Battery suggestion for 2020?

nandosman · 04-06-2020, 02:17 PM

Is Optima Yellowtop still the battery to go for, for loaded Zs (dashcams, radars, leds, sound system, etc)?

I found a lot of threads for batteries and most recommend the Optima's, but they are very old threads. Everywhere else on the internet people are saying those are not worth the price.

What are your thoughts?

cv129 · 04-06-2020, 02:30 PM

If you have a garage, a battery tender gives by far the best bang for buck. Although some are better than others, no battery is immune to temperature change, heavy draw, insufficient/short duration charge. Best thing is to keep it fully charged when parked at home.

Seen normal lead acid ones extend well beyond 5 yrs. Seen AGM fail in 3. How you use and take care of the battery is the most important.

JARblue · 04-06-2020, 04:25 PM

Optima quality has gone downhill. That's why all the positive threads you see on them are old.

nandosman · 04-06-2020, 05:23 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by cv129

If you have a garage, a battery tender gives by far the best bang for buck. Although some are better than others, no battery is immune to temperature change, heavy draw, insufficient/short duration charge. Best thing is to keep it fully charged when parked at home.

Seen normal lead acid ones extend well beyond 5 yrs. Seen AGM fail in 3. How you use and take care of the battery is the most important.

I have one, but my current battery just died anyway.

Quote:

Originally Posted by JARblue

Optima quality has gone downhill. That's why all the positive threads you see on them are old.

So what are you guys buying nowadays?

Rusty · 04-06-2020, 05:42 PM

An Odyssey, or a battery made by them. On the Power Wagon forum. That's the go to battery. We really abuse the electrical system on the trucks by using the winches. I have Sears Diehard Platinum battery made by Odyssey with a DC 270 amp alternator and 00 welding cables for power and ground cables.

SteveSAS · 04-07-2020, 06:09 AM

Go with LifePO4 like I did. Battery should outlast the car.

See. Alternator voltage output/Battery charge voltage

You should be OK with 20ah lifePO4 which is around a 1/3 the weight of original.
20ah lithium at 600cca using new A123 system cells seems your best option.
There's a few companies on Aliexpress that can make them for you.

I brought this battery for $450 AUD delivered and the Ah rating of 60 is a lie, its 42Ah.
When buying from china confirm part numbers of cells used to work out capacity.
Their numbers are just made up. And you can set the price based on batteries you can buy locally.

https://www.aliexpress.com/item/3300...6f4363c0NZkn2a

I've had this battery for a year now and all it OK. But you do need to set PWM module to float at 13.8v. And note the operating temperatures these work at. May not be ideal for climate you live in.

Rusty · 04-07-2020, 11:15 AM

Won't buy anything from China if I can help it. Plus that battery is $668.00 USD. I can get 2 batteries for that price. Also, if the battery has to be imported. You're not getting it anytime soon. Nothing from China is being shipped to the US.

SteveSAS · 04-07-2020, 09:24 PM

If you are after weight reduction then all you need is the 28Ah at 600cca which is also a bit smaller than the listed one.

And the price is not 668 USD, its half that including shipping for the 42/60 Ah.

28Ah should be 25% cheaper as config is 4S2P instead of 4S3P.

You should be paying around $350 USD delivered(includes mains charger). And these LifePO4 cells last twice as long as lead acid.

But they do have issues such as temp range and needing special charger if completely discharged. You can't just jump start car if battery flat.

And do remember 20Ah LifePO4 battery is like 40Ah lead acid capacity wise.
Lead acid are a thing of the past.

Maybe you can source similar battery locally. But make sure quality cells are being used. And they can supply enough CCAs

SteveSAS · 04-07-2020, 09:37 PM

Don't waste your money on these.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=hKo5iJ2rH7o

Dentt42 · 04-07-2020, 11:04 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by SteveSAS

Don't waste your money on these.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=hKo5iJ2rH7o

A Scotty video. Seriously?

OP, stick with the battery tender advice.

Rusty · 04-07-2020, 11:18 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by SteveSAS

Don't waste your money on these.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=hKo5iJ2rH7o

Optima batteries are junk. The Power Wagon forum guys won't even think about using them. Winches will kill them in short order.

SteveSAS · 04-08-2020, 12:08 AM

Whats a battery tender for?

And yer, "rev up your engines"

SteveSAS · 04-08-2020, 11:23 PM

Also seen some batteries only 4kg or so but not sure on capacity.
Lithiumax are an option. 370z front heavy so this upgrade will help.

Quicksilvers · 04-10-2020, 06:54 AM

It is sad that the Optima batteries quality control has went down the toilet. Mounting your battery in the rear will help weight transfer in the Z.

SteveSAS · 04-10-2020, 07:12 AM

Not sure if you can buy this one in the states but only 3.5kg
Why even bother moving battery to the rear. Not it uses 20aH cells.
I paid $400 AUD and got 40ah cells but twice as heavy 7kg.

https://www.ebay.com.au/itm/Lithiuma...EAAOSw4cFeMTb2

04-06-2020, 02:17 PM	#1 (permalink)
nandosman Enthusiast Member Join Date: Mar 2017 Location: IL, US Posts: 344 Drives: 2014 370Z T/S Rep Power: 8	Battery suggestion for 2020? Is Optima Yellowtop still the battery to go for, for loaded Zs (dashcams, radars, leds, sound system, etc)? I found a lot of threads for batteries and most recommend the Optima's, but they are very old threads. Everywhere else on the internet people are saying those are not worth the price. What are your thoughts? __________________ FI Non-Res Test Pipes \| FI 18" Res CBE \| Stillen Gen 3 CAI \| Dynotuned @ Dynosty EcuTek 325 whp

04-06-2020, 02:30 PM	#2 (permalink)
cv129 A True Z Fanatic Join Date: Jul 2011 Location: Dallas, TX Posts: 3,222 Drives: 09 Nismo, 16 Nismo Rep Power: 163995	If you have a garage, a battery tender gives by far the best bang for buck. Although some are better than others, no battery is immune to temperature change, heavy draw, insufficient/short duration charge. Best thing is to keep it fully charged when parked at home. Seen normal lead acid ones extend well beyond 5 yrs. Seen AGM fail in 3. How you use and take care of the battery is the most important. JARblue likes this. __________________ Setrab \| RE-71 \| SPL \| JRZ \| Nismo \| ARK \| Whiteline \| RacingBrake \| CJM Oil Pan \| Ti shield

04-06-2020, 04:25 PM	#3 (permalink)
JARblue A True Z Fanatic Join Date: Mar 2011 Location: Austin, TX Age: 43 Posts: 36,450 Drives: 11 Z34, 98 E36 M3 Rep Power: 2684440	Optima quality has gone downhill. That's why all the positive threads you see on them are old. Rusty, Hotrodz, Optimiser and 2 others like this. __________________ 2011 370Z 6MT Sport Gun Metallic \| ARC \| CJM \| Ecutek \| FI \| Fujimura \| R2C \| SPL \| Stillen \| TWM \| Z1 \| ZSpeed \|

04-06-2020, 05:42 PM	#5 (permalink)
Rusty Ronin Samurai - Assassin Join Date: Dec 2011 Location: Fayettenam,Pennsyltucky Age: 68 Posts: 35,180 Drives: 2011 Nismo GM 6M Rep Power: 2684437	An Odyssey, or a battery made by them. On the Power Wagon forum. That's the go to battery. We really abuse the electrical system on the trucks by using the winches. I have Sears Diehard Platinum battery made by Odyssey with a DC 270 amp alternator and 00 welding cables for power and ground cables. JARblue and nandosman like this. __________________ 浪人 - 殺し屋 "The Difficult Anytime, The Impossible By Appointment Only" http://www.the370z.com/members-370z-...o-journal.html

