which battery is the best for non-frequent usage
 

Hey guys, quick question - I use my 2014 370z probably like once every 2 weeks, which battery would you say would be best for holding a charge?

I use to have the optima yellow top and that one was pretty great overall not many issues, but recently I had to get it replaced and got an optima red top instead and it SUCKS for in frequent usage lol.. end up needing to boost it all the time

Should I get the optima yellow top again or is there a better brand? Thanks so much for the help, appreciate you guys!

Lithium! That's what I have in my Z.

With such a frequency, a Z34 shouldn't need a boost when driven enough to recharge the battery properly. Does the car have an aftermarket electronic device/equipment installed?

If I were you, I would get a cheap float charger to keep the battery healthy; then, it doesn't matter what kind of battery is in the car. Most float chargers also have the capability of resurrecting a battery considered dead.

If I know I'll not be driving my Z for a while, I use a Battery Tender to keep the battery charged. Simple, works great.


This one:
https://www.autobarn.net/battery-tender-plus.html

:iagree:

As mentioned above, a battery tender may be your best option.

Another vote for a float charger. Even an expensive one is cheap compared to an Optima. You can also wire a pigtail to the battery so all you have to do is plug it in when you park it.


Kirk B.

The battery tenders i got came with a pigtail

Sent from my SM-G965U using Tapatalk

Mine came with 2. One with screw eyes and one with alligator clamps.
Since I use mine to maintain my kayak battery, I bought a SAE connector with a weather cover to mount on the battery box.
(I was trying to add value to my post, rather than just "me, too" it, lol.)
Bacon.


Kirk B.

Lol, I don't mess with battery tenders. On my 370Z, started right up after 5 months winter storage.

Now my motorcycle which also has a lithium, I left it for 16 months because I completely ignored it the summer of 2019 when I got my brand new 2020 Z.

It started right up first time April 2020 after having put it away October of 2018.

With a new battery, yeah. Over time it will take it's toll. A tender will keep the battery in good working order for a long long time.

My kayak battery is a 10ah sealed lead acid deer feeder battery and is going on 4 years old and still strong. I bought the battery tender after I forgot about, and couldn't resuscitate, it's predecessor.
My Z is my daily driver, and, after 4 years, I'm close to having to replace the OEM battery in it. Since I don't have any special needs for it, I will probably replace it with one from O'Reilly's or Advanced, since they're right there in town.


Kirk B.

Often I go weeks with out driving my car especially in the winter. I never had an issue starting. I use a Optima Yellow.

WOW, my factory battery lasted 7 yrs. Just make sure you keep an eye on the acid level and add distilled water when needed to the proper level.

Thanks for all the suggestions guys really appreciate it! So few things, where I live in NYC I have to pay for parking in my building and my parking spot doesn't have access to any type of outlets unfortunately. So I don't think a float charger would work for my situation


Seems besides that the biggest recommendations were Lithium or Yellow Top Optimum, which do you guys think would be best for an infrequent driver and any specific brands?

Also wonder what I can do with this crappy red top optima one lol.. they only let me return it for another red top >.<

:iagree:

Regarding the red top, probably just need to cut your losses. There are other batteries out there that are high quality deep cycle agm besides optima yellow top.

Also, if you can’t use a battery tender due to garage parking, you could get a NOCO jump box. It’s a lithium ion battery jump starter, you charge it up at home and depending on the model, it’ll jump start a semi multiple times. It keeps a charge forever so just keep it in your z and once per year bring it home to top it up charge wise and you’ll be good to go.

Even since Optima moved to Mexico. The red and yellow top batteries are not lasting.

Odyssey Battery 35-PC1400T is the battery you want.

Is a deep cycle battery even needed in the op’s situation? I mean with deep cycle batteries come charging system issues like is your stock alternator up to actually charging the deep cycle agm, then if you upgrade the alternator, gotta upgrade the wiring between it and the battery and battery to chassis ground etc.

Unless he’s got a mad loud stereo yo, or he’s running a winch, I think just get an oem or oem type battery and a jump box and call it a day. If he’s under warranty, then I’d definitely stay away from deep cycle agm and alternator upgrades etc, not worth the hassle.

(Don’t you love how even the most simple conversations on the internet can turn stupid complicated right quick?). :icon17:

The battery I pointed out is the stock replacement battery. It's not a deep cycle battery. A deep cycle battery is designed for long drains and long recharges. Look at a golf cart. Short cycling will kill a deep cycle battery. On my Power Wagon. I replaced the 160 amp alternator with a 270 amp alternator, changed the cables to 00 size cables, and the battery is an Odyssey battery. All because of the 15,000 lb winch.

I just replaced 4 deep cycle batteries on my motorhome. That $800. :shakes head: They only lasted 4 yrs.

Yeah, I didn’t google which odesssy you listed. What you mentioned above is why I brought up the deep cycle battery stuff, OP mentioned an optima yellow top, those afaik, are all deep cycle agm batteries, the red tops are regular duty agms.

I need to do what you did on your power wagon to my jk, sigh, just empty every pocket...

Thanks so much brother, will buy this one! Hopefully it lasts a lot longer.. also have to check if my car has some sort of short circuit issues, cause another issue I was having was that even after jumpstarting my car and being able to drive it around fine with all the displays turning on, the radio still wouldn't play or anything audio related


Crazy how many things can break just from not using your car much >.<

Went like 3-4 months with barely using and it seems everything got messed up lol.. Got a 2014 touring edition with less than 20K miles

Hey guys, seems I'm back at square one as every site I check says its sold out of

Odyssey Battery 35-PC1400T

Some will say its in stock, but when you try to checkout it says it will take 20-30 days to get it lol.. Would appreciate any other recommendations on high quality batteries that would be good for someone who frequently goes 2-4 weeks without turning on their 370z

I currently have the yellow top optima and it sucks for infrequent use, doesn't start up even after just one week of not using it lol

Unsure age of your optima; as a Lot of battery companies are currently using recycled lead in their new batteries.
I’m an optima user myself & recently exchanged a yellow top for a blue top marine battery.
Haven’t used it yet, as my Z is going through an overhaul process.
Optima is currently redesigning their batteries; as I’ve seen some pictures of newer models.
The blue top I received is an SC34DM, which I’m planning to mount in rear.

In my previous Z, ran the Red Top group 35 & it worked great...but there’s more battery companies making AGM batteries now with good warranties.

Most optima batteries carry a 3-year free replacement warranty, unsure if this helps any :ugh2:

Advance Auto and the new Die Hard would be my 2nd choice.