Recommendation for battery

Wattsup

I am in need of replacing the start battery in my 2004 Frontier. Without going to the extreme to set up a seperate battery for aux. use, can someone recommend a good dual purpose battery. By dual purpose I mean one that will be used for starting yet last a couple years of also powering my system while driving. My system draws at an estimated combined rated maximum (amplfiers, engine elec. lights ect. of roughly 70 or so amperes) I tend to only listen to my system while actually driving, especially while on the freeways. (no need to make everyone else to have to listen to what pleases me) All help appreciated

exalted512

red top
-Cody

MacLeod

Duralast and Die Hard are my favorite. They also cost $80 less than an Optima. Im running a max of 70 amps in my system as well and am using the stock alternator and battery and have no issues at all.

exalted512

MacLeod wrote:

Im running a max of 70 amps in my system as well and am using the stock alternator and battery and have no issues at all.

woo...you dont see a portable sub station to get all that power you need?

I have a couple of energizers i got from pep boys. Something along the lines of 800-900CCA(yes, CCA). I like em. Red tops are good as well.
-Cody

MacLeod

Im more than likely going to be getting a DieHard truck battery when its time for me to replace my OEM. Its 700 CCA but 135 minutes reserve capacity which is the highest I know of. $90

But then the Duralast Gold looks pretty good as well with 875 CCA and 110 reserve capacity for $65.

CrBoy

Just a n00b question here... What does CCA stands for?

MacLeod

Cold Cranking Amps.

Im not sure of the textbook definition for it but basically it is a measure for how many amps the battery is capable of spitting out in one discharge to crank your car on an extremely cold morning.

Reserve capacity (or capacitator ) tells you, in minutes, how many long the battery will run your vehicle is the alternator suddenly dies. Anything over 120 is excellent.

CrBoy

Thanks Mac!

Peter J

I use Optima Yellowtop and that works great. I have be using Optimas for several years and it works relly good.

The only thing that is better than one Optima is two Optimas:)

1996blackmax

Iv'e been using Die Hards for years. My last one is a Die Hard Rangehandler. I will however give the Optima a shot .

swerve

I... have a red top

1996blackmax

I am leaning towards that one.

Greg Peters

If you plan on having the option of running your system for a good while with the engine off, keep in mind that running an optima red top right down will snuff it early, and get the yellow top instead. There are online gripes about optima red tops not taking a charge if drained to 11 volts.

If the idea is to have some reserve in the battery should your system draw more (during transients in your music) than your alternator is capable of providing, a red top or other quality battery would do the job. I've installed a red top and its been great.

Most newer OEM batteries should be replaced at about the four year mark, as they aren't as predictable as the ones made years ago- the plates deteriorate from vibration, then one day they just won't start (or take a full charge). The red top is warrantied three years (but if treated well, good for longer than that).

swerve

I Run A Red Top... Get It?

Goood
Go Buy One.

SportsFan

MacLeod wrote:

But then the Duralast Gold looks pretty good as well with 875 CCA and 110 reserve capacity for $65.

I've owned the Duralast Gold, and it is an excellent battery....especially for the price. Comes with a good warranty and other nice optional features as well. Not sure if the Gold is sold at Autozone or not, but I would imagine that it is (since Duralast is AutoZone's "signature" brand....)

SportsFan

swerve wrote:

I... have a red top

Another good choice, from what I have heard (although I've never owned one....)

PoweredByDodge

any 900 or higher CCA battery - standard lead acid battery is fine.