Battery quality

dave11

Lately I am having huge issues with 6 volt batteries purchased locally, not holding a charge or failing on the car, in one case this cased my recently rebuilt generator to overcharge which destroyed the new armature.

 The discussions I have had with the generator rebuild guys point to the quality of the batteries as the source of blame.

Interstate and AC delco are the two I have bought, apparently these are now manufactured off shore?

Are there any manufacturers making good quality batteries any more?

Frankvintagefullflowcom

Dave,

I'd recommend switching to the Optima. They're several things:

-Expensive

-Don't look "correct".

-Powerful

-Clean (no leakage so no corrosion issues)

-Mount in any position, although inverted isn't recommended.

-Higher voltage (by about .5 V in the 6V version)

-Last about twice as long as a lead/acid battery

 I have one in each of our three Hudsons. Just Frank's opinion.

Frank

 

lostmind

For the purist , you can " disguise" the optima.

Someone makes cases to hide them in.

Napa still has decent batteries. They sell a lot to the tractor guys.

I've always used Napa , and get about 5 years out of them.

They have some of the highest cold cranking amps of all.

dave11

Lostmind,

Do you know the make of the Napa batteries ?, we don't have a Napa in the little town I live in up here in Canada but we can get most stuff if I know which one to ask for

Dave

Jon B

Optimas are fine batteries, no doubt about it.  You should have zero problems with them.

If you want sometime a bit cheaper, in a traditional lead battery, I suggest you look at DEKA.  It is made in Pennsylvania.  I have used them for some years. They have a very good CCA (cold cranking amps) rating, about 780 -- almost that of Optima.  However, they will not last anywhere near as long.  You might get 4-5 years out of one, whereas the Optimas can last much longer.  I bought an optima last year at the Batteries Plus chain of stores and I think it cost about $90.  This is for a 6-volt Group 2 battery, which most of our Hudsons use.

lostmind

Lostmind,

Do you know the make of the Napa batteries ?, we don't have a Napa in the little town I live in up here in Canada but we can get most stuff if I know which one to ask for

Dave

East Penn Manufacturing Co.

I tried to post a link twice , won't stick

Jon B

Here's the list of DEKA batteries -- the group 2 is up near the top.  http://www.eastpennmanufacturing.com/wp-content/uploads/Deka-Commercial-Batteries-Flyer-0010.pdf

For some bizarre reason they list the CCA as 675, which is not a particularly powerful incentive to buy it.  That's what it said in last year's list, too.

When I got the battery home, it said "780 CCA" on it.

Go figure.

lastcardlouis

I've had Optima batteries for over 10 years in two 12v cars and they're still going strong. Two months ago I installed an Optima 6v in my '29 Hudson. A friend is using the same in his '29 Pierce-Arrow and he's delighted!

Hudson Grandpa

The one on the right is now 6 yrs old. One on the left is probably 3.  800 Cranking Amps per battery, but hooked up in series still only 800CCA.  Right Frank?

Frankvintagefullflowcom

Welllll. Unless my eyes are playing tricks on me (again) that appears to be a parallel connection of two six volt Optimas. Please verify. In that configuration, the quick math would put it still at 6V but double the current producing capability @ 1600.  Logic would dictate that a series connection would produce 12V at the same current rating (800) as a single 6V.

F