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#1 2005-10-24 10:43 am
- Big G
- Member
- From: Auburn, ME
- Registered: 2002-01-25
- Posts: 182
Car Battery Questions
I am hoping there are enough car buff macaddicts here to help me. As the Maine winter is fast apporaching, I am in need of a new battery. I was wondering if anyone could tell me what the best battery between these two:
Optima Red Top
or
Die Hard Gold
I want a battery that will be able to handle the winter better then my current battery, and that might prevent my sound system from dimming my headlings.
Thanks,
Big G
Last edited by Big G (2005-10-24 10:44 am)
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#2 2005-10-24 10:51 am
Re: Car Battery Questions
Look at the cold cranking amps (CCA) rating, this will determine how much current the battery is capable of supplying when the car starts up.
As far as the sound system dimming the lights... You may want to get a second battery for this (like a deep-cycle marine battery) or a supercapacitor. Either one could be hooked up in the trunk, close to the amplifier. I'd recommend a supercapacitor, it would be lighter and less troublesome than a whole second battery.
I don't know how loud you've got that thing, but if you're dimming the lights then you are probably damaging the battery...
"I'd rather be told, 'Have a nice day.' by someone who doesn't mean it, than 'F*** you!' by someone who does." - Lewis Black
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#3 2005-10-24 11:04 am
- Big G
- Member
- From: Auburn, ME
- Registered: 2002-01-25
- Posts: 182
Re: Car Battery Questions
It's not that it's overly loud it's that the battery is horrible - it has around 300 CCA, and is 3 years old. I only have a 775 watt amp hooked up to 2 12" subs so it shouldn't be to taxing for a good battery. If i had a more extreme set up (another amp for the speakers) I would definalty get a 2nd battery for the amps.
The CCA rating for the Die Hard is 900 and the Optima is 800. I hear alot good about Optimas which is why I am leaning towards them over a Die Hard, but wanted to know what makes them worth the extra money.
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#4 2005-10-24 11:11 am
Re: Car Battery Questions
jeff-o wrote:
Look at the cold cranking amps (CCA) rating, this will determine how much current the battery is capable of supplying when the car starts up.
Ditto that. --It's the only thing I look at in a car battery.
Make sure to wear old clothes when handling the old battery and the new one. Battery acid has ruined many a beloved t-shirt.
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#5 2005-10-24 11:49 am
Re: Car Battery Questions
Big G wrote:
It's not that it's overly loud it's that the battery is horrible - it has around 300 CCA, and is 3 years old. I only have a 775 watt amp hooked up to 2 12" subs so it shouldn't be to taxing for a good battery. If i had a more extreme set up (another amp for the speakers) I would definalty get a 2nd battery for the amps.
The CCA rating for the Die Hard is 900 and the Optima is 800. I hear alot good about Optimas which is why I am leaning towards them over a Die Hard, but wanted to know what makes them worth the extra money.
300 CCA, running a 775W amp??? Cripes, I'm surprised it lasted this long!! What's the price difference between those two batteries? If it's more than $40, then just get the Optima. The upgrade to a better battery may be enough to solve your headlight-dimming problem, but I'd still recommend a supercap in there to help run those dual 12" subs.
300 CCA... *shakes head*
"I'd rather be told, 'Have a nice day.' by someone who doesn't mean it, than 'F*** you!' by someone who does." - Lewis Black
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#6 2005-10-24 11:55 am
- Big G
- Member
- From: Auburn, ME
- Registered: 2002-01-25
- Posts: 182
Re: Car Battery Questions
Yeah, the car seriously struggles during the winter with this battery.
The Die Hard is around $60 - $75 I believe and I can get the optima for $100. I keep hearing mixed reviews about cap's. Some say they help, others say they don't do a thing .....
What is it that would make an optima worth the extra money?
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#7 2005-10-24 12:01 pm
Re: Car Battery Questions
I would get the DieHard battery myself.
Here is a site that explains about the optima.
http://www.dcbattery.com/optima2.html
iMac C2D, 2.0 GHz, OS X 10.6.2, 2.5 GB Ram.
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#8 2005-10-24 12:46 pm
Re: Car Battery Questions
arkayn wrote:
I would get the DieHard battery myself.
Here is a site that explains about the optima.
http://www.dcbattery.com/optima2.html
That's a pretty good site. I've read similar thing on other websites, while doing research on the ideal battery for an electric vehicle. There is quite a price difference, so it's up to you whether you think it would be a worthwhile upgrade.
