Optima red top..never had a problem...cranks hard and fast even with the single digits we've been having...

 

There's a newer company out, XS Power, than originally came about a few years ago for audio equiptment. I saw them at a trade show for audio in Nashville and mentioned to them the need for more gel filled offroad applicated batteries. Well now the company is gracing the pages of Four Wheeler, Peterson's, JP, ect. A Infinity SUV came in last week with a Electrical Diag. Job, customer said he had a short in the system. He had a crappy Autocraft under the hood and the XS rated at 1200 CCA I believe mounted by the system and Amplifier. We took the Autocraft out and turned it over with the XS only being the main source which was 90% wired up to push the system, not starting power and being mounted in the back hatch. Just googled it and found some for $138 from Summit. No I'm thinking even more.
http://www.google.com/products/catal...d=0CEMQ8wIwBQ#

 

I have a red top optima. I'm on my third one in under two years, the only reason why I'm still running one is because I get a new one from the warranty. Don't waste your money on one.

 

optima yellow top got it new for 80... cant beat that...i got my secrets

 

I have a red top optima, went to get it tested today and asked my dad if it was under warranty still. he just laughed at me and said it was a lot older than 3 years. Autozone tested it, it was at 47% and they were amazed how well it turned over and started. It starts with no hesitation even at -5 degrees and blown snow covering the top of it. All it needs is a charge after all these years and still running strong.

 

I always just get a Duralast Gold when I get a battery. They are great batteries, but they are not the best. Though I have never had an issue with their performance in the cold, and the one in my truck is lasting for a long time.

Consumerreports has these batteries #1
Group 34/78 & 78 is the EverStart Maxx 34N. Costs $75. Everstart has the top 4 spots.
Group 75 is the Bosch Premium Power 75-730B at $80, with Duralast Gold being #2.
Group 37/78 & 78/78 is DieHard Platinum 50090 and costs $190. Optima RedTop SC34U is $150 and #2.

In the last group, if you don't wanna spend $100+ on a battery, Napa Legend Premium, Autocraft Gold and Duralast Golf range from $83 to $94 and all score pretty much the same. In the 60's and rated Very Good. The Optima is in the 70s as Very Good and the Diehard is 90's rated Excellent.

 

What's a overall good rated battery, preferably gel type, a good warranty and still handle the pulls of a winch and aux lighting?

 

I've got no experience running Gel batteries in my trucks, but I have an Orbital (Napa marketed Optima-clone) as a cranking battery in my boat. At 90+ mph it really takes a beating, and I've been running it for over 4 years now with absolutely no glitches. By far, the best battery I've ever owned...

 

Just finished going through the battery upgrade from the stock Group 58 that's OEM size on the XJ up until 1997. (I have a '90 Laredo). 1998 thru 2001 used a Group 34 battery, and I had the opportunity to use an MT-34 (Interstate) dead core, just to check fitment before going and buying something. LINK TO INTERSTATE MT-34. Here is what I've learned, through trial and error, and most of that being error, as the saying goes. A Group 34 battery will fit in the stock battery tray with no clearance issues. A stock hold-down strap will grab onto it with no issues. It fits perfectly, and is held in place securely. HOWEVER- the Group 34 that you use must be "square" in order for this to work. What I mean by that, is that the side of the battery must transition to the top of the battery with a right angle, with no step or lip in between. I purchased and installed A Diehard Platinum Marine battery. Link is HERE Now if you follow the link to the Diehard, and zoom on the image by rolling your cursor around on the pic, you will see that the top of the battery has a lip, or step, between the side and the top of the battery. The stock XJ battery hold down WILL NOT grab this battery sufficiently. This battery is also very HEAVY, much more than a normal "flooded cell" Group 34, which makes me want to secure it properly. What you can't see in the picture, is that step is also angled in towards the center of the battery very slightly, compounding the problem. Now, a BCI Group 34 is narrower than a Group 58, although that caused no problems with that Interstate that I tried. To make matters worse, the Sears Diehard Platinum (both marine and non-marine versions) is not a true BCI Group 34 size. HERE'S A LINK TO A BCI BATTERY SIZE CHART. The Diehard Platinum is narrower than a Group 34, even though it's labeled as such. After hearing this thing crank over the Cherokee, however, I decided that I wouldn't give it up. A top battery hold-down was fabricated out of angle iron, for this specific battery. I might add that 1/4" thick angle iron is overkill. Oops. I might re-make this thing when it gets warmer, cuz I WAY overdid it. First time fabricating with angle iron, what can I say? I'll do better next time.... Now onto impressions and technical stuff... No, I don't work for Sears, in fact we're an Interstate dealer where I work. Interstate just didn't have the biggest, baddest thing I could stuff under the hood. Sears did. They got my money...

