12V Battery Reccomendations

Notch1320 · 03-08-2009, 01:44 AM

My Optima Red top died today.

I was wondering if anyone uses these light weight batteries such as Braille. They offer them in in 6 & 11 lbs and on up from there. I am trying to drop some of the 33 lbs that my Red Top weighs.

Looking for feedback...

Dragsinger · 03-08-2009, 07:49 AM

Shawn,

I ran one for a short while. It requires constant charging and will get you in trouble in the late rounds. After the second race where we had to have a jumper battery and cables in the lanes, I when back to a conventional battery.

340Cuda · 03-08-2009, 08:13 AM

The Optimas seemed to have some quality control issues for a while but seem to be past them.

If it was mine I would just get another Optima.

Good Luck,
Bill

Shawn Blair · 03-08-2009, 08:33 AM

I have two Optima red tops in my car that are 8 years old and they still work great! No alt. charge between rounds when there's time. Also if you have a Optima that has went dead on you and you can't get it to take a good charge, take a standard wet cell battery and run jumper cables from it to the Optima and hook the charger to the wet cell battery. So basically your just charging through the first battery to the Optima. I've seen this bring back a few so don't get rid of it until you try this first,you may be surprised! Shawn

james schaechter · 03-08-2009, 08:53 AM

I have had good luck with a "Rock" battery. They are 24 lbs but they run my fan and start the car with no problems. They are pricey, but so far a good deal. I bought mine from the CarShopinc. On my 4th season with it. I have an 11lb Carbon Braille. It is good for a few runs if topped off, but bare bones use. They do make larger Braille batteries so that might be fine too.

SGSST109E · 03-08-2009, 12:59 PM

Optima reds are great. The yellow is ideal for a race car.

Notch1320 · 03-08-2009, 01:24 PM

I think I will probably go with another Red top. My battery mount cables are set up for it, and it will also accept my spare Yellow Top from the trailer winch in a bind. The mount required a little modification to work with the Yellow because of the slight difference in the battery top, and side post location. My Red Top is over 8 years old, and has served me well. Most of all, the Optima batteries are readily available at most parts stores, in case I need one while out on the road. I still have a long way to go before I need to be worried about a few pounds on the nose. Thanks for the input!!!

Tom Goldman · 03-08-2009, 01:53 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Shawn Blair

I have two Optima red tops in my car that are 8 years old and they still work great! No alt. charge between rounds when there's time. Also if you have a Optima that has went dead on you and you can't get it to take a good charge, take a standard wet cell battery and run jumper cables from it to the Optima and hook the charger to the wet cell battery. So basically your just charging through the first battery to the Optima. I've seen this bring back a few so don't get rid of it until you try this first,you may be surprised! Shawn

Shawn's right on the charging across another battery. ..I was told to do this by our Interstate battery rep. .....I tried it on a red top that had repeated gone quickly dead. .....It took about two days of charging an a very low rate,but the battery came back and I've been using it for 2 years in a street car that sometimes gos for months without starting. ...Works every time........Tom

Notch1320 · 03-08-2009, 02:31 PM

I will try it... thanks.

Ken Haase · 03-08-2009, 04:26 PM

Hoping I don't need that info and had not heard of it before...but thanks for the tip. Now if I can just recall it when I do need it!

03-08-2009, 01:44 AM	#1
Notch1320 Member Join Date: May 2004 Location: Yuba City, CA Posts: 220 Likes: 0 Liked 0 Times in 0 Posts	12V Battery Reccomendations My Optima Red top died today. I was wondering if anyone uses these light weight batteries such as Braille. They offer them in in 6 & 11 lbs and on up from there. I am trying to drop some of the 33 lbs that my Red Top weighs. Looking for feedback... __________________ Shawn Allsup K/S 718

03-08-2009, 07:49 AM	#2
Dragsinger VIP Member Join Date: Jul 2008 Location: Liberty City [East Texas] Posts: 1,760 Likes: 5 Liked 99 Times in 60 Posts	Re: 12V Battery Reccomendations Shawn, I ran one for a short while. It requires constant charging and will get you in trouble in the late rounds. After the second race where we had to have a jumper battery and cables in the lanes, I when back to a conventional battery. __________________ Larry Woodfin 471W

03-08-2009, 08:13 AM	#3
340Cuda VIP Member Join Date: Apr 2003 Location: Tulsa, Oklahoma Posts: 1,669 Likes: 3,853 Liked 800 Times in 337 Posts	Re: 12V Battery Reccomendations The Optimas seemed to have some quality control issues for a while but seem to be past them. If it was mine I would just get another Optima. Good Luck, Bill

03-08-2009, 08:33 AM	#4
Shawn Blair Member Join Date: Dec 2007 Location: Everson, WA. Posts: 122 Likes: 1 Liked 0 Times in 0 Posts	Re: 12V Battery Reccomendations I have two Optima red tops in my car that are 8 years old and they still work great! No alt. charge between rounds when there's time. Also if you have a Optima that has went dead on you and you can't get it to take a good charge, take a standard wet cell battery and run jumper cables from it to the Optima and hook the charger to the wet cell battery. So basically your just charging through the first battery to the Optima. I've seen this bring back a few so don't get rid of it until you try this first,you may be surprised! Shawn __________________ Shawn Blair 6383 SS 634 STK

03-08-2009, 08:53 AM	#5
james schaechter VIP Member Join Date: Dec 2004 Location: Cumming GA Posts: 1,988 Likes: 1,288 Liked 1,428 Times in 296 Posts	Re: 12V Battery Reccomendations I have had good luck with a "Rock" battery. They are 24 lbs but they run my fan and start the car with no problems. They are pricey, but so far a good deal. I bought mine from the CarShopinc. On my 4th season with it. I have an 11lb Carbon Braille. It is good for a few runs if topped off, but bare bones use. They do make larger Braille batteries so that might be fine too. __________________ James Schaechter 3163 STK

03-08-2009, 12:59 PM	#6
SGSST109E Member Join Date: Jun 2007 Location: NJ Posts: 351 Likes: 62 Liked 126 Times in 61 Posts	Re: 12V Battery Reccomendations Optima reds are great. The yellow is ideal for a race car.

03-08-2009, 01:24 PM	#7
Notch1320 Member Join Date: May 2004 Location: Yuba City, CA Posts: 220 Likes: 0 Liked 0 Times in 0 Posts	Re: 12V Battery Reccomendations I think I will probably go with another Red top. My battery mount cables are set up for it, and it will also accept my spare Yellow Top from the trailer winch in a bind. The mount required a little modification to work with the Yellow because of the slight difference in the battery top, and side post location. My Red Top is over 8 years old, and has served me well. Most of all, the Optima batteries are readily available at most parts stores, in case I need one while out on the road. I still have a long way to go before I need to be worried about a few pounds on the nose. Thanks for the input!!! __________________ Shawn Allsup K/S 718

03-08-2009, 02:31 PM	#9
Notch1320 Member Join Date: May 2004 Location: Yuba City, CA Posts: 220 Likes: 0 Liked 0 Times in 0 Posts	Re: 12V Battery Reccomendations I will try it... thanks. __________________ Shawn Allsup K/S 718

03-08-2009, 04:26 PM	#10
Ken Haase Member Join Date: Mar 2007 Posts: 233 Likes: 0 Liked 1 Time in 1 Post	Re: 12V Battery Reccomendations Hoping I don't need that info and had not heard of it before...but thanks for the tip. Now if I can just recall it when I do need it!