From: MV (MV@dc9.tzo.com)
Date: Fri Jan 20 2006 - 18:34:49 PST
Wow, thanks to everyone for the responses!
The suggestion to use solargizers is probably a very good one. I have
I think I bought about 10 batteries last year, so it gets to be a major
But the problem I am having is this:
If I go the cheap route and buy $40 batteries from Sams or Walmart or
Thanks,
Dave
>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>.
Sarge wrote:
This archive was generated by hypermail 2.1.4 : Tue Jul 18 2006 - 21:39:36 PDT
gone to using cheap solar battery maintainers sold by Harbor Freight and
they really help but I really don't know if they are as good as the
Solargizers, I suspect not.
expense. I just have a lot of equipment that takes batteries. And it
is not used daily which is really hard on a battery.
similar, they tend to be of fairly low performance (low CCA - regardles
of the actual rating) and I can get maybe two years out of it. If the
Optima's are good enough for a 3 year replacement warranty, then I am
already ahead since I can at least get a replacement after two years
even if it works only as well as the batteries I am buying now. So I
think I will pick one up and give it a shot.
> Dave, I can relate my personal experience with Optima batteries.
> I have used one in my Jeep for the last ten years. I originally bought it
> because of three reasons.
> The first reason is that Optima advertising claimed that the batteries were
> superior for the 'shake and rattle' of driving off-road. Something about
> normal lead-acid batteries self-destructing under severe vibration.
> The second reason was that they can be mounted in any orientation without
> spillage.
> The third reason was that our entire military fleet (300 vehicles) converted
> to them to save money from constant replacement costs.
> That is, with the exception of the vehicles requiring huge amperage.
> I cannot testify about the technical claims, but I'm sure there are people
> on this list who will be quite capable of backing up or refuting the
> technical aspects of gel-cell technology.
> I can testify to their maintenance free performance and to their longevity.
> If an Optima costs twice as much but lasts 4 times longer, I think that it
> makes good fiscal sense. Also, I do abuse my batteries. Long periods of
> disuse, many jump starts of other vehicles, severe off-road beatings etc.
> I am totally convinced that Optima red-tops are worth the price. Blue tops
> and yellow tops (marine and deep cycle, not sure which is which) I cannot
> talk about as I have owned neither.
> I personally will stick with red-top Optima's in everything I own.
> Do not expect miracles, the ampere rating is governed by the laws of
> physics. You cannot use a 650 CCA battery in a 1300 CCA application. You use
> two of them!
> If you are using several batteries a year in your equipment, there is
> another fix action you may be interested in.
> A couple of years ago I was visiting a tactical unit in Oklahoma. They had a
> 400 vehicle fleet. They deployed on average 4 times a year. The rest of the
> time, the vehicles sat idle. There annual battery costs were around $37,000
> to replace dead batteries. They reduced the cost to $11,000 annually by
> installing Solargizer battery maintenance systems. Even though their initial
> cost was frightening, it was a one time cost and was offset in under two
> years by the money savings in not buying replacement batteries. Save a
> little now or a lot later. The government does not normally follow that
> route, but it seems pretty sensible for you and me. You can read all about
> Solargizer's at http://www.pulsetech.com
> Don't be alarmed at the prices, they are available much cheaper from other
> sources, such as E-bay. A quick search shows me that there are 8 for sale
> right now. I have used a Solargizer for two years on my M35A2 and it appears
> to work as advertised.
> -Sarge
> (who owns no stock in Optima or Solargizer!)
>
>
> ----- Original Message -----
> From: "MV" <MV@dc9.tzo.com>
> To: "Military Vehicles Mailing List" <mil-veh@mil-veh.org>
> Sent: Friday, January 20, 2006 7:10 AM
> Subject: [MV] Optima batteries
>
>
>
>>What is everyones take on Optima batteries?
>>
>>They are about double the price of a "normal" battery.
>>
>>Are they worth it? Why?
>>
>>I've got to replace several batteries per year in the equipment I own
>>and the expense is getting old.
>>
>>Dave
>
>
>
>
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