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Optima Battery
- Thread starter Greg
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BrandonBJ8
Jedi Trainee
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So what is the generic battery that you are currently using then?
healeynut
Jedi Knight
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BrandonBJ8 said:
I bought my batteries ~5 years ago, this is essentially the same as the one I bought then:
https://www.exide.com/products/automotive/exide_select_orbital.html
I think I bought the smaller one... It's the one that's sort of the modern day one-size-fits-all type. No need to go with a big lunky battery here, even the small ones have more cold cranking power than any original BMC battery. It was around $120 when I bought it, but it may be more now.
The best thing about these batteries is because they use a circular plate geometry, they are much more rugged and can handle sharp bumps in the road without loosening the plates.
/bcforum/images/%%GRAEMLIN_URL%%/driving.gif /bcforum/images/%%GRAEMLIN_URL%%/banana.gif
Healey 100
Jedi Warrior
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RE: Optima Battery:
I installed a 6V optima in one of my older cars ('27 Buick, not much like our Healey!). I got the Optima because the battery mounts under the floor and is very difficult to check for water, clean terminals and the like.
The first one I had lasted only a year, this car sits a lot and the Optima would discharge very quickly, it was usually too dead to crank after just a few weeks of sitting. The old lead acid battery could sit for months, no problem.
Optima replaced that first battery under warranty, but the second one has the same problem. I have to put it on a charger for a day before I need to start the car. They both crank the engine very smartly, I was impressed with that -- but I find the shelf discharge problem unacceptable, especially for collector cars that sit all the time.
I suppose car may have a current leak, but I really doubt that, there is not much of an electrical system on a '27 Buick. The very sensitive ammeter on the dash shows no discharge when the ignition is off. And the lead acid battery that was in it before held its charge well.
Seems like no one else has this problem, don't know what to say about that. Maybe the 12V units are better?
Bill.
I installed a 6V optima in one of my older cars ('27 Buick, not much like our Healey!). I got the Optima because the battery mounts under the floor and is very difficult to check for water, clean terminals and the like.
The first one I had lasted only a year, this car sits a lot and the Optima would discharge very quickly, it was usually too dead to crank after just a few weeks of sitting. The old lead acid battery could sit for months, no problem.
Optima replaced that first battery under warranty, but the second one has the same problem. I have to put it on a charger for a day before I need to start the car. They both crank the engine very smartly, I was impressed with that -- but I find the shelf discharge problem unacceptable, especially for collector cars that sit all the time.
I suppose car may have a current leak, but I really doubt that, there is not much of an electrical system on a '27 Buick. The very sensitive ammeter on the dash shows no discharge when the ignition is off. And the lead acid battery that was in it before held its charge well.
Seems like no one else has this problem, don't know what to say about that. Maybe the 12V units are better?
Bill.
Ed_K
Jedi Knight
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Brandon,
I installed a red top Optima 34/78 two years ago and have not
had a hint of trouble with it. No mysterious discharges, etc.
In fact, while I was putting my car together, I would go many weeks at a time without starting the engine and charging the battery. I would use the battery many times during these long outages to test the wiring modifications that I was doing. . After weeks without starting the engine and charging the battery, the car never failed to start except for once when I let the courtesy lights on for a couple of days,
( operator error ), and the battery discharged. I hooked up a battery " maintainer " type of charger and left it for a day, came back and then the car started right up again. That was over a year ago and there was no long term bad effect on the battery from this happening.
I bought it because I saw the place in the floor under the battery where my dad had to replace a section of metal that had been eaten away by the normal leakage from a standard battery, back in the day. I would not hesitate to buy another one for that reason alone, even if they didn't last as long as a regular battery. Time will tell but so far, so good ( $ 112 at Pep Boys in 2005 ). I have a BJ8.
Ed K.
/bcforum/images/%%GRAEMLIN_URL%%/cool.gif
I installed a red top Optima 34/78 two years ago and have not
had a hint of trouble with it. No mysterious discharges, etc.
In fact, while I was putting my car together, I would go many weeks at a time without starting the engine and charging the battery. I would use the battery many times during these long outages to test the wiring modifications that I was doing. . After weeks without starting the engine and charging the battery, the car never failed to start except for once when I let the courtesy lights on for a couple of days,
( operator error ), and the battery discharged. I hooked up a battery " maintainer " type of charger and left it for a day, came back and then the car started right up again. That was over a year ago and there was no long term bad effect on the battery from this happening.
