Optima Batteries.

[ZR1cliff]

Hi,ime thinking of using a optima battery and have heard you guys use them,what do you think of them?,do they need venting?,what size would i go for over a normal HD battery,any advice is welcome,Thanks in advance.

[steve_D]

Cliff
Sorry we don’t use Optima as they are too big for our battery space. We use Odyssey because of their compact size. They are good batteries but I would use a larger battery myself if space were available.

Have heard good things said about Optima though.

Steve

[ZR1cliff]

steve_D said:

Cliff Sorry we don’t use Optima as they are too big for our battery space. We use Odyssey because of their compact size. They are good batteries but I would use a larger battery myself if space were available. Have heard good things said about Optima though. Steve

Steve,first of thanks for the advice on the battery,i enjoyed looking through your site on the build up of your car and have put it in my favourites so i can refer to it when i need encouragement,Great cars by the way

[GTR-TT]

steve_D said:

Cliff Sorry we don’t use Optima as they are too big for our battery space...

OPTIMA-988148 will fit. (but i don't use it either)

Sorry, wrote the wrong number Correct rumbers are D51 and D51R.
These are the ones that fit:

www.optimabatteries.com/publish/optima/americas0/en/config/product_info/automotive/deep_cycle/spec_sheets.RowPar.0001.ContentPar.0001.ColumnPar.0008.File.tmp/D51%20&%20D51R_082004.pdf


>> Edited by GTR-TT on Friday 30th September 12:06

[usagtrman]

ZR1cliff said:

Hi,ime thinking of using a optima battery and have heard you guys use them,what do you think of them?,do they need venting?,what size would i go for over a normal HD battery,any advice is welcome,Thanks in advance.

Cliff

I use the Optima in my GTR and several other cars. I've never had one let me down. Plenty of cranking power for such a small package.

Brad Z

[US-GTR]

usagtrman said:

I use the Optima in my GTR and several other cars. I've never had one let me down. Plenty of cranking power for such a small package. Brad Z

I had an Optima battery in my Miata for 1 year and 3 days. The warranty was for 1 year. Other than the sudden failure, it worked fine.

[ZR1cliff]

Thanks again for your help and advice

[jschwartz]

I've had the same Optima 51 yellow top in my car since 2003, never had to charge it, despite storing the car 3 months out of the year.

[peterpsg]

After having the shame of being push started not once but twice (in front of my mates!) on the weekend, I decided to replace the dead dog that was my Odyssey battery, with an Optima.

I've merged a couple of pics together and added them to my profile if anyone wants a looksie at how the two batteries compare size-wise - sorry about the quality of the pictures, from my cellphone near a 500 watt halogen! (The right-square is a normal 12"/30cm type.)

I picked the D51R (R for reverse terminals), since it has the same orientation as the Odyssey with regards to what side of the battery the terminals are on, the only trick was that is has SAE posts instead of the nice wing nuts on the old battery...

It's a tighter fit, but there's still almost an inch between the square part of the steering mechanism and the side of the battery... more pics to follow when it's installed...

[usagtrman]

Here's a pic of my Optima installed.....tight....but it does fit.



Brad Z

[GTRene]

Hi Brad, nice black GTR you have...but on top of that battery picture, what is that? is that a iron shiny plate? almost sealing the battery? if that is so, don't you asking for trouble that way? like short-circuit??
it looks nice though...but if thats the case maybe better change it for lets say a carbon? piece...
René

[peterpsg]

GTRene said:

change it for lets say a carbon? piece... René

René,

I think you'll find that carbon fibre is also conductive, so you'd be relying on the epoxy to provide insulation...

Brad,
your solution looks nice, have you got a template for it ???

I just be using a piece of aluminium sheet, suitably folded and wrapped/edged in insulation tape - until I can arrange something nicer...

Pete

[GTRene]

peterpsg said:

GTRene said: change it for lets say a carbon? piece... René René, I think you'll find that carbon fibre is also conductive, so you'd be relying on the epoxy to provide insulation... Pete

So carbon is also conductive? I did'nt know
Then some maybe use some other material? so close to the battery? but it looks great thats true...
like this one from bradzzzzz
www.bradzeman.com/albums/userpics/10001/normal_DSCF0004.JPG

>> Edited by GTRene on Wednesday 5th October 12:44

[usagtrman]

The battery mount was milled from billet aluminum because we were trying to keep with the polished and carbon theme of the build. We also planned on having the cover engraved so aluminum was the obvious choice. It was actually quite a big job but turned out quite nice. Pete....I'll check with my builder to see if he still has the pattern.

Here is a link to a picture without the cover installed www.bradzeman.com/displayimage.php?album=1&pos=75

Here is one to the cover after the engraving www.bradzeman.com/displayimage.php?album=1&pos=62

And here is a higher resolution shot to show the base, the hold downs and the cover www.bradzeman.com/displayimage.php?album=1&pos=74

Brad Z

[usagtrman]

When getting out of the GTR Saturday afternoon I managed to leave the key turned on to the accessorie position. This leaves any of the electronics hot and has several lights associated with it(I don't how I missed this....just stupid I guess)...the radar/lazer detector and traction control lights were on for sure. Imagine my suprise when I saw those on Sunday morning. I had planned on a morning blast through the hills west of town as the fall colors are doing their thing. I thought for sure when I switched the ignition on there would be silence. Instead the fuel pump came alive and when I pressed the starter......it fired right up. I'm sure there wasn't a huge drain on the system but once again the Optima came through.

Brad Z

[peterpsg]

I've almost done fabricating my setup, not quite as well polished as yours, though I can definately say that it's a job best done in the early stages of a build, rather than the retrofit to a complete car that I'm trying to do!!!

[omeyhomey]

Hey guys, In my M3 i used the Odyssey dry cell 15lb racing battery (similarly used on motorcycles and etc). It is extremely light and takes up as much space as a stereo headunit and packs a hell of a punch for its size, I used it in my daily driver and never had a single problem with it, in fact at times i forgot i even had a LTW batter minus the 35lbs savings over a regular battery. Just a suggestion.