Have a 3.5 year old Optima that I no longer trust. It takes hours and hours to charge after racing and sometimes never indicates fully charged. So far it’s started the car fine but I want to swap it out before it doesn’t.

I’ve searched the forum and older posts show a lot of likes for Odyssey, but that was from 2018 so I thought I’d start a new post.

What do you like for 12v batteries these days? Not looking for a tiny one to save weight, just a reliable battery for a bracket car.

My first Odyssey battery 34/78 PC1500DT was purchased in July 2012 and replaced in August 2021. It was still working in the car (14-1 sbc) and I replaced with exact same just because. Gave old one to a friend that used it for a trailer winch battery.

Btw…. I never charge that battery at the track.. NEVER! Rarely charge at home unless it reads under 12.65v resting. I fully charge prior to putting car away for 5 winter months and never sees a charger during that period. It measured 12.72 volts in April this year when the car came out of the trailer.

Walmart sells batteries, seem to work fine in my car. I do have an alternator on the car and I use a charger when running the fan to cool.

I have run nothing but Group 31 batteries, left on a maintainer off season and through the week.
Original 63 amp alternator, converted to one wire, needs no charging between rounds.
NAPA (East Penn / Deka)

Put an alternator in the car.

Bob

My Optimas are still staying strong for 5 years & I change them out because I feel guilty. They usually go to somebody for their trailer winch. My last one sits with a battery tender, collecting dust. It might find a home sometime.

If I was to change batteries, it would be a 12v Odyssey.

2BKING

Odyssey is the way to go. Look at their construction. I have twice run one down to less than 6 volts and they came back. I do keep a maintainer on them always when not racing and I also run an alternator but they are top of the heap in my opinion. I haven’t had one last less than 6 years.

quote:

Originally posted by markemark:


Btw…. I never charge that battery at the track.. NEVER! Rarely charge at home unless it reads under 12.65v resting. I fully charge prior to putting car away for 5 winter months and never sees a charger during that period. It measured 12.72 volts in April this year when the car came out of the trailer.

I'm the same except my batteries are charged via solar panel on top of the trailer roof, fed through a battery tender solar charge controller. I rarely charge at the track, we have alternators on both cars and mechanical fuel pumps. I'll throw a charger on it towards the end of a multiple day event or if I go a lot of rounds while the fan is on cooling it, more for cheap insurance than I think I actually need to....

I have had very good results with the red top Optima batteries. Like B King at some point I feel guilty and will replace with a new one and use the old one for trailer. Any battery if you run it low enough will hurt it and they never fully recover.

I'm with Eman, Everstart Group 27 in the tow truck and the racecar means I always have spares.

I've had really good luck with duralast agm and west marine group 34 batteries.

Seeing as how budget dictates what I buy, I did run optimas years ago when I was working, but since, I run all DC batteries in everything. I run 4-29's in the golf cart, 2-27's in the race cars, 24's in the tow vehicles, trailers, and personal vehicles. The 29's at $100 each beats the $1200 it would cost for the cart, and takes up less room. I can buy 3 deep cycle for what 1 optima costs.. and like Phil said, got spares.

I'm in the camp with Eman and Phil.
Walmart Everstart Maxx. My battery box in the trunk has plenty of room, so I use the big Group 65. 850 Cold Cranking Amps, 150 Minute Reserve capacity. $139 with a 3 year full replacement warranty. 6.50 heavy door car launched with Transbrake, no issues at all.
I know WM does not make their own batteries, I wonder who makes these for them.
This is the 2nd one, the first one was used for 3.5 seasons, still worked great, gave it to my son for his Chevelle. I use a pair of the WM H6 Everstart Maxx batteries in the Duramax tow vehicle, 750 CCA. Replaced them last fall, first pair lasted 5 years. And since the 65 and the H6 are both Top-Post, in a pinch I could pull one out of the truck if needed at the track for the race car.

This was a recent group 65 review. The Odyssey battery in this 65 group is from their Performance series. I use the Odyssey Extreme series that rated 99 in the 35 series tests.

Mark I also use the Extreme series. I should have added that to my earlier comment.

quote:

Originally posted by CURTIS REED: I also use the Extreme series

Excellent Choice

I used the Odyssey PC1200 for years in my cars hard starting 14:1 on alky. A few years back I couldn't get one and tried a XS Power D1200.

I think its the exact same battery with different color plastic and stickers lol.

Works just as good.