Which 2nd Battery?

phillyd2

phillyd2

Senior Member
Assuming that I switch out the main with a Sears Die Hard Platinum Group 31 battery, which battery do you guys recommend / use for the duel? The only caveat is that it needs to fit in the Aussie tray.
 
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I'm using an optima red top for my starter, and an optima yellow top for the aux. some people don't like them, but I ran the optima's on my old truck for years and never had an issue. Plus you get the 4 terminals on the yellow top to fit more accessories.
 
Converting Max dimensions in instructions to english 9.84" x 6.88" x 9.44"

It has to be group 25, which is:

BCI Battery Group Size Chart
Group Number
Maximum Overall Dimensions footnote
Millimeters Inches
L W H L W H
25 230 175 225 9 1/16 6 7/8 8 7/8

I am looking at Odyssey 25-PC1400 Battery $258.50 shipped with no core charge

Motorcycle Batteries | Battery Store | Discount Batteries | Motorcycle Battery - BatteryMart.com

Or my preference would be this one on sale:
DieHard Platinum Automotive Battery - Group Size 25 (Price with Exchange)

Platinum Automotive Battery - Group Size 25 (Price with Exchange)- DieHard-Automotive-Batteries-Car Batteries

The convenience of warranty and sears being everywhere (and the color matches my truck :jk:) are leading me to wait to buy the diehard on sale.

Also, the diehard group 25 would be a perfect compliment to the big 31 diehard marine battery. I plan to replace the stock with the diehard 31 eventually, but it seems like a waste to replace it while there is nothing wrong with the stock battery.

Adding the second battery just greatly increased the power reserves, I don't think the replacement of the stock with the Die hard 31 provides a further significant increase to justify the expense.
 
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phillyd2 said:
But since moving to Mexico the build quality.......:hiding:

Seriously, why did you pick the Group 35 Optima?
Click to expand...

Well, I did what Mick did and converted MM to real measurements and found that the only real deep cycle battery I could fit was a group 25/35. I tried to find a DieHard Platinum in size 25/35 and I swear I couldn't find one anywhere near me when I was in Virginia Beach. Also, I looked at the price difference between the Optima Yellow top and they Odyssey and it was almost $100 with shipping. I got my Optima for $180 2-day shipped from Amazon (with Amazon Prime membership). I think once my main battery goes I'm going to go the Joneseyyy route and switch it out for a DieHard, though.
 
limamike said:
I just saw your picture and was wondering how the hell you did that. So, how'd you do it!?
Click to expand...

I will put more pics and more info up later, but here's the abbreviated version.

First I drilled two holes in the plate for the rods to hold on to. These were a little lower and centered better.
battery2.jpg


Then I had to take a dremel to the height booster adapter plate that comes with the battery. This allows the hooks on the rods that hold the battery to the tray to have room to slide into.
battery3.jpg


Finally I just had to grind a little off the top bar that holds the battery down. (look between the "+" and "-" on the battery, you can see the right side isn't rounded over like the other, this is where i ground down). This had to be done so the plate would sit flush.
battery1.jpg


If you are facing the engine compartment, the battery sits all the way forward (towards the front of the car) and right (towards the engine), but it fits. There is also still enough room behind the battery to run the wiring under and to the side of the air filter.
 
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If cost is not a major concern then hands down Odyssey.

I have run Optima and Odyssey batteries in Porsches. I have never had a Odyssey leak. I have had Optima batteries leak. At one of the vents on top, they are the little gray colored vents. Optima will not or at least at the time I had my issues say their batteries will not leak even if not subject to abuse. I've also had problems with the Optima holding a charge and being unable to recharge it. All Optimas I had in cars were red top.

Odyssey at the time I purchased them guaranted they would not leak if not subject to abuse. Mine never leaked. Leaking is a big deal in some Porsches as they have no battery tray. Also I had one Odyssey that lasted nearly 8 years. The Odyssey batteries were able to accept a charge even if severly discharged. They are just better batteries plan and simple and of course the price reflects that.

My brother has and still does used them in various aircraft. You where if you have a bad failure of an important piece of equipment you can not pull over; you either crash with the aircraft or eject of that is an option.
 
I've searched all over the internets and am going with two rats (cause I'm getting a frig) in a small cage on a wheely thing. Fits the Aussie tray perfectly but I did have to reroute their water bottle. :p
 
"joneseyyy

Group 34 Die Hard Platinum fits in the ABR tray no modifications."

Sweet. :guitar2:

But me and the internet are tight so I'm still not sure. :lol: Does it look like you'll have enough room for cables?

And if the group 34 fits why didn't you get the Marine battery? (I assume you didn't get the marine because I only see one set of post in the picture and the sears website shows two sets of post for the marine battery). For an auxiliary battery i figured a marine battery would be preferable.
 
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Mick1 said:
"joneseyyy

Group 34 Die Hard Platinum fits in the ABR tray no modifications."

Sweet. :guitar2:

But me and the internet are tight so I'm still not sure. :lol: Does it look like you'll have enough room for cables?

And if the group 34 fits why didn't you get the Marine battery? (I assume you didn't get the marine because I only see one set of post in the picture and the sears website shows two sets of post for the marine battery). For an auxiliary battery i figured a marine battery would be preferable.
Click to expand...

Exactly! The only difference between a marine battery and a auto battery is the marine ones have extra post/studs on top for hooking up external stuff which makes it nice for an aux battery.Internal specs are the same.
For example.....Optima Blue Top/ Marine has the exact same internal specs as the Yellow tops.
 
harper7 said:
Exactly! The only difference between a marine battery and a auto battery is the marine ones have extra post/studs on top for hooking up external stuff which makes it nice for an aux battery.Internal specs are the same.
For example.....Optima Blue Top/ Marine has the exact same internal specs as the Yellow tops.
Click to expand...

Never knew that, good to know!
 
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