It’s important to choose the right one to ensure that it fits securely and provides sufficient power. I just don’t see it being worth it in other cases. Despite their many advantages, AGM batteries, just like other lead-acid batteries, also have their disadvantages. They seem like decent units. Since the sale of the company to Johnson Controls, and the move to Mexico, the quality has gone downhill. Exide Maxxima 900DC . Recently, EverStart Platinum batteries have been used on commercial vehicles and special equipment, and interest in them is constantly growing. Different battery cell technologies also have differing charge requirements. Back in the bad old days of mechanical voltage regulators it was possible to tweak the charge voltage to the right number. Yeah, there are really only a few manufacturers, they just brand them with stickers. They are also very useful if you have a scenario where you need to mount a battery a something other than the standard angle – you can mount them standing on end, at a tortured angle, or whatever suits your need. And there’s that: Optima Red Tops are about $150, roughly $50 more than a conventional battery with a similar warranty. Platinum International offer a wide range of batteries including a complete range of: Start / Stop Enhanced Cyclic Mat (ECM) Start / Stop Plus Absorbent Glass Mat (AGM) batteries. Probably not, but it is good to know that if I do put one in it will probably be the toughest component in the car. I am in this Husky examining a suspicious object when said suspicious object explodes. Lead-acid batteries have an advantage when it comes to cold weather. Plus, after 10 years, the rechargeable batteries might not be able to hold a … I don’t need exceptional vibration resistance so I am not really sure that $150 plus is money well spent for me. Lithium batteries for RVs are expensive in comparison to a sealed lead acid deep-cycle battery but yield greater benefits in other areas. The original conventional battery lasted 3 years. Interesting side note: The Optima red top is OEM equipment in the 2005-2006 Ford GT supercar. CTRL + SPACE for auto-complete. University, Lion will have exclusive rights to all intellectual property I will be in the market for a replacement for my 8 year old Motorcraft battery,  and have started thinking about replacements. The business case for Optima doesn’t seem to work for me. These batteries can be harder to access, so automakers often look for batteries that won't need to be changed as often, which results in a lot of AGM batteries ending up in these applications. UKBatteries Platinum Prestige. Lucas Premium 3. But why did I donate a functional Optima to the LeMons car? When my OEM battery died, I took the plunge on an Optima Yellow. Since platinum is harder, it holds its sharp edge much longer than a conventional spark plug, up to 100,000 miles. During this process if the discharged battery gets very hot or if it is venting (hissing sound from vents) then stop this process immediately. http://www.odysseybattery.com/batteries.html You simply cannot do that anywhere else. Advance Auto Parts has discontinued selling AutoCraft batteries. But the Optima survived the ordeal, where a normal battery would have exploded. Not sure who makes it, but it works well both for starting and deep cycle. The batteries were grey, but I assume them to be based on the Yellow top as this vehicle can be set up with magnetic detector heads that when operating require the alternator to be switched off. I discussed this with an Optima product guru: he suggested the problem is unique to my car. underscored by our relationship with AP Ventures, of which we are a cornerstone Rather than worrying about trickle charging issues I just disconnect the battery when the car is parked. It pays to check. Something that doesn’t get mentioned is the little detail about battery charging voltage. Geek Alert: while conventional lead-acid batteries use (fragile) lead plates suspended in vats of acid, the Optima has lead wound into a spiral tube. The abandonment of America for Mexico is the icing on the cake. An Optima batteries has a much lower self-discharge rate than conventional batteries, but all batteries will lose voltage over time, especially if there are any small electrical drains (alarm clock, stereo memory etc.). In their words: If an OPTIMA is deeply discharged (below 10.5 volts) most basic chargers will not supply a charge. When looking at the Husky, a single seat interrogation vehicle noted to be the most survivable in our arsenal, I saw it was equipped with what appeared to be Optima batteries. It worked until it’s second Houston summer made the car’s voltage fluctuate several tenths in stop/go traffic. Sad to say that I’ve tried to deal with it for a month by driving my car around for several hours till I decided to take it in to Autozone for their free service of recharging the battery. secure future demand for the platinum group metals we mine and pave the way to With our luck, the car’s good vibrations let battery hold down (metal) meet the positive cable. They now sell DieHard batteries instead. platinum group metals is key to ensuring long-term sustainable demand, demand A+ #1, would do business with again. The one in my Suzuki DRZ400S also works great. That’s a 45.5lbs difference per battery or 136.6lbs total weight saving for three batteries, that’s a big savings! I recently bought a yellow-top as a backup power supply (via an inverter) for my house. This doesn’t even take into account the money you spend on electricity to recharge the batteries, which sets back the payback period even further. I’d defiently go to one of those two brands when I need a new battery. I do, however, have friends who swear by them in their collector/fun cars due to reduced risk of acid damage and reportedly lower self-discharge rates. Then they became friends. Are Lithium-ion Batteries Worth the Money? “Our commitment to market development is Fearing more problems (been there, done that), I proactively switched to a conventional battery and netted rock-solid charging after 2+ years of daily commuting. Weighing up the pros and cons of the technological new kid on the block. A key factor why many people consider buying AutoCraft batteries is because Advance Auto Parts installs these batteries free of charge. Optima’s design is inherently stronger, thus more resistant to vibration, especially in off-road applications. Conventional Plus batteries. 