School me on a new starting battery for my TJ

[redjeep]

I've had good luck with refurbished car batteries as well.  I get mine at the Interstate Referb Plant on Homestead Avenue in Hartford.  They sell new Interstate batteries there as well.

 

[MattG]

On FB marketplace I often see people selling AGM batteries for decent prices.

 

[JeepinMaxx]

Thanks guys - I think I'll give MidState a try next week.

 

[JeepinMaxx]

I stopped by MidState battery this week.  These folks know their stuff!

The guy I was speaking to pretty much talked me out of a new battery.  He said that with the AGM batteries, you need to charge at a high rate to get the cells back to a healthy condition. 

Apparently the 2A wasn't enough.  So upon his suggestion, I charged at 20A for and hour and dropped down to 5A for the rest.  As long as the battery doesn't get to hot to touch, 20A is fine.  If it overheats, just let it cool down and try again.  The Optima is a 55 Ah battery, so it can charge at up to 55A.

After the charge, the test showed a huge improvement in CCA and internal resistance.

While I was there, I got an education on AGM batteries.  The Optima Spiral cells are an older technology and don't have the capacity as newer accordion designs. (output and charge cycles).  Those have more surface area (& lead) than Optimas.  They rated the Odyssey as one of the best.  The guy also said AGM batteries made by Hanook in TN and East Penn /Deka.  MidState has a private label version from Hanook that they sell.

Also, regarding side terminals on the 34/78 batteries - the side terminals can handle high current draws and he recommends using those for winch connections.  Back in the day, Optimas had problems with that because the smaller threads on the screws loosened up and would arc and cause heat up (could melt the terminals) so they got a bad ra.

I'll see how the optima holds up for now.

I'm still surprised they talked me into keeping the Optima instead of just selling me a new battery! 

 

[JohnyPro]

That’s a good shop, they know you’ll be back because you trust them and it’s free advertising to your friends on the forum :mrgreen: smart guys to not pawn you!

 

[redjeep]

Apparently the 2A wasn't enough.  So upon his suggestion, I charged at 20A for and hour and dropped down to 5A for the rest.

Does your charger have an AGM/Lead stitch?

 

[JeepinMaxx]

I used the AGM/Cold setting.  But my original charger topped out at 2A.  I found an old Schumacher charger from my high school years in the barn that puts out more, but it's analog - so no AGM setting...

 

[Red Rocker]

I have been recommending Midstate batteries for a while, I will make the trip up there for a battery or they will deliver it to me when they come down this way for free

Steve Jr is a good guy and is cowner of the place with his dad, and if you need chargers (Noco and others), cables, terminals or other battery related parts they have them

860-243-0646

 

[beaker]

I get 5-10 years out of interstates.  Portland NAPA carries them.  I never run the AGM, just flooded cell..

 

[redjeep]

The battery is crapping out on Andrea's Nissan Rogue, slow cranking on cold mornings. 

I went to Interstate in Hartford yesterday morning and picked up a TYPE 35 referb for $69.13 out the door.

I think she'll need it this week!

 

[JeepinMaxx]

That internal resistance is pretty high.  They guy at Midstate said internal resistance is one of the important things they consider when they are dealing with warranty's

 

[redjeep]

That was first thing in the morning after sitting all night from a full charge.

The Rogue fired right up this morning at 8 below, I doubt the old one would have pulled through.