Battery choice for dual battery optima or std deep cycle/century
Anyone experienced with both the Optima and the std Century overlander etc, What are your thoughts, I will be using lights and fridges only. Possibly a winch in the future??? Thanks in advance
Lightforce HIDs 240s x 2, 170HIDs x 4, Maxtrax x 4, roof mount lock pins, redarc BCDC 1240, Optima Yellow top, Baintec Volt/AMP meter, internal LED lighting, Drop down table, ARB47lt fridge, Drop slide, Black widow draws, WAECO 240v Converter, Wetseat seat covers, GME UHF aerial, iphone cradel n GME aerial, HEMA GPS, Tunit Chip, Couplertec Rust protection, OME suspention, Lukey performance exhaust, Rhino Black pioneer tray, BFG ATs allround
If your going to use a winch in the future, you have 2 choices, you can forget about the deep cycle or, have the winch wired up to the stating battery, for lighting and fridges the deep cycle is best.
97 VