"hybrid" battery?

[TonyW Lurker Find all posts View Profile Close TonyW]

looking to fit second batt to O2 TD, Opposite Lock trying to sell me what they claim is a hybrid between deep cycle and cranking batt. Main load will be intermittent use of 100w transceiver (low duty cycle) also overnight Engel fridge 2.5a. Has anyone had experience of these hybrid batteries? Good compromise or worst of both worlds?
TonyW

[craigm Addicted PP Member Find all posts View Profile Close craigm]

Tony there are a number of brands of batteries out in the market that provide both cranking and deep cycle capabilities. All Rounder, Optima (I have one of these), Deka to name a few. I presently haven't had the battery for long enough to provide any useful feedback but the are plenty of members here should be able to present their opinion. Have a scroll through the Electrical threads as theres plenty of good reading to be had.

[croozza Avid PP Poster! Find all posts View Profile Close croozza]

If your going to get a battery, go to a battery specialist, it will be cheaper in the long run.

[samo Addicted PP Member Find all posts View Profile Close samo]

exide batteries also do a dual purpose battery called the exide extreme, i have seen these available at big w and Kmart of all places.
http://www.exide.com.au/battery-rang...-truck/extreme. they were about $200 ish from memory. cheers samo

[2002TX Junior Member Find all posts View Profile Close 2002TX]

My vote goes with the Optima Yellow Top, 3 yr warranty and high CCA to get you out of trouble if the cranking battery fails (I have an auto and very paranoid about being stranded in that event). Relatively low AH, but faster to recharge. $395 delivered on eBay at present.

[TonyW Lurker Find all posts View Profile Close TonyW]

Thanks for responses. Has anyone had ACTUAL experience, good or bad, of lifetime/ability under deep discharge OR of cranking ability of hybrids? Seems to me that a couple of critical success factors would be (a) can they deliver specified AH for my fridge or radio after say two years connected as second batt, and after a number of deep discharges and (b) can they deliver sufficient CCAs for cold starting a 1KZTE by themselves in emergencies after that same two years. If the answers are yes, it would seem to be the best proposition for a second truck battery, as opposed to say a caravan battery which never needs the CCAs. Looking at Optima YellowTop, it seems that their COMMERCIAL variant is the one classified as a hybrid and is the one to compare with say Exide Extreme. Anyone comment please?
TonyW

[croozza Avid PP Poster! Find all posts View Profile Close croozza]

My current battery is a hybrid (century), and so far so good, great CCA (actually more CCA than my old bat, and the new bat is the same size), I haven't really drained the bat down yet with accesories, but they have a safety cut out and will not drop below 100CCA, so you can still start your 4B.

[ecka Lurker Find all posts View Profile Close ecka]

Tony I had an Optima DC4 installed as an auxiliary in June 08. I travelled around the country for over 2 years and over 50k. The battery powered the uhf, electric brake controller, 50l waeco (-15 degrees) and the electrics to the trailer (2 *120 ah batteries) which also powered a 60l engel (4 degrees) without any issues. The Optima also started the truck when the original battery failed after 30 months. So it did what was needed when it needed to. Can't ask for more!

[TonyW Lurker Find all posts View Profile Close TonyW]

Thanks Croozza and Ecka,
I have what I need now - some support that DC4 or similar hybrid are effective so I'll go that route. Appreciate forum support on this guys. Now to find the pennies needed for a proper setup.
TonyW