4. You can tell by how heavy they are. our broader strategy to bring new technologies to market that will help us To help you decide, we break down key benefits of the Amex Platinum Card so you can add up the perks you would use and decide if the $550 annual fee is worth it for you. Next up is the Battle Born, which is a tried-and-true … Lithium Oxygen and Lithium Sulfur batteries can perform better, by orders of I asked the mechanics about this and they said they were. Is an extended warranty on my Toyota worth it? I usually buy Diehard “Gold” series batteries and they routinely return a 7 to 8 year life. Helpful 4 people found this review helpful of service. Then hook up the charger to either battery, setting the charger at 10 amps. It’s just not worth it in most circumstances. Numax Premium. So far it hasn’t missed a beat with the temperatures dropping and it seems to be worth the price premium in any higher-performance application. Ultimately, rechargeable batteries are going to cost more initially, but the investment will be worth it. Not sure what changed. Platinum has for long been the UK’s number-one selling car battery brand. Full warranty but failed again this winter. The deep cycle batteries for my camper have likewise lived way beyond what is considered normal. Both batteries are installed in a caravan with 100 watt solar panel and system is working well. The Fleetwood 75 is still a steaming pile of HT4100 crap. The trick battery to have these days is the Platinum AGM from Sears. If you need a battery that can withstand a bunch of vibration and keep on working then an AGM battery will do that and the shorter life may be worth it. But if it was me, I wouldn’t carry the line anymore. Write CSS OR LESS and hit save. One of those failed in three weeks and … Longevity is a key advantage of platinum spark plugs. The last thing I need is acid eating away at the juncture. Don’t forget they can survive being shot… several times…. of battery electric vehicles (BEVs) and the use of lithium batteries in other This means it would take nearly seven 18-month periods – or more than 10 years – to get your money’s worth from using rechargeable batteries in your keyboard and mouse. I have killed one Optima though when my Lucas voltage regulator failed. It was a tight fit, but it’s been in the same place ever since. Though I have issues with WalMart overall, there’s something to be said about their ability to warranty a bad battery across the country at damn near any time of the day. I agree with those who say that for normal applications the Optima batteries mostly excel at taking a few more dollars from the buyer’s pocket. Conventional. Modern cars have fixed electronic voltage regulators that are calibrated to the type of battery that was supplied with the car. batteries has the potential to grow to scale on the back of the attractiveness Upon our return to base the list of replacement parts was lengthy. They are also heavier than a standard battery. It’s okay for the AGM battery to get slightly warm during the charging process. The Ionic Litihum Deep Cycle 12V50-EP are about half the size of a some group 31 batteries and only weighs 14.3lbs, compared to the Optima Bluetop D31M that weighs 59.8lbs. However, this is not necessarily a need for most consumers. Also keep in mind an OPTIMA will not recharge properly if treated as a regular flooded or gel battery. This new generation of lightweight, powerful My Interstate battery has been very good, I think their made by the same company as the Optima, but they’re cheaper. Exide Excell. Currently on a rally field without mains electricity supply. They also make WalMart’s NeverStart battery…I mean EverStart. 9. I have also had good experiences with WestCo AGM motorcycle batteries. I splurged on it after seeing how terrible conventional batteries were… basically all day long we had customers coming in and exchanging batteries barely two years old, and the only Optimas we had returned were from kids overloading them with their “systems.” TTAC’s race car for the 24hrs of LeMons uses my leftover Optima “Red Top” battery, doing very well under the rigors of race use. To find out I tested the Optima Red Top and Yellow top batteries in situations ranging from daily-driving to that demolition derby-in-denial, the 24 Hours of LeMons. Using an AGM battery in a car that was designed to charge a lead/calcium plate (maintenance free) battery is marginal – depending on the tolerance of the regulator it might be OK or the battery may never reach full charge – this will greatly shorten its life. I would consider them to be in a class of their own. I see no real advantage for most applications- the OEM Motorcraft in my truck lasted from 1996 to 2006 and I live where the temp goes from 100 F to -20F. Putting an AGM battery in an older car designed for good old lead plate batteries is unlikely to be satisfactory – it’ll never reach full charge and it’ll die at a very young age from sulfation. Unlike