I bought it because I saw the place in the floor under the battery where my dad had to replace a section of metal that had been eaten away by the normal leakage from a standard battery, back in the day. I would not hesitate to buy another one for that reason alone, even if they didn't last as long as a regular battery. Time will tell but so far, so good ( $ 112 at Pep Boys in 2005 ). I have a BJ8.
Ed K.
/bcforum/images/%%GRAEMLIN_URL%%/cool.gif
Keoke
Great Pumpkin
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Hi Bill, For the six volt agm type battery the manufacturers recommend a battery charge prior to use if stored for any appreciable time. Utilizing a battery maintainer to keep it at full charge will also solve your problem. Yes the 12 volt system/units are better.--Fwiw---Keoke
BrandonBJ8
Jedi Trainee
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Greg, where do you purchase your battery from?
healeynut
Jedi Knight
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Thom -
Well if low low price on your Healey is all you care about then don't bother with the Optima!
On the other hand if you don't want acid leaking out of your battery and corroding your boot floor, which replacing will probably cost 3x an Optima battery, then the choice is pretty obvious. These batteries don't leak. I really could care less about the warranty or the price.
By the way, I've had the Excide Orbital in my BJ8 (Optima equivalent) for 6 years now. Still going strong... never leaked anything, ever. I can't tell you how many "maintenance free" batteries that I've fried and have had [censored] all over my boot floor... I got tired of it.
Alan
Well if low low price on your Healey is all you care about then don't bother with the Optima!
On the other hand if you don't want acid leaking out of your battery and corroding your boot floor, which replacing will probably cost 3x an Optima battery, then the choice is pretty obvious. These batteries don't leak. I really could care less about the warranty or the price.
By the way, I've had the Excide Orbital in my BJ8 (Optima equivalent) for 6 years now. Still going strong... never leaked anything, ever. I can't tell you how many "maintenance free" batteries that I've fried and have had [censored] all over my boot floor... I got tired of it.
Alan
SHG
Jedi Warrior
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has anybody tried the gel battery from https://www.antiquebattery.com that's supposed to look like the old Lucas battery? It ain't cheap, but it also doesn't look like the jetson's stole a BJ8 and put an excide orbital into it. You gotta admit, those are some strange looking batteries.
Keoke
Great Pumpkin
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SHG said:
-- /bcforum/images/%%GRAEMLIN_URL%%/savewave.gif
Well just keep the boot closed and you won't see It! ---Keoke- /bcforum/images/%%GRAEMLIN_URL%%/wink.gif
P.S There exists on the Auto Accessory market, plain Black plastic, battery cases with enclosing tops that the battery can be hidden inside of.- /bcforum/images/%%GRAEMLIN_URL%%/yesnod.gif
John Loftus
Darth Vader
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Scott,
The link is:
https://www.antiqueautobattery.com/
I am considering this battery but haven't bothered buying one until I have my car running again. I'd like to see what one looks like and any reviews too.
The link is:
https://www.antiqueautobattery.com/
I am considering this battery but haven't bothered buying one until I have my car running again. I'd like to see what one looks like and any reviews too.
Keoke
Great Pumpkin
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Well John/SHG, I would not consider a Gel Cell for use in these cars with the Control Boxes. This is because the Gel Cell Battery is very very sensitive to over charging. Even the home workshop charger must be selected on a compatible basis to avoid damaging the battery. The Float type maintainers are judged OK but must be kept on the battery when not in use to avert the necessity to recharge it. Therefore, IMOP the AGM battery is the correct upgrade battery type for the Lbc and the Gell Cell should not be used--Fwiw--Keoke
John Loftus
Darth Vader
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I don't know if it is a gel cell. They told me several years ago that is was just like an Optima. I just emailed them to see if they could clarify what battery technology it is (and brand).
Keoke
Great Pumpkin
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Good show John, If its just like an optima then its an AGM and good to go. I saw an AGM type in the typical battery case, I think it was an Optima product. However, I can not locate it again. I do remember it was a bit pricey-- /bcforum/images/%%GRAEMLIN_URL%%/cheers.gif-Keoke
Using your reference I just took a look. Based on the their statements I think this is a Wet Cell Acid battery just like the originals, which is a /bcforum/images/%%GRAEMLIN_URL%%/nonono.gif in my book.Plus the group 24 item is a bit short on CCA!
Using your reference I just took a look. Based on the their statements I think this is a Wet Cell Acid battery just like the originals, which is a /bcforum/images/%%GRAEMLIN_URL%%/nonono.gif in my book.Plus the group 24 item is a bit short on CCA!