Do I Need A New Battery?...

[onac255]

Well now that the sun is going down a lot earlier me and the mechanics that work on my Big Riggs got caught working after sundown.

 

Well I turned on my headlights and fog lamps. (Low beams) and not even eight minutes pass and they start dimming so I run to my truck and no luck...dead battery.

 

Then today I am on my laptop in my truck and plugged into an inverter running of the twelve volt power supply inside my truck. Well not even 10 minutes pass and my laptop screen starts dimming(does it when unplugged from AC) and I try to start my truck and again dead battery.

 

A battery should last longer than 10 minutes shouldn't it?

 

If I need a new battery what do you all recommend? Are optimas really that good?

[pm26]

Headlights and fog lights should not draw enough current to run down a properly charged automotive battery in 10 minutes. Do you have any other electrical accessories installed on the truck that could be a source of parasitic current draw?

 

Anyway, if you want a new battery, I would get one with the highest possible reserve capacity. The make of the battery is largely immaterial. Current capacity is.

[onac255]

Thanks Pete.

 

I do have a sound system in my truck.(See My Sig) but I turn it off when running headlights or my laptop.

[Zembonez]

If I leave the inverter plugged in over the weekend in my company car, the battery is weak by monday morning (even with nothing plugged in to it). I would not waste my money on an Optima. My buddy's shop has a pile of them that get replaced every month and the distributor comes around and picks them up. He says the Optimas die much more often than his standard Interstate batteries do. I know there are those who SWEAR by optima... just telling you what the real world is seeing.

 

I'd just buy a premium battery at your local auto supply.

[VMax2007]

I'd just buy a premium battery at your local auto supply.

 

+1

 

 

Jim...the obnoxious sig.... Lose it!

[sillyazz]

If I leave the inverter plugged in over the weekend in my company car, the battery is weak by monday morning (even with nothing plugged in to it). I would not waste my money on an Optima. My buddy's shop has a pile of them that get replaced every month and the distributor comes around and picks them up. He says the Optimas die much more often than his standard Interstate batteries do. I know there are those who SWEAR by optima... just telling you what the real world is seeing.

 

I'd just buy a premium battery at your local auto supply.

 

 

Isnt Optima owned by Interstate ?

[onac255]

I don't leave anything plugged in though. Just running my laptop off of the inverter for 10 minutes or less will drain the battery.

[Zembonez]

I don't leave anything plugged in though. Just running my laptop off of the inverter for 10 minutes or less will drain the battery.

I'd get the battery tested by a reliable shop. If it tests to be bad replace it. If it tests to be good, then you need to look into how much the alternator is charging.

[Zembonez]

If I leave the inverter plugged in over the weekend in my company car, the battery is weak by monday morning (even with nothing plugged in to it). I would not waste my money on an Optima. My buddy's shop has a pile of them that get replaced every month and the distributor comes around and picks them up. He says the Optimas die much more often than his standard Interstate batteries do. I know there are those who SWEAR by optima... just telling you what the real world is seeing.

 

I'd just buy a premium battery at your local auto supply.

 

 

Isnt Optima owned by Interstate ?

 

I don't have any idea. I have nothing against Optima, just telling you what I have seen first hand.

[jrrod2004]

Thread Jack:

 

I want not to find out what battery is the 'best' but find out what battery would fit the primary battery tray with a CCA rating of 850 or higher. My POS factory battery is near the end of its life and I want to get something that will fit but is stronger in starting power. I also want to install a high output alternator (http://www.nationsautoelectric.com/ad244.html), one that has a rating of 150 amps at idle or higher. No real reason as to me NEEDING it, but rather having it (and installing something of higher quality that stock).

 

Unthread Jack:

 

I have always used Duralast Gold batteries and those seem ok, I have heard many using Interstate and a few using Optima. Dad recommends that I put Optima, but I ain't sure about that yet.

[Zembonez]

Thread Jack:

 

I want not to find out what battery is the 'best' but find out what battery would fit the primary battery tray with a CCA rating of 850 or higher. My POS factory battery is near the end of its life and I want to get something that will fit but is stronger in starting power. I also want to install a high output alternator (http://www.nationsautoelectric.com/ad244.html), one that has a rating of 150 amps at idle or higher. No real reason as to me NEEDING it, but rather having it (and installing something of higher quality that stock).

 

Unthread Jack:

 

I have always used Duralast Gold batteries and those seem ok, I have heard many using Interstate and a few using Optima. Dad recommends that I put Optima, but I ain't sure about that yet.

Since you are in Austin, go by Austin Beck Electric or Andy's Auto Electric (both on Lamar) and have a look at the dead pile of Optima batteries. You'll be surprised.

[catrains]

the battery needs to be load tested...always buy a battery with the maximum reserve capacity...

 

the alternator maybe damaged as well...the alternator with excessive hot climate under heavy loads...inverters and aftermarket noise amps will quickly cook the alternator...

 

voltage readings and if necessary current output...

 

if the alternator is bad replace with an alternator that has a current output that best matches your load....

 

the oem supplied alternator is the minimum spec..

[jrrod2004]

the battery needs to be load tested...always buy a battery with the maximum reserve capacity...

 

the alternator maybe damaged as well...the alternator with excessive hot climate under heavy loads...inverters and aftermarket noise amps will quickly cook the alternator...

 

voltage readings and if necessary current output...

 

if the alternator is bad replace with an alternator that has a current output that best matches your load....

 

the oem supplied alternator is the minimum spec..

 

which sucks....

[jrrod2004]

so no other input???

[onac255]

Don't AC Delco (Stock Battery) batteries suck anyway? Mine is two years old now so I am pretty sure it's shot.