the flooded batteries, AGM batteries have a higher production and manufacturing cost. However, if you like the peace of mind that comes from a fixed cost of ownership… They’re AGM just like Optima, but plate instead of spiral wound so there is more plate area for a given battery footprint. The Yellow Top, with its superior “deep cycle” capabilities often retails for an extra $20 over the Red Top. Not to mention it’s smaller and much lighter than my standard battery was. Battery works fine though. MBD - Ulceby, United Kingdom - … AGM batteries do resist such abuse better than flooded lead acid (FLA) cells, but if you take care of it, a FLA will last just as long at less cost. Guess what? For the Costco batteries … magnitude, than the best-in-class Lithium-ion batteries currently on the market Benny Oeyen, Executive Head of Market Development at Anglo American Platinum, comments: Over the course of 5 years, you’ll have saved a minimum of $36. Our range of batteries are engineered to meet and exceed the specification of batteries fitted by the Vehicle Manufacturer. In reality, it works. I feel like even though the price of the batteries may be a little more than other quality brands it's worth the extra expense. In fact, you’ll start seeing significant savings within 2-3 years of making the switch. We weigh the … It is also worth noting that Platinum batteries are 97% recyclable, making it an eco-friendly option as well. applications beyond mobility. To charge the battery, you can wire a second fully charged automotive battery (12+V) to the discharged AGM in parallel (+ to + and – to –). The battery compartment is covered by a heavy steel door, which was blown completely off along with several other heavily armored parts. palladium and platinum mining project in South Africa.”. I crossed these off my list when they moved their manufacturing from Colorado to Mexico. I have no problem spending more for an upgrade provided that in my mind, the upgrade provides a service that is worth having for the application. Michael Jones, CEO of Platinum Group Not to mention providing hours of entertainment to passers by at the 24 Hours of LeMons, thanks to the Yellow Top’s deep reserve against the Limo’s extensive interior lighting, BOSE audio and power-hungry load-leveling suspension. While the free replacement works flawlessly for 2+ years, this was disappointing considering Optima’s premium pricing. For normal charging a relatively low current, such as one or two amps can work well, but when the battery has been deeply discharged, some sulfation of the battery plates may have occurred. Upon returning back to the store to retrieve my battery, it continued to stay charged at less then 30 percent. But yeah the Opitma is on my shopping list for my next “car I plan to keep forever.”. stays over 14v at 2000rpm and over. I’ve had a Red Top in my Saturn SL1 since 2003. $500 worth of batteries that are junk. I only had a couple we couldn’t resuscitate.   I would bash the retailer but it is not their fault. All I do to ‘maintain’ it is make sure I take the beast for a drive every month. developed and will lead all commercialisation efforts. I think it’s Johnson Controls that everyone is searching for. MC Mining secures funding for Phase 1 of Makhado, Cavex retrofits boost recoveries at African mines, Community files court order for to rescind government decision, Kodal Minerals a step closer to securing Bougouni mining licence, Webinar RECORDING: Emerging juniors in the DRC, Sovereign Metals’ Malawi footprint poised to see global dominance, IAMGOLD begins exploration programme at Senala gold project, Message from the desk of Kangra Coal’s COO. You may be right about it not being wirth the money for normal use, but I’m a fan of the Red Top after my last one went 9 years before it finally had trouble holding a charge. But not included on the list was batteries. In most cases these steps will recover the AGM battery. Those are good brands to stick with from my experience. And if i turn them all off really quickly it jumps up to over 15v for a second. (I’ve since replaced the Lucas alternator with a Hitachi and bypassed the external regulator.) But is it pure advertising hyperbole or is there something to the claim? I use an Optima in the CC 1951 Olds. 6. 8. Having owned several AutoCraft batteries in the past, I wanted to review and share my experience with this battery line. My negative experiences with the Red Top aside, this product isn’t a good value for your daily driver. Odyssey PC 925. By Motorcyclist Staff. Of course now that I say this out loud the battery will bite the dust…. I can buiy a good 3 year free replacemnt battery at Meijer for about $75. The Diehard in my first car that now calls my Dad’s car home has been very good as well. I’d save the trouble and stick with the Duralast Batteries which offer either a 2yr/3yr free replacement or if past those years a secondary 7 year replacement at 30% of the cost. The one in my Aprilia Scarabeo 150 scooter is over 5 years old and works like new. Of course, more frequent battery users will see a much bigger savings of nearly $200 in the same time period. I am happy with this battery’s short-term performance: like the race car’s Red Top, this is the ideal partner for a Limo. I just removed the original bat from my 01 Silverado, close to 9 yrs. On sale, Diehards are often well under $100. I <3 my WestCo bike batt. It’s just all the wiring that’s crap. I got it while my Webasto still worked and i had a sub in the boot. Forget the batteries, lets get some some updates on the Fleetwood! "Toyota North America Loses Three Top Executives", "What’s Wrong With This Picture: Lieutenant Captain Obvious Edition", Best Options