Optima Battery Vs. Die Hard Deep Cycle
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Optima Battery Vs. Die Hard Deep Cycle
I've heard that Optima's are pretty good batteries but I really don't feel like dropping $120 on a battery and having to make it fit myself on top of that. Here's my situation. I'm running a jbl1200.1 and whenever I really turn it up my lights dim to the point where you can't see the numbers on the speedometer sometimes. I've got a cap and all, but the dimming lights really isn't the problem. I think it could be due to a loose ground, but my car has struggled to start a lot lately. Listen to a 3 minute song or leave hazards on for 10 minutes without the engine on and the car goes dead. I went to Sears and asked if they had any deep cycle batteries and the guy showed me one for about 60-70 bucks. Are the Optima batteries really that much better than a Die Hard deep cycle? I mainly just want smoother starts and longer life without the car on.
If you think your problem is a bad ground or short, wouldn't it make sense to try fix the problem? I don't know if another batter would help too much, one 1200.1 doensn't seem like too much for the stock system to handle.
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the NEW Yellow Top 51rda
The NEW yellow top for Hondas, other
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Rep Power: 0 Originally posted by Subrage
Get an Optima its a worth while investment. also upgrade the big 3 under your hood
Get an Optima its a worth while investment. also upgrade the big 3 under your hood
go to http://www.tna-sports.com/index.cfm?...rowse&pageid=1
for a cheap, optima....they ship fast and are extremly friendly
for a cheap, optima....they ship fast and are extremly friendly
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From: Pearl, Mississippi, US
Rep Power: 0 I can vouch for the OptimaBatteryStore...the customer service is incredible. They went WAY out of there way to satisfy me and I will never buy an Optima from anyone else.
rickinthescv - my positive terminal is on the right side looking at the battery.
rickinthescv - my positive terminal is on the right side looking at the battery.
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Rep Power: 318 thanks for the replies, but u guys havent really answered my question. Die Hard is a good company and I wanna know how it compares to the Optima. My lights dim horribly since I got the JBL amp. Can't even turn it up anymore.
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Rep Power: 339 so i went to sears a couple days ago, ludlamtheory and I are colaborating on this one, both of us also looking into alternate batteries.
it turns out that the diehards far outperform the optimas in sheer storage capacity, size for size, based on the ratings alone.
however, they are not a sealed battery, and thus you will have to worry about emmissions and spills. so if you go for the diehard, (i think both lud and myself are going the diehard route) i highly suggest that you get a batterybox to go with the battery. even if it doesnt do anything about hydrogen emmission, it will certainly protect agasint spillage.
always physically secure your lead/acid batteries!
oh, and for specific numbers, i just threw the paper out, but i believe the largest stocked diehard deep cycle battery has nearly double the capacity of an optima yellowtop.
another option are the golf cart deep cycle batteries. 6 volt batteries for $70 each, get a pair and wire in series, has more charge than three optima yellowtops. again, according to numbers. plus they were designed for high draw applications!
the salesman at sears told me that both the diehards and the diehard deep cycle batteries were prone to muscle memory when it came to charging, and that relay isolation was the best route to go, as you could play them dead then recharge them full, without using them a little, charging them using a little, charging.
they also make a special order battery for the neighborhood of $150, an RV deep cycle battery, has a foot print of 20.75x11 inches, and outperforms even the cart batteries in sheep storage capacity! its so heavy it has two handles built into the sides, i dont think youll be using that one.
i dont remmeber seeing a deepcycle diehard that was the same size as our stock batteries, so take a trip down and see whats available.
optima redtop has a reserve capacity of 110 minutes, the yellowtop a reserve capacity of 120 minutes. the extralarge diehard in stock has a reserve charge of 200 minutes, but you can compare these values to get a general idea of performance with the car off, if you find a different model diehard at sears.
it turns out that the diehards far outperform the optimas in sheer storage capacity, size for size, based on the ratings alone.
however, they are not a sealed battery, and thus you will have to worry about emmissions and spills. so if you go for the diehard, (i think both lud and myself are going the diehard route) i highly suggest that you get a batterybox to go with the battery. even if it doesnt do anything about hydrogen emmission, it will certainly protect agasint spillage.
always physically secure your lead/acid batteries!
oh, and for specific numbers, i just threw the paper out, but i believe the largest stocked diehard deep cycle battery has nearly double the capacity of an optima yellowtop.
another option are the golf cart deep cycle batteries. 6 volt batteries for $70 each, get a pair and wire in series, has more charge than three optima yellowtops. again, according to numbers. plus they were designed for high draw applications!
