Announcement

Collapse
No announcement yet.

What a difference a battery makes...

Collapse
X
Collapse
 
  • Page of 2
  • Filter
  • Time
  • Show
Clear All
new posts
Previous 1 2 template Next
    #1

    What a difference a battery makes...

    Three years ago I got a $80 800CCA Pile of shit kmart special - and assumed it would last 5 years. It just died a horable death 3 years later...

    I don't know why I thought that it would last as long...I was putting in a bigger motor (m30 and it's HUGE starter) - who knows...But still - I have the worst luck with batts....I've never gotten more then 3 year out of one...even in a e21 with a m10.

    Maybe it's me - I LOVE to leave my parking lights on when I go into a store - I really don't think that uncalled for. 5 mins for what 20 watts?

    SOOoooo...I searched locally for a optima "red top" but no luck - I finally found a "obital" - looks like the same mold as a optima...everything bet the label...

    Case in point - I LOVE a(/this) new battery - not just faster starts - but brigher lights all around. AMAZING...

    DASH lights - head lights - BRIGHT - like *new*....

    I'll keep you posted on how this sealed "optima" battery is doing....But 4 days into it - It is great.
    Originally posted by Matt-B
    hey does anyone know anyone who gets upset and makes electronics?
    Tags: None
    #2
    George, please keep me posted about this batteries performance. Optima threw about 30% price increase on its products, for no reason.

    I still stock them, but I don't want to. Next will be Kinetik. They seem to be amazing, but they are too new to me to make an opinion.

    Luke

    Closing SOON!
    "LAST CHANCE FOR G.A.S." DEAL IS ON NOW

    Luke AT germanaudiospecialties DOT com or text 425-761-6450, or for quickest answers, call me at the shop 360-669-0398

    Thanks for 10 years of fun!

    Comment

      #3
      I'm running an Exide Orbital and its a fantastic battery, much faster cranks, good constant power, and it just works nicely. Had to make a custom battery mount for it, but otherwise it works fine.

      Cheaper then the Optima that I could never find locally in the correct size.

      Comment

        #4
        I run 2 orbital blue tops, good battery.

        I know a few guys running kinetiks and they love em. Only audio guys would really need one though.

        Comment

          #5
          Update: A about 9 months after I got this knock off red top (called an "obital") it died. I ended up get it switched out for a real red top battery.

          This weekend I left my GPS on, and plugged in. Car wouldn't turn over. Checked the voltage - it was 9 volts. Ouch. Threw it on the charger, and 10 mins later it started up. (I think this is the 2nd or 3rd time I've drained it)

          The battery is still doing fine. 4 years and counting.
          Last edited by george graves; 10-25-2011, 05:20 PM.
          Originally posted by Matt-B
          hey does anyone know anyone who gets upset and makes electronics?

          Comment

            #6
            Wow blasted out of the past.
            https://www.facebook.com/BentOverRacing

            Comment

              #7
              Yes, optimas are *very* resilient. The downside is that when they go, there's no resurrecting them, whereas traditional Pb/H2SO4 batteries can be resurrected reasonably often.

              Comment

                #8
                you can bring an Optima back. You need to use a CTek charger. I've personally resurrected an Optima battery with 2v showing to 12v after a stretch on my CTek.
                ______________________________________
                1984 LSB 318i - Sold
                1986 325i - Motor Swapped Track Car Project
                1995 318ti - Sold
                1999 540iA - Daily Driver

                Comment

                  #9
                  I love Kinetic batteries. I hate Optima, so many problems.

                  Anyways, once you have deep cycled a battery (dropped more than about 20% or down to about 10 volts for a normal starting battery) it can only be charged up to about 50% of it's previous capacity.

                  As you can see running a battery down to 9 volts only two times and your battery now has about 1/4 the capacity it originally had. Run it down again and your at 1/8, and so on.

                  Comment

                    #10
                    Originally posted by TG Goose View Post
                    you can bring an Optima back. You need to use a CTek charger. I've personally resurrected an Optima battery with 2v showing to 12v after a stretch on my CTek.
                    The CTek charger is absolutely amazing. It really brings back batteries where other chargers fail.

                    Comment

                      #11
                      What about Interstate? I put a used battery we had laying around the shop when I bought this car 5 years ago. It was marked 2001. Just now finally died. Left the lights on one too many times. Up till that pointed it had always cranked strong.

                      Comment

                        #12
                        Originally posted by dwvw View Post
                        running a (normal) battery down to 9 volts only two times and your battery now has about 1/4 the capacity
                        That's why I love Red tops. They bounce right back.

                        Originally posted by Voluted View Post
                        The CTek charger is absolutely amazing. It really brings back batteries where other chargers fail.
                        Most likely just a desulfator I would guess. They been around since before I was born.
                        Originally posted by Matt-B
                        hey does anyone know anyone who gets upset and makes electronics?

                        Comment

                          #13
                          George, My sources tell me that there is no battery made by Optima that fits the front tray of the E30 vert. What Optima red top do you suggest?

                          Comment

                            #14
                            Originally posted by dwvw View Post
                            Anyways, once you have deep cycled a battery (dropped more than about 20% or down to about 10 volts for a normal starting battery) it can only be charged up to about 50% of it's previous capacity.

                            As you can see running a battery down to 9 volts only two times and your battery now has about 1/4 the capacity it originally had. Run it down again and your at 1/8, and so on.
                            my sears diehard battery lasted over 10 years. I ran that thing flat more times than I can count. It still worked when I replaced it but the cranking voltage was starting to suffer.

                            my current battery is from Napa.. check consumer reports. highly rated, and cheap.
                            Build thread

                            Bimmerlabs

                            Comment

                              #15
                              I need a new battery, anyone have suggestions for batteries that have both a post terminal as well as a stud/bolt combo. I have one in my car now with these two, but it is a beast and just used till I get one that isnt as massive
                              1991 318is --- currently not road worthy
                              1991 318i ---- 308K - retired

                              Originally posted by RickSloan
                              so if you didnt get it like that did you glue fuzzy oil to the entire thing?

                              Comment

                              Previous 1 2 template Next
                              Working...
                              X