Coach resurrection starts with three new red tops. We do use group 34's, right?
I don't think I can beat this price locally Amazon.com: Optima Batteries 8002-002 34 RedTop Starting Battery: Automotive (http://www.amazon.com/dp/B000MS830E/ref=wl_it_dp_o_pd_S_ttl?_encoding=UTF8&colid=32IOIM7XQPXGA&coliid=I2RE53Q6Z681W&psc=1)
Dave, Before you pay premium price for Red Tops, check with O'reillys or other stores and compare the specs on other brands. I will bet you a beer that you can find the same specs at less price almost anywhere.
Good luck with the resurrection, Hope Starr is improving.
Gary B
Hi Dave, when I replaced mine, FT recommended Yellow Tops because that is what my coach came with. Reds have more initial starting push. It is nice having UPS show up,at your door with these.
Double check to post type. Mine used the threaded posts.
It will be good to get on the road.
Roger
I use group 34/78s on my M11 so I can put the negative cable(s) on the side connector. I find it easier to remove the negative cable(s) from the side connector than the top when I put the coach in storage. Not much, if any, difference in price.
I pulled my 3 red tops and went with 3- 900CCA wet cells from Costco. With there replacement policy I will probably never need to pay for a battery again.
Paid less than $250 for all 3.
Much the same choice that we made over 5 years ago. Buyers should check recent red/yellow top reliability on battery forums before plunking down a big chunk of change.
Pierce
I agree with Pierce about checking on Optima quality - actually lack of quality. Lots of posting on web about how Optima quality has gone downhill since being bought by another company a few years back. I know mine died after 3 years. I did not even consider replacing them with Optima - went with Deka AGM's.
Jim, for future reference (the Optima Blue Top starting batteries in our '03 are 8 years old now...), in the Deka Intimidator AGM group 34 do you recommend the 9A34M (marine/RV Intimidator with both SAE and stud/hex nut), the "regular" 9A78DT, or the 9A78CDT "heavier cycle, commercial use"?
Thanks,
Michelle
Battery tip: If you have allowed an expensive battery to discharge (because the coach was not plugged in or other reasons) and now it won't charge and the battery charger stays at zero, hook a good battery to the dead battery (in parallel, positive to positive, negative to negative) with jumper cables and then connect a battery charger. This will "trick" the battery charger into charging and after the voltage has increased after an hour or so, unplug the charger, remove the good battery connections, plug the charger back in and the "dead" battery may recover. You should check often to make sure the battery is not getting hot or outgassing and if so, unplug the charger and take the dead battery to the recycle center.
Pierce
Here's something everyone needs to know about Deka Intimidator AGM batteries...
Terrible warranty!
One year, nothing after that. Deka doesn't list warranty info on their website.
I had a 15 month old Intimidator fail a load test. That's when I tried to find out about a warranty. I called Deka and even then I had to practically pry the info out of the person I talked to.
The other 2 batteries (chassis) tested OK but well below their rating.
I replaced the Dekas with Odyessy AGM's with a 4year full warranty.
I installed 3, group 31 Deka AGM's in my 2003 U320 (size listed on coach spec sheet). Bought the 9A31's with threaded terminals only. No need for something extra sticking up to short to ground when working around the batteries (been there, done that).
Deka group 31's only come in "commercial' grade (whatever that means), whereas, group 34's come in both commercial and noncommercial.
For my use, I could see no need for deep cycle starting batteries. I have a Trik-L-Start connected between the house and starting bats and I rarely dry camp. Also, deep cycle bats have a lower CCA. The group 31 deep cycle (8A31) has 800 CCA vs 925 CCA for the 9A31.
The 9A31's cost $240 each (including tax) here in Ca. I installed them myself - challenging, but doable with a lot of persistence.
Also, Deka group 34 AGM's are about 700 CCA versus 925 CCA for the 9A31.
Thank you Jim! (I should have looked at our 2007 paperwork where I would have seen that we also have group 31, not 34 as others are discussing.... I shouldn't post before coffee )
Group 31 batteries are a commercial size with more room between the plates and the bottom of the case. They usually have a shorter warranty as they don't fit any cars I can think of. They are a little larger all they way around but still may fit where group 34s were. You can usually tell how good a battery is by the weight and group 31 batteries are a lot more of a challenge for a bad back. To me, they are a good choice.
Pierce
Not from experience but what I have read from battery manufacturers and depending how your chargers are set up. As long as your house batteries and chassis batt are the same type your typical Inverter/charger is OK otherwise you may need separate chargers.
My coach had a led acid 8D battery in it when we bought it and it still does. I think it has something like 1400 CCA. Seems to work well. I doubt it would be strong enough for the bigger engines though.
Mark
I recently replace our 3 starting batteries with group 31 batteries from O'Reillys. Thought they were a good price and so far so good. Our coach already had the group 31 batteries.
Mark, my old 270 came with two red top optimas. Each was 800 CCA so I had 1600 not much different.