04-07-2020, 11:15 AM	#7 (permalink)
Rusty Ronin Samurai - Assassin Join Date: Dec 2011 Location: Fayettenam,Pennsyltucky Age: 68 Posts: 35,180 Drives: 2011 Nismo GM 6M Rep Power: 2684437	Won't buy anything from China if I can help it. Plus that battery is $668.00 USD. I can get 2 batteries for that price. Also, if the battery has to be imported. You're not getting it anytime soon. Nothing from China is being shipped to the US. __________________ 浪人 - 殺し屋 "The Difficult Anytime, The Impossible By Appointment Only" http://www.the370z.com/members-370z-...o-journal.html

04-07-2020, 06:09 AM	#6 (permalink)
SteveSAS Base Member Join Date: Jun 2018 Location: Australia Posts: 61 Drives: 370z Rep Power: 5364	Go with LifePO4 like I did. Battery should outlast the car. See. Alternator voltage output/Battery charge voltage You should be OK with 20ah lifePO4 which is around a 1/3 the weight of original. 20ah lithium at 600cca using new A123 system cells seems your best option. There's a few companies on Aliexpress that can make them for you. I brought this battery for $450 AUD delivered and the Ah rating of 60 is a lie, its 42Ah. When buying from china confirm part numbers of cells used to work out capacity. Their numbers are just made up. And you can set the price based on batteries you can buy locally. https://www.aliexpress.com/item/3300...6f4363c0NZkn2a I've had this battery for a year now and all it OK. But you do need to set PWM module to float at 13.8v. And note the operating temperatures these work at. May not be ideal for climate you live in.

04-07-2020, 09:24 PM	#8 (permalink)
SteveSAS Base Member Join Date: Jun 2018 Location: Australia Posts: 61 Drives: 370z Rep Power: 5364	If you are after weight reduction then all you need is the 28Ah at 600cca which is also a bit smaller than the listed one. And the price is not 668 USD, its half that including shipping for the 42/60 Ah. 28Ah should be 25% cheaper as config is 4S2P instead of 4S3P. You should be paying around $350 USD delivered(includes mains charger). And these LifePO4 cells last twice as long as lead acid. But they do have issues such as temp range and needing special charger if completely discharged. You can't just jump start car if battery flat. And do remember 20Ah LifePO4 battery is like 40Ah lead acid capacity wise. Lead acid are a thing of the past. Maybe you can source similar battery locally. But make sure quality cells are being used. And they can supply enough CCAs

04-07-2020, 09:37 PM	#9 (permalink)
SteveSAS Base Member Join Date: Jun 2018 Location: Australia Posts: 61 Drives: 370z Rep Power: 5364	Don't waste your money on these. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=hKo5iJ2rH7o Optimiser likes this.

04-08-2020, 12:08 AM	#12 (permalink)
SteveSAS Base Member Join Date: Jun 2018 Location: Australia Posts: 61 Drives: 370z Rep Power: 5364	Whats a battery tender for? And yer, "rev up your engines"

04-08-2020, 11:23 PM	#13 (permalink)
SteveSAS Base Member Join Date: Jun 2018 Location: Australia Posts: 61 Drives: 370z Rep Power: 5364	Also seen some batteries only 4kg or so but not sure on capacity. Lithiumax are an option. 370z front heavy so this upgrade will help.

04-10-2020, 06:54 AM	#14 (permalink)
Quicksilvers A True Z Fanatic Join Date: May 2017 Location: Atlanta, GA Posts: 2,039 Drives: 2017 370z Rep Power: 25463	It is sad that the Optima batteries quality control has went down the toilet. Mounting your battery in the rear will help weight transfer in the Z. __________________ Mr. Clean

04-10-2020, 07:12 AM	#15 (permalink)
SteveSAS Base Member Join Date: Jun 2018 Location: Australia Posts: 61 Drives: 370z Rep Power: 5364	Not sure if you can buy this one in the states but only 3.5kg Why even bother moving battery to the rear. Not it uses 20aH cells. I paid $400 AUD and got 40ah cells but twice as heavy 7kg. https://www.ebay.com.au/itm/Lithiuma...EAAOSw4cFeMTb2

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