My batteries gave up the ghost tonight, so I am in the market for two batteries. What is the best twelve volt batteries currently available that will last and charge quickly?

When I ran a 12 volt system I used two Optima batteries, worked great never a problem. Since then I changed to a single 16 volt XS battery which was about the same costs the two Optima's but the charger was more expensive than a traditional 12 volt charger. The advantage of the XS charger is that it can be used to charge a 12, volt, 14 volt or a 16 volt battery at a 5, 15 or 25 amp rate. I leave the charger on for several hours (at the 5 amp rate) when not racing but never need to use it on race day since I also use a 16 volt alternator.

Just a suggestion;

If you are going to buy two 12 volt batteries this might a good time to consider a single 16, it will crank the engine considerably faster. There is nothing else to change, everything works fine with the 16 volt system. NOTE: If you currently use a 12 volt alternator it can be converted to a 16 system very easily.

What ever you decide to do good luck.

Bob

Take a look at Odyssey Extreme batteries.

I run optima. I had one go bad after 6 seasons and now it's in my trailer running my trailer Jack and lights. They last a long time.

I want to second the Odyssey Extreme batteries. The construction of them is a really good design. My last battery constructed this way lasted 8 years in my car and is now my trailer battery going on 3 years.

No matter what battery you decide on a Battery Tender on it 24-7 when not racing will increase its lifespan a great deal.

Curtis

I'm no longer an optima fan....I have two, a yellow top and a red top. I keep them both fully charged. Both load test well. Both will barely run the tongue jack on my trailer or the winch for my car.....and after one or two uses both are nearly dead enough that they won't do much of anything....there used to be a time that Optima batteries were good.....it's long gone....Odyssey batteries are one of the best if you're going 12v. I made the change to 16v because my new combo leaves me with nowhere to mount my alternator...won't run 12v my car again, and I was never a fan of the 16v before.....

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I'm no longer an optima fan...

I have no direct experience with Optima, but I have heard others express a decline in quality from the original offering.

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Originally posted by Coloradoracer: Both load test well. Both will barely run the tongue jack on my trailer or the winch for my car.....and after one or two uses both are nearly dead enough that they won't do much of anything...

I was told by my Interstate dealer that there is a special procedure to load test an Optima. A bad one will often show good on a conventional load test.

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Originally posted by BD104X:
I was told by my Interstate dealer that there is a special procedure to load test an Optima. A bad one will often show good on a conventional load test.

I have the correct tester, and they both test ok, but surely don't perform as expected!

I had very good results with the Optima batteries for many years but last year I went to the 16 volt XS Power 16 volt battery.

I have a 6 yr old 12v Odyssey battery in my sbc car with a 135 amp alternator. Never charge between rounds at the track. I’ll even run the water pump and fan for up to 4 minutes if I need to drop the engine temps without the aid of a charger.

My battery is always in the car during the off season and I check it monthly for voltage level. Odyssey instructions state “If you have a voltage level of 12.65 volts no need to charge”. I never use battery tenders on it.

If battery meters below 12.65v and I’m going racing, I place it on my 6 amp charger until it reads 100% on the charger meter.

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Originally posted by markemark:
I have a 6 yr old 12v Odyssey battery in my sbc car with a 135 amp alternator. Never charge between rounds at the track. I’ll even run the water pump and fan for up to 4 minutes if I need to drop the engine temps without the aid of a charger.

My battery is always in the car during the off season and I check it monthly for voltage level. Odyssey instructions state “If you have a voltage level of 12.65 volts no need to charge”. I never use battery tenders on it.

If battery meters below 12.65v and I’m going racing, I place it on my 6 amp charger until it reads 100% on the charger meter.

Sure you do, it's just you. LOL

2 Optima Red Top in our dragster

No alternator

Standard charger 20 AMP charge.

No failures in hot lap situations.

On my Optima battery I used a small motorcycle trickle charger and it worked great.

Oddessy Extreme here. Been using them since the 90's. Never left me set in the lanes yet.