As for caps helping your sound system... Just make sure you get a big enough capacitor (or capacitors) or they indeed will do nothing. The supercapacitor basically smooths out the "bumps" being induced on the electrical system by the amplifier.
If you don't have a big enough capacitor, it's like riding in a car with insufficient suspension. It'll take care of the small cracks in the road, but if you hit a pothole then you'll feel it as if you didn't have shocks at all.
I have no idea how much these caps cost, so I would definitely recommend researching prices on them first. It may actually be cheaper to hook up a second battery. You may also find that the bigger battery (especially the optima) is able to handle the current drain of the audio system all on its own.
"I'd rather be told, 'Have a nice day.' by someone who doesn't mean it, than 'F*** you!' by someone who does." - Lewis Black
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#9 2005-10-24 2:57 pm
- Deadmanwalking
- Not Dead Yet
- From: Kansas City
- Registered: 2001-04-12
- Posts: 2682
Re: Car Battery Questions
Big G wrote:
It's not that it's overly loud it's that the battery is horrible - it has around 300 CCA, and is 3 years old. I only have a 775 watt amp hooked up to 2 12" subs so it shouldn't be to taxing for a good battery. If i had a more extreme set up (another amp for the speakers) I would definalty get a 2nd battery for the amps.
The CCA rating for the Die Hard is 900 and the Optima is 800. I hear alot good about Optimas which is why I am leaning towards them over a Die Hard, but wanted to know what makes them worth the extra money.
I'm running 2 12" subs and 2 amps( 600.2& 400.4) off a single battery.
"I told you 158 times I cannot stand little notes on my pillow. 'We are out of corn flakes, F.U.' It took me three hours to figure out F.U. was Felix Unger."- Walter Matthau, The Odd Couple
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#10 2005-10-24 3:03 pm
- dv
- Negusa Negest
- Moderator
- From: Minneapolis, MN
- Registered: 1999-08-30
- Posts: 18388
Re: Car Battery Questions
Iirc, the crappy battery in my Saturn is a 490 CCA battery. It was the cheapest one KMart had. But, ummm, stock sound system.
"Now commences the process of cutting off the head, which generally takes from an hour to an hour and a half by an expert workman with a sharp blade." -Reuben Delano, Wanderings and Adventures
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#11 2005-10-24 4:53 pm
- Orion
- Bovi-sapiens
- From: America's Dairyland
- Registered: 2000-09-12
- Posts: 2990
Re: Car Battery Questions
When my friend set up a 15" sub and 700 watt amp in my car a few years ago, he insisted on the capacitor. It just takes the strain off the alternator and battery.
As far as batteries go, look for a high CCA rating and also for a good warranty. I have had good batteries crap out after a few months for one reason or another, so a warranty will help you out there. If you had the room under the hood, you could wire in two 6 volt batteries in series to get 12 volts and 12-1400 CCA's. My one tractor has that and it puts out over 1900 CCA from the two batteries. 'Course that tractor has a big smurfing diesel engine though..... 
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#12 2005-10-24 8:56 pm
- Blink
- Member
- From: Maine, USA
- Registered: 2000-08-20
- Posts: 1170
Re: Car Battery Questions
I would go with the DieHard. The Optima looks interesting, I'd check the warranties on both. As far as paying extra for a battery that's smaller an lighter, that doesn't impress me too much. (Although I might say differently if you run into me lugging my next car battery from the store to the car...) With the information I see here, the DieHard has 100 more CCAs and is cheaper.
I've had good luck with DieHards up here in Maine, too. That's my two cents.
-----------------------------
Edit:
I've been looking up Optima batteries a bit more in the past few minutes, and believe my stance may have changed. The YellowTop looks pretty impressive. There's a third cent for you.
Last edited by Blink (2005-10-24 9:14 pm)
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#13 2005-10-24 8:58 pm
- jhota
- blithering idiot
- From: when i find out, i'll know...
- Registered: 1999-09-08
- Posts: 2664
Re: Car Battery Questions
my qualifications: 10-year Sears vet, professional mechanic 12 years, hobbyist mechanic 19 years
the DieHard Gold is a good battery, it's designed for the climate it's sold in. however, living in a cold climate, the Red Top might be a better battery for one very important reason: it won't freeze. both will do the job electrically. so i'd go with the Optima.
i also agree with jeff-o. get a capacitor. they don't cost that much, and they protect the entire car's electrical system from voltage spikes.
if you ever listen to your stereo with the car turned off, skip the DieHard and the Red Top. go straight to the Yellow Top.
Optimas are f'in awesome. when my DieHard craps out in my Honda, it's getting one. pity they don't make one to fit the Jag.
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