Thread: Optima battery question.

Originally Posted by CrappieKrazy

So how much better are the optima batteries than say interstate brand? Are they worth the extra money? Thanks guys.

Optima batteries are a different technology. The electrolyte is held in a cloth-like material (a glass mat) around the plates.

This gives spill resistance, and the construction greatly reduces the battery's internal resistance. This means that the battery self-discharges slowly, and is more efficient when recharging. That translates into a long shelf life before recharging is needed, and a relatively long service life because the battery seldom sits in a discharged state.

A downside of the technology is that with the electolyte held in the mat, it restricts the mixing of the electrolyte, and that can limit the battery's ability to provide high currents for more than a few seconds, that's not usually a problem with boat batteries.

The big knock against the Optimas is their low reserve capacity. Even the biggest Optimas are small batteries. A typical Group 27 deep-cycle battery has an RC of 180, and some bigger batteries have quite a bit higher RC. The Everstart Maxx29 has 205 minute RC, and the Trojan SC225 has 225 minute RC. The Optima D31, the biggest, has an RC of 155 minutes.
That means about 14% less fishing time than a typical group 27, and 31% less fishing time than the Trojan.

Although I don't have any first hand experience with them, I'm looking at a Sears Diehard that seems like it would be a dandy. The Diehard Platinum Marine PM-1 is an AGM battery like the Optima, and is a size 31 as well, but it has an RC of 205 minutes. Same battery as the Odyssey Trolling Thunder. It's $249.95 at Sears.

I use the Everstart Maxx 29's. I can get them at Walmart for less than $100, and I get around 6 years out of a set by keeping them charged. For the price, I can't find a battery to beat them.

If I fished several times a week, or had to keep the boat someplace where there was no power, I'd probably look at the AGMs, and probably the Diehard.

spot on catfan.i use everstart maxx also .they hold up and for the money cant be beat plus im pretty sure there is only 2 or 3 manufacturers that make all these batteries

this thread is 6 years old and still relevant

I have had the optima's in a Jeep with a winch on it,,and they really only lasted a couple of years no more than I used the winch and wasn't happy with them and the 4 wheelers praise heck out of them on their forums. I have had the largest Sears platinum batteries,,very heavy,,75lbs each for over 4 yrs going strong trolling cranks, and long lining, and keep in them in a heated garage in the winter. When you charge them up for storage, then check them out to see if they need a charge, couple of months later,,they never loose their charge and won't take one after winter storage like some other deep cycle batteries I have used in the past. They are a very good battery,,but check the poundage of them if that concerns you.

Originally Posted by CatFan

Optima batteries are a different technology. The electrolyte is held in a cloth-like material (a glass mat) around the plates.

This gives spill resistance, and the construction greatly reduces the battery's internal resistance. This means that the battery self-discharges slowly, and is more efficient when recharging. That translates into a long shelf life before recharging is needed, and a relatively long service life because the battery seldom sits in a discharged state.

A downside of the technology is that with the electolyte held in the mat, it restricts the mixing of the electrolyte, and that can limit the battery's ability to provide high currents for more than a few seconds, that's not usually a problem with boat batteries.

The big knock against the Optimas is their low reserve capacity. Even the biggest Optimas are small batteries. A typical Group 27 deep-cycle battery has an RC of 180, and some bigger batteries have quite a bit higher RC. The Everstart Maxx29 has 205 minute RC, and the Trojan SC225 has 225 minute RC. The Optima D31, the biggest, has an RC of 155 minutes.
That means about 14% less fishing time than a typical group 27, and 31% less fishing time than the Trojan.

Although I don't have any first hand experience with them, I'm looking at a Sears Diehard that seems like it would be a dandy. The Diehard Platinum Marine PM-1 is an AGM battery like the Optima, and is a size 31 as well, but it has an RC of 205 minutes. Same battery as the Odyssey Trolling Thunder. It's $249.95 at Sears.

I use the Everstart Maxx 29's. I can get them at Walmart for less than $100, and I get around 6 years out of a set by keeping them charged. For the price, I can't find a battery to beat them.

If I fished several times a week, or had to keep the boat someplace where there was no power, I'd probably look at the AGMs, and probably the Diehard.

It's 6 years later now Catfan ...

What battery do you use now ...??

Rickie