Date: Mon, 2 Jun 2008 23:07:37 -0700
Reply-To: Philip Zimmerman <philzimm1@OBERON.ARK.COM>
Sender: Vanagon Mailing List <vanagon@gerry.vanagon.com>
From: Philip Zimmerman <philzimm1@OBERON.ARK.COM>
Subject: Re: Optima Blue D31M
Content-Type: text/plain; charset=US-ASCII; format=flowed
Date: Mon, 2 Jun 2008 12:35:05 -0700
From: M'obeechi <obeechi@RUNBOX.COM>
Subject: Optima Blue D31M
Previously some posters made me have second thoughts on Trojan
batteries.
I've seen a number of posts here on the Optima, and don't remember any
bad ones.
----snip------------
These specs for the Blue appear the same as for the Commercial Yellow
Top.
The Blue has two sets of posts on the top.
So are Optima hype or the ulitimate?=20
Not sure if they charge as well with a solar panel...
-------------------------
Dear Monseigneur Obeechi,
Like all-things spiritual, battery specifications require delicate and
special handling for them to make any relative material-sense in the
temporal world of Vanagons. Further my-son, having second thoughts
around anything in Vanagonland is quite a normal and very human
activity. While I'm being somewhat glib and sarcastic, I do have some
considerable experience utilizing Optima(s) in my auxiliary battery
bank.
As previously posted, the Vanagon-list gives Optima Batteries a "mixed"
review at best. I eschew most of the detractors as not matching their
current-loads to an appropriately sized battery-bank and not
boosting-up the mediocre Vanagon Charging System. These two oversights
will/have kill(ed) more batteries than Optima has ever manufactured.
Size your Optima to your load requirements and charge it within the
manufacturers specifications.... it will remain happy and provide years
(eight in my case) of service. Mess-up with any of the above and you're
doomed to battery-hell and out a whole pile of hard-earned alms!
Regarding your specific questions:
The differences between Optima Blue & Yellow Tops (other than their
respective colours) is small. Optima's own product literature is
confusing, at best, to most mortals and some reading between-the-lines
is required to gain the clearest understanding of their subtle
differences.
The Blue Tops are dual-purpose Starting/Deep Cycle batteries, primarily
for use in Marine applications. Those nifty dual-posts on-top easily
hook-up to standard automotive tapered-lugs and those 3/8" diameter
cool stainless-steel threaded posts, easily allow/accept accessory
wires with ease. The Blue Top, also carries a Cranking-Amp
Specification.
The Yellow Top is primarily a Deep Cycle battery. They can be utilized
for engine-starting (sez Optima's own product literature) but not
specifically designed for this application. They do not carry a
Cranking-Amp specification. Just for fun, I tested a Yellow-Top battery
with a digital battery tester. The tester would not give a Cranking-Amp
readout when hooked-up.... it read zero or the read-out flashed ERROR!
The tester did give a Reserve Capacity read-out though. Same tester on
a Blue-Top gave a Cranking-Amp value and a Reserve Capacity read-out.
Pretty cool, these digital test-equipment things..... 8-) How the hell
does it know the difference? (Mr Mike... Rocket J. Squirrel you still
reading Vanagon or busy moving to Bend, Oregon?) Sorry Mgr. Obeechi,
I'm digressing as usual.
Are Optima's hype or the ultimate? Well your Grace, I'm gonna side with
the conservatives on this one. They are neither! They are rather
high-priced though. As many have previously posted, one can buy 4-6
Wally World (or equivalent) Group 41 Wet-Cells for the price of one
Optima. Will an Optima last 4-6 times longer? Perhaps but....
depends-on how each is used in-service and the discharge/charge cycles
the battery suffers under. An Optima, will survive multiple
deep-discharges and return to service (with appropriate Charging). A
standard Group 41 Starting battery will not survive this torture.
Further, An Optima will-not (under most circumstances) never leak or
out-gas in or onto your beloved Vanagons' painted surfaces.... Battery
Acid is a great paint-stripper... BTDT.
Charge well on a Solar Panel you ask?
With an appropriate Charge-Controller, any AGM (Optima or others) will
charge just great. Probably better than on the Stock Vanagons' Charging
System with its dirty current and low side of optimal voltage out-put.
One key fact of Optima's not getting along with the Vanagon's charging
System is the low-voltage (13.8 volts) out of the stock Alternator
Voltage-Regulator. This will kill an Optima in a matter of months or
lead-to only mediocre battery discharge capacity!
Three possible (out of many) ways around this problem. First, beef-up
the wire between the Alternators' (B+ term) and the Starter-Solenoids'
Lug (Term-30). If charging an auxiliary battery from the stock wire
from the dash fuse-panel via the stock-rely in the Aux-Batt-Box, best
to either stay with a Group 41 Wet-Cell Battery or plan on doing some
significant wiring up-grades.
Begin at the source... The Alternator Voltage-Regular. Secondly, Change
to a Bosch off-alternator (remote) adjustable regular. Adjust the
out-put to 14.2 volts or so (your Optima or other AMG batteries will
LOVE this kick in voltage). This may boil your Wet-Cell Starting
Battery so, do this with all appropriate cautions. Best to keep the
Starting-Batterys' electrolyte level, just over the plates.... not a
smidgeon more... you have been warned.... OK?
Thirdly, I personally recommend the Sure-Power Isolator (Flame me
Dennis). This box bye-passes the Alternators' regulator and substitutes
its own regulator into the charging system. Sure, one loses about 0.2
volts too heat, due to the blocking diodes inside the Isolator but more
than compensates for this loss buy upping the charging voltage to the
batteries, to 14.5 volts! With 14.5 volts, your AGM battery(s) are
charging the way they were made to perform.... Anything less than this
Mgr. your wasting your valuable time and money...... YMMV
As always
with kind and loving regards
The reverend-father
Phil Z.
'87 Westie
Campbell River, BC
