> So what's the skinny on conventional batteries?? (Let's hear it from an
> ex-salesman).
Firstly, this applies to almost all battery manufacturers. The ones I sell
(part time, student job) are manufactured by Exide, which supplies a LOT of
batteries. Anyways, like anything, they are cost-consciously engineered. The
plates are thinner and weaker in order to maximise surface area, to boost
CCA. The electrolyte volume ends up being very small, relative to the
surface of the plates, and any major discharge can cause excessive heat
buildup and warpage. The connections at the plates aren't too hot either,
another victim of trying to reduce costs, and can break easily. They are
usually sealed and it's impossible to service them. They rarely, if ever,
last until warranty is over, they seem to fail right when the Pro-Rated
warranty is down to about 25% coverage, so you have to cough up 75$ for a
"warranty" replacement. Which, of course, means that they are making money
off you, even on the warrantied part. It's quite rare to see a battery last
past it's warranty coverage.
The best way out? Pick the biggest case size, with the smallest CCA, in the
mid-grade, at least in Exide. There's one model that I've never seen
warrantied yet, it's about 600 CCA but a very large battery. That would mean
thick plates, and hopefully, some resistance to vibration. The bigger rated
ones seem to have a shorter lifespan than the cheaper ones, except for the
really cheap "beater" batteries.
One manufacturer that has resisted and still manages to put out a decent
quality product seems to be AC-Delco. Unfortunately most of their stuff is
side post, so, useless for us.
Anyways, thanks guys, I'll see what I can dig up in town. Should I go with
two yellow tops, instead of one red and one yellow? Besides cost, I don't
see any advantage to running a red top. Even Optima recommends the yellow
over the red for repeated start/stop cycles.
Sooo, install one yellow for now, replace cables to winch with fine strand
2/0 welding cable, bigger ground wire, fatter wire to starter and
alternator, bigger alternator, smaller pulley... Dammit! I thought I was
immune to shipfitter's disease!
J-L
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