Help me decide what batteries to buy.

[madpogue]

When we bought our second PSD, it had a pair of AutoCraft (Advance Auto house brand, prob. JC or Exide) 850CCA group 65s in it, about 6 years old. Pulled 'em out for a pair of new JC 84-month 850CCAs. Stashed the old ones in the basement. Three years later, bought the '85 IDI, one battery was totally tired out, so I threw the AutoCrafts on a slow charge and dropped 'em in, and they've started it up ever since.

 

[79jasper]

While we're on the subject of batteries, can someone explain why you aren't supposed to sit batteries on concrete???
Or is it a thing of the past?

I've done it multiple times, even had them sitting there for days, and haven't had a problem.

And according to the above, my duralast gold's are just rebadged, more expensive interstates?

 

[idiabuse]

I purchased one Odessey 2150 battery back in 2005, still cranks the 7.3 over great.
Never had a single issue other than loose connections.
Would never go back to 2 weak batteries again with 2x the connections.


Javier

 

[NO_SPRK]

I have the dekas and they give me zero problems

 

[G. Mann]

A block of concrete acts as a storage vault for heat or cold.. two things that do damage to a battery.. so, in theory at least, if the battery is in direct contact with the concrete in winter, it will be "relatively colder" and discharge more deeply.. in summer, same effect from the heat soak of the concrete.

I always just set the batteries on a couple blocks of 2x4 .. never had issues. First battery I left setting on concrete during winter in an unheated shop.. total fail.. since then.. blocks..

 

[GOOSE]

The Aussie site shows that Federal has a hand in many of the batteries that we use.

http://www.federalbatteries.com.au/

I don't know why but the Aussie site looks better than the US site to me.

http://federalbattery.com/

 

[towcat]

the manufacturer may be only three, but the specs for the internals are not the same. I run either Deka group 65 or interstate MTP-65. I learned much from how AMR maintains their batteries and model my maintence the same as theirs. All front line trucks get batteries changed out once a year right before winter hits. If the truck doesn't start, you're not making money. CCA's can be fudged to make a cheap battery look like a hot rod, but Reserve capacity ratings is the equalizer and indicates which is the superior product.

 

[TronDD]

Dekas are made in Pennsylvania.

Tim.

 

[firehawk]

I have had many interstate mtp's last through some silly harsh use. I will continue until they change the quality on them.

 

[icanfixall]

How often you clean the battery terminals has a lot to do with how they work. If you see corrosion your about 6 months too late in the maintance. I found the top of my passenger side battery wet looking. Didn't think too much about it till I had some low battery issues. Turns out the wet area had grown till it was touching that battery box brace. Then it started a slow battery drain. Baking soda wash. Moved the battery over in the tray and all was fine again. Another thing I do when I install batteries or clean the posts is to remove the red and green felt washers. I install new ones and under them I use rtv around the post where it comes out of the battery top. I have no more problems with wet top batteries. A little baking soda in water and a rag will keep the tops looking new nearly forever.

 

[GOOSE]

Well, I talked to my battery guy today. Federals are made by East Penn. Deka, Caterpillar and Delco are made by East Penn as well. Here's the skinny, the internals are all identical. Cat has its desired case so they ship it to East Penn and the guts get installed. East Penn does not compromise the size of the plates, the quality of the lead or anything else that would make less of a battery.

I'm getting the same Cat battery that Heath uses, the same battery that Calvin has with his Deka's, the same brand new oem battery that is in a GM truck.

In addition to that, I am supporting our local economy here in NJ. New batteries delivered to my door for $95 each, not the worst purchase I have made.

I also got confrimation that the Odyssey and Optima batteries are not all they're cracked up to be. They may work great for some, but be less than expected for others. I hope that the information I got is helpful to others here and can't wait to here the new found 12v power. I will have them on my door step on Thursday.

 

[79jasper]

So who did you order them through?
And what size?

 

[whiteboyslo]

How often you clean the battery terminals has a lot to do with how they work. If you see corrosion your about 6 months too late in the maintance. I found the top of my passenger side battery wet looking. Didn't think too much about it till I had some low battery issues. Turns out the wet area had grown till it was touching that battery box brace. Then it started a slow battery drain. Baking soda wash. Moved the battery over in the tray and all was fine again. Another thing I do when I install batteries or clean the posts is to remove the red and green felt washers. I install new ones and under them I use rtv around the post where it comes out of the battery top. I have no more problems with wet top batteries. A little baking soda in water and a rag will keep the tops looking new nearly forever.

In addition, a little spray of terminal protector works wonders:

You must be registered for see images attach

Available at any parts store.

Mike

 

[hesutton]

I'm running group 65 880CCA CAT batteries in my rigs John. I wanted the 31's but the terminals would hit the hood .......... not good.

Heath

 

[GOOSE]

Heath, I have and am replacing the identical battery to yours; mine says Federal, yours says Cat. You should see E P M somewhere on your battery, East Penn Manufacturing. I'm sticking with the group 65 batteries, those and a healthy Denso starter give me plenty of starting confidence, winter or summer.