Best single Battery option.

[Wooders]

IMHO I'd spend the extra coin & get gel cell/AGM over a liquid.
Generally they can be mounted more ways, won't leak if you turtle and won't spill if they take a hit.
I;ve had a great run with Optima yellow tops and will be getting another next time.

[grazza]

Some info on the Cat batteries:
http://www.autofieldguide.com/articles/ ... wip11.html

I would have thought a Cat battery would have been a re-badge but I am wrong.

[evanstaniland]

i killed my CAT battery, doesnt charge very well anymore ive had the car on some angles but didnt think it would kill it so quick, its a:

Part # - 9X3404 its a 900CCA Maintenance Free with no caps.

there is no date stickers taken out on the battery so i guess i cold date it with in my 5 years and get a new one!

Evan

[mike]

I've had an incredible run from Optima Batteries
had a yellow top in the zook for at least 5 years now, it sat for over a year and one point and started the car like I'd been drivin it every day. For thos that know the zook it gets caned and has been on it's side a coupla times since fitting the battery.
I now had a red top starter in my Nissan for over two years and it's also been flawless even after a dodgy alt connection drained it a coupla times.
When the Aux battery goes it'll be replaced with a blue top!

[nzdarin]

I think that Optima and Odessey batteries are way over priced to justify. I was looking at the really big Odyssey but ended up fitting a couple of Century model '94' batteries. They are only 2kgs (ea) heavier than the Odyssey but have almost the same reserve and 800cca. The big thing is everyone goes on about cca when as long as you have about 800 to 1000 then you'll never need more. (unless running a tripple motor winch)
To get an Optima to do the same thing I would need 4 of them and that is just a pain in the arse!

I have an Exide battery with the same specs as the Cat that is my 12v supply. That is 4 years old and I use to run 2 of them before I went to the twin motor winch.
FYI I run twin 7.8hp 24v motors on my winch and have run twin 6hp Warn motor with 24v as well. Both of these can run for a long time without the motor running as well.

[cloughy]

Nothing secret about the pricing. Just a few battery retailers get upset at the prices.... and I like to ensure that the courier delivery is also included.
But eg.
Optima D27M (800cca, 66ah, 305x127x225) Blue Top Dual Purpose, RRP $475.00 Offer to Outers @ $388 + freight

PM sent

[brendan_h]

well i coudlnt take it any longer with my battery dieing when i need it most.

i ended up getting a supercharge battery. on of there matainace free cost $168. its was the biggest CCA i can fit into my zook (600cca) all the other brands i see could only put out 400-500cca

[beinthemud]

ring supercharge
i got two 750cca they kick ass

[amtravic1]

Having used Optima batteries for some time and not being really happy with them I have now had a Dekka Intimidator for a few years as a starting battery. I am more impressed with this than the Optima, it is fully sealled and cheaper than the Optima. I got it from Battery World in Wantirna. They cant be too bad there as one of the guys drive a Rangie!

[evanstaniland]

if i was putting dual optimas in my bundy what ones should i be looking at??

2 of the 750CCA yellow tops??blue tops??

it to run winch, lights, start car etc

Evan

[chimpboy]

Separate question, what is the best real world comparator here?

I am tending to think that it's the total AH for each battery or battery pair that really denotes bang for bucks, assuming similar general battery types.

CCA strikes me as a bit marketingish, in that it is not like I ever have to crank my starter for more than five seconds anyway.

[Mudzuki]

Separate question, what is the best real world comparator here?

I am tending to think that it's the total AH for each battery or battery pair that really denotes bang for bucks, assuming similar general battery types.

CCA strikes me as a bit marketingish, in that it is not like I ever have to crank my starter for more than five seconds anyway.

When I looked into it, the three main factors that were listed across the board were CCA (Cold Cranking Amps), Ah (Amp Hours), and RC (Reserve Capacity).

CCA varied, and some were measured at different temps, 0F, 0C, 20C, etc.

Reserve capacity and Amp hours tended to have common factors.

CCA had a lot to do with my choice, as a 6hp winch motor takes a lot of current (amps) to kick along nice. And still had the amp hours to run a fridge too.

[chimpboy]

The Odyssey PC2150 seems appealing.

I found a price at Extreme Batteries in Lilydale - $580 inc.

Went to Battery World to see their price - a princely "about $750."

Does anyone have any other suggested sources?

I finally got around to grabbing a PC2150 today, and did get it from Extreme Batteries, in Lilydale.