the salesman at sears told me that both the diehards and the diehard deep cycle batteries were prone to muscle memory when it came to charging, and that relay isolation was the best route to go, as you could play them dead then recharge them full, without using them a little, charging them using a little, charging.
they also make a special order battery for the neighborhood of $150, an RV deep cycle battery, has a foot print of 20.75x11 inches, and outperforms even the cart batteries in sheep storage capacity! its so heavy it has two handles built into the sides, i dont think youll be using that one.
i dont remmeber seeing a deepcycle diehard that was the same size as our stock batteries, so take a trip down and see whats available.
optima redtop has a reserve capacity of 110 minutes, the yellowtop a reserve capacity of 120 minutes. the extralarge diehard in stock has a reserve charge of 200 minutes, but you can compare these values to get a general idea of performance with the car off, if you find a different model diehard at sears.
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From: Houston, Texas, US
Rep Power: 0 Whenever I dont drive my car for a day my battery dies. I need to drive it everyday for my car not to die. I dont even have a system. I just have a dvd player with 5 screens but that shouldnt take any power. I have had my car for 2 years so Im thinking I need a new one. Does this optima battery fit right without any modifications to my 2001 civic. 
i boogie for the raindrops
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From: Jackson, Mississippi
Rep Power: 0 what seems to be happening is that your car has something that is staying on when you turn it off...
i know me and whiterabbit both have systems that would drain our batteries in very short periods of time when off, but its setup right so it doesnt turn off...
i know me and whiterabbit both have systems that would drain our batteries in very short periods of time when off, but its setup right so it doesnt turn off...
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From: Clifton, VA, Virginia, US
Rep Power: 318 I was gonna get a DieHard, but the only battery they sell for our cars is the "weather handler." Looks pretty damn weak, so I went ahead and got an Optima Yellow Top.
The car has not had any trouble starting at all since I got it and my lights don't dim as much at night.
PROBLEM: I put my battery in with the terminals facing the headlight, which is the only way for the stock wires to fit on. The battery terminals block that little white thing where I put my hood holder on. Did I install this wrong or something?
The car has not had any trouble starting at all since I got it and my lights don't dim as much at night.
PROBLEM: I put my battery in with the terminals facing the headlight, which is the only way for the stock wires to fit on. The battery terminals block that little white thing where I put my hood holder on. Did I install this wrong or something?
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From: bay area, california
Rep Power: 339 for sure if you want something to fit with no modification optima is the way to go.
the die hards are superior in price and available capacity, but certainly not in size. comparing the honda sized batteries, there simply is no comparison.
if your willin gto spend time to save money, go tfor the diehard and modify to fit.
but if yoru looking for a drop in replacement, optima is the way to go. I know they make a size that fits, but i dont know which model it is. id assume the smallest, its not liek there are alotta models to choose from, but there is one that fits!
try searching for the model name, also in tech stuff, im sure someone has stated what they got for their civic
the die hards are superior in price and available capacity, but certainly not in size. comparing the honda sized batteries, there simply is no comparison.
if your willin gto spend time to save money, go tfor the diehard and modify to fit.
but if yoru looking for a drop in replacement, optima is the way to go. I know they make a size that fits, but i dont know which model it is. id assume the smallest, its not liek there are alotta models to choose from, but there is one that fits!
try searching for the model name, also in tech stuff, im sure someone has stated what they got for their civic
i boogie for the raindrops
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From: Jackson, Mississippi
Rep Power: 0 Originally posted by Alex053
i ran six 8 volt batteries for a week..lol
16v systems own!! but at 80 pounds each it was only for one show..
i ran six 8 volt batteries for a week..lol
16v systems own!! but at 80 pounds each it was only for one show..
you didnt have a 16v alternator chargin em up =)
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From: Anniston, Alabama, US
Rep Power: 307 hey Aznnp77, you got the 51R, which has the post on the reversed side. You look at the above picture, it is of the R.
The 51 is the one with the positive terminal on the left side (when the terminals are closest to you).
The 51 is the one with the positive terminal on the left side (when the terminals are closest to you).
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From: bay area, california
Rep Power: 339 engine ground, battery ground, and alternator to battery, i believe, but dont quote me on that one.
All ive upgraded was the stock factory battery ground, and starting is noticibly faster. much less engine ground or anything else
All ive upgraded was the stock factory battery ground, and starting is noticibly faster. much less engine ground or anything else
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