped voltage is turned into heat. So keep your cables & connections corrosion free. That resistance will affect discharging & charging of the battery. More heat & less voltage. Also batteries need around 13.5v to fully charge. If they don't get this, they won't fully charged, leading to a downward spiral as they start sulfating.
As a battery ages (ages a lot faster the longer it sits at higher levels of discharge) the sulfur from the depleted hydrosulferic battery acid combines with the lead to create insulating (extremely high resistance) lead sulfide crystals that slowly choke the lead plates to death & also physically damage them. The lead sulfate increases the batteries internal chemical resistance to charging & discharging.
Desulfating battery chargers hit the batteries with blasts of electricity tuned to the resonance frequency of lead sulfide crystals. That causes them to shatter & restores some of the batteries performance in many circumstances. It's not snake oil like you may think, but isn't a miracle cure either. It won't fix a completely dead cell or a shorted cell. You can actually make your own desulfator for $10 in electronics or so.
Garandman
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Interstate is one of the Johnson Control brands. So is Duralast, which I believe is the AutoZone brand.
Bummer Sears dropped the Platinum, which was a rebranded Odyssey AGM. Great batteries.
We use the Optima Red Top AGM in the WRX, because it is much lighter: 35 lbs.
TemporaryKubotaOwnerMark
Veteran Member
That's right about when they sold the company, IIRC. There's a common theme across many automotive forums: Those who bought before the sale are very happy with them, and scoff at all the complaining, those who bought after the sale are complaining.
I've seen a few from people who bought before, and used to be die-hard (pardon me) Optima fans, but who also bought after the sale, and they are the loudest complainers.
I've never owned one, but I know what I'm seeing on various forums, and it's very consistent.
CADplans
Elite Member
BOMBA DE MANO!!! You bought a box of Mexican hand grenades?
Bruce
Like I said,, I bought EVERYTHING,,, heck it was 15% off,,,
I am waiting for a family get together before we open that box,,, if they are hand grenades,,, :cool2:
CADplans
Elite Member
DANG!!,,, My 650 JD came to me last year with a 6 year old something battery,,, I was gonna treat it to an OPTIMA,,,
NOW, I guess it will get an Exide from TSC,,,
THAT IS,, unless someone has a better recommendation??
P.S.--- we do not have a place that is closer than 60 miles that offers DEKA,, so, they are out,,, also,,,
dickfoster
Elite Member
Lighter means less lead and less stored charge or energy in the same space.
dickfoster
Elite Member
Yeah my recommendation is to buy yourself and Odyssey online. My wife just bought one from BatteryMart.com. It only took a week to get here with free shipping from the other side of the country, delivered to our door. If you're in a big hurry Odysseys are dry cells so they can be shipped by air unlike a wet cell battery. She got a good price too. Maybe about $65 more than an equivalent Interstate but it's also much more battery.