for Garage Shelving: Leader of the Pack Rat, 2020 Chevrolet Corvette Stingray Review – Affordable Supercar. Known for their longevity and versatility, Platinum batteries incorporate thick-grid technology for increased electrical capacity, improved deep cycle capability, and maximum starting power. Frankly, after many hours of wrenching, I suspect he’s right. I am a U.S. army Combat Engineer. Non-street legal toys and high-current applications are a different story. My time with the Limo proved it. The safety aspects are gravy to me. Batteries come in a variety of sizes. Storing solar energy on site will only become more cost effective when the cost of the home batteries comes down in price and the amount of energy you use increases. Best thing about it (to most people) is the Optima Yellow Top under the hood. The possibility of creating additional demand for platinum and palladium in the battery technology space is an exciting development and of strategic importance to both parties. In my opinion, they are worth it only in the cases were it is usefull to mount it in an unuasuall position like porchespeed said, or crazy things like off road buggies and demolition cars. 7. For the large names different models can be different, even different batch numbers. a more sustainable energy future. These include: 1. They were better years ago. Lithium Batteries Big Bucks, But Are They Worth It? Exide X … Optima says this is a common problem, but it’s the battery charger’s fault. Anglo American Platinum and Platinum Group Metals have launched a new venture, Lion Battery Technologies to accelerate the development of next-generation battery technology using platinum and palladium. But what about the average car of your average TTAC reader? Under the agreement with Florida International High production cost. Whether you got paid for the generation from your PV panels or not, it was always the intention to try and use as much of the generation as you could. Fantastic.   BlueTop batteries in their light grey case are essentially identical to the YellowTop batteries in the fact that they are starting and deep-cycle capable, but with added threaded terminals on top in order to accommodate extra accessories that need to be run. Metals comments: “Developing new applications for My neighbors have an old Die Hard battery that wont die. As such my current job is to drive around Baghdad in different vehicles looking for IED’s. Their system usually charges the battery in about a few hours but I left mine from Saturday till Wednesday to let it have more time on the charger as advised by the store manager, the longer the better. Another advantage of platinum spark plugs is that they run a little hotter, which burns deposits off the spark plug better and helps prevent fouling. It’s also worth mentioning, LiFePO4 batteries are non-toxic, non-contaminating, and contain no rare earth metals, making them an environmentally conscious choice.” Lead acid batteries vs lithium – Photo via Youtube They don’t work in cold temperatures. Are there any other OEM applications for these batteries? or under development. I’ve had a Yellow Top in my Focus for about two years i think. And Optima supplied a Yellow Top for TTAC’s project car, a Cadillac Fleetwood Limo in dire need of a new battery, alternator and so much more. Like all extended warranties, Toyota VSA is an exclusionary coverage program. The new venture, Lion, has entered into an agreement with Florida International University to further advance a research programme to unlock the potential of Lithium Air and Lithium Sulfur battery chemistries to increase their discharge capacities and cyclability. The car’s charging system is in excellent condition, but the battery couldn’t start the car after sitting overnight. Voltage regulator? It still started the truck when I replaced it on general principles. After 2 years it still works great. And the Webasto stopped working. Through all my friends, advertisement and forums have tried using the Optima Battery and it was good for a while and delivered.. what was a very upsetting experience was that I bought this through a Autozone Automotive store back in mid-summer 2008 and it was only this July when I returned from a family event back in Oahu for a month that my battery did not want to start nor retain a charge. There’s two major manufacturers of auto batteries in the USA and only one of them turns out a consistently good product – buyer beware! My experience with Optima red tops is not as good. If you charge at 10 amps, the higher current will help to break up this sulfation. It’s an excellent system that is well worth the money regardless of what sort of batteries … Proof positive was our electrical nightmare: the reinforced battery tray that dislodged itself from the rusty fender. It was the best 6 volt battery I could find. If you can handle the unusual repair of a reliable Toyota model, the answer is no. The design also allows a more pure grade of lead and there’s a fiberglass mat to hold the electrolyte gel against the lead. I bought two for my truck in 2015; they failed in 2017. A fancier charger like a CTEC should work fine, but that’s not all: I had a (daily driven) Optima Red Top fail on the 36th month of its 36 month warranty. Every now and then, there comes along a new technology in the RV industry that has the potential to really shake things up. which will be important to the future success of our large-scale Waterberg This new generation of lightweight, powerful batteries has the potential to grow to scale on the back of the attractiveness of battery electric vehicles (BEVs) and the use of lithium batteries in other applications beyond mobility. AutoCraft Platinum Battery Review.