I have to give these guys a big thumbs up, they were very helpful and their prices on the Odysseys are so far ahead of anyone else that they are top choice if you are in their neck of the woods.

Plus, they were wiring up an immaculate Bolwell Mark 7 which gives them a lot of cred

These batteries aren't cheap but they have a very good reputation; I will post how it goes but on first installation it is certainly a lot snappier than the old piece of crap that was there before.

[me3@neuralfibre.com]

AGM will handle deep discharges a hell of a lot better than a flooded cell. Also much higher chargee rates.

The Cat is a flooded cell, no idea what they do to make it perform close to an AGM. You would need a complex test to figure out who was lying.

Paul

[weeman]

You could try exide orbitals, similar to optima specs and dry cell,

I have two in my gu and they are both mounted in the orginal spot, side by side.

about $300 for memory about 4 weeks ago

[mike]

I got a 1ooAH full river a month or so ago
N70 size (just)
Ran my 50l waeco for 4 days 3 nights days without ever dropping below 12 volts- very happy

[Justin_M]

You can get upto 900cca from cat in a quite compact size (definatly on the heavy side tho). I cant remember the part numbers but go for the "cat racing" batteries, all maintnance free most without caps.

Ive got optima yellow top tho. One could say that in the event of a rollover the optima would be alot safer.

[vanbox]

Bit of a dig,

But in the market for a high cca single battery. Cat seems to be pretty good. Anyone else got opinions on them? CUrrent prices around Brisbane. And who stocks them in Brisbane.

cheers

PAUL

[DamTriton]

Any of the reputable AGM's would do better in real life...

[nayto]

Which brand AGM's are the good ones? Iv heard of Fullriver but thats about it?

[DamTriton]

Which brand AGM's are the good ones? Iv heard of Fullriver but thats about it?

Optima, Odyssey,

[chimpboy]

Still getting great service from my Odyssey here.

[DamTriton]

Still getting great service from my Odyssey here.

Ditto...

[De-lux]

Here's the big Cat battery I'm halfway through installing in my BJ40...

I'll offer feedback when it's in

[c110gtr]

De-Lux where did you get your Cat one and if you dont mind me asking how much?

Cheers

[De-lux]

I've got a mate that works in the mines... Paid zero for it

[vanbox]

I just bought a cat 1000cca maintainence free battery this afternoon. Won't get chance to fit it until wkend, but looks the goods. $236 retail from cat at archerfield

[zzzz]

Went through the research to buy a replacement for a dead yellow top recently.
Ended up with a Deka and was very impressed after a brutal recovery session a few months ago!!

I winched continuously with my high mount for more than an hour only stopping to reset the plasma rope.
Recovering a mates jeep that was missing a front left tyre and wheel completely...through a creek and then up a very steep muddy section.

Fired up and started the jeep first time after all of that abuse and here I was thinking I most likely killed it the first time out

Code: Select all

Brand     Deka     Optima    Odyssey    Exide
Model     9A78DT     D34/78    PC1500    34XCD
Price     $276      $347     $471       ??
Capacity  55       55         65           50
CCA       750       750      850      750
Length     273mm     254mm    275mm    258mm
Width     175mm     173mm    178mm      178mm
Height     203mm     199mm    197mm    188mm
Weight     19.3kg     19.7kg    24kg    19.5kg

Ordered from Batteries Direct @ 10:23 pm - 6 Apr 2010
Shipped via couriers please @ 3:31 pm - 7 Apr 2010

Delivered the next morning

[TheOtherLeft]

Exide Extreme is 620cca and 80a/h. Full price from K-mart is $210 (I bought one a few weeks ago. N70EXL). If you wait until one of their 25% discount days, you'll get one for $157.50.

Did, happy

Kmart tend to have random 25% off car stuff days without advertising.

Be careful with the KMart batteries, especially the Exide Extremes. As they have low turnover they sit on the shelves for ages. I went to 4 different KMart stores and all of the Extremes were dated last year. The other Exides were all new though.

[chunderlicious]

Bit of a dig,

But in the market for a high cca single battery. Cat seems to be pretty good. Anyone else got opinions on them? CUrrent prices around Brisbane. And who stocks them in Brisbane.

cheers

PAUL

Cat batteries should be available at most truck shops or any hastings deering in queensland. They are large for there output and personally like anything CAT, i just dont trust anything of theirs.