The Diehard battery is what's referred to as an AGM style battery. HERE IS AN EXCELLENT LINK explaining AGM technology. Optimas are also AGM, BTW. The term "gel cell" doesn't really apply anymore, as AGM is replacing gelled electrolyte technology pretty much completely. A couple of things to note: AGM has a much lower internal resistance, which means faster discharge (more cranking amperage), as well as faster and more efficient recharge characteristics. Less of the charging current is converted into heat. I found that there was excellent reading on AGM batteries in boating forums, of all places. When an AGM recharges, it sucks a LOT of power, as it can recharge quickly. I have not found this to be a problem, as of yet. In fact, this is an advantage for me, as I have a short commute, and my new battery tops off fully on the drive into work, whereas my Interstate Group 58 (brand new) did not. This became a problem in the winter, leaving me needing a jumpstart after about 4 days of cold weather. AGM batteries have a very low rate of self-discharge, much less than a standard flooded cell battery. Also, since they use a starved electrolyte design, they tend to be very resistant to freezing damage when left in a fully discharged state. There's tons more, but do a little googling, and read for yourself. Time well spent....

I love this thing, and I wouldn't go back to a standard flooded cell battery now. Just be aware that it takes a little creativity to make it work in an XJ. It's well worth the effort, though. One other thing I discovered while researching, was that the Diehard AGM platinums are manufactured by Enersys, the same company that manufactures Odyssey batteries. Look up the specs on the Odyssey website, and they are identical to the Sears Platinums. A little searching online, and I come up with this -Diehard Platinums are basically rebadged Odysseys. Definitely expensive, though. If you're not looking to drop the coin on one of those, a standard Group 34 (Interstate, Exide, whatever) will be a definite addition to your rig, and a HUGE improvement over the itty-bitty Group 58 in there. Just be sure you pay attention to the top of the battery, make sure there's no "step" to foul you up, and you should be set. Hope all this helps, just thought I'd share what I learned while tackling this same problem....

 

DannyH, PM sent....

 

I ran a Red Top Optoma that was given to me by my father and put into the Jeep; I was never impressed with it so when it was time for me to put in a new one, I just got a EverStar battery from Wal-Mart (Made by Johnson Controls) and I've been pretty happy with it.

 

Yeah, I couldnt drop that kind of coin on a battery, so I went with the DieHard Gold. Works great especially in the cold weather (i.e negatives), and with the 3 year warranty, I can replace it at a store I trust: Sears.
Also food for thought: Die Hard Platinum, 880CCA and 135mins of reserve capacity (4year warranty)
Die Hard Gold, 850 CCA and 165mins of reserve capacity (3year warranty)

 

I have an optima red top, its a god awful battery. Discharged so fast in not even that cold of weather, 35-40's here in cali, it wouldn't even run my clock on my 240sx. And thats only after about 4-5 days of sitting.I've got another one in my jeep and luckily I drive my jeep alot so It keeps a steady charge, but I'm getting a diehard platinum agm as soon as I can, I can't stand being stranded or asking for jumps.

 

My bosses buy red tops and swear by them but they have so many problems my wally world battery seems to do better

 

i have owned these batteries for the last 10 years in all dif vehicles. they always work, even after i leave my radio on for six hours. and when they do go out it's always like 2-3 mmonths before the free replacement is up. i have actually had the one in my suburban longest. first one i ever bought and i have replaced it for free four times now. and when i first bought that one they were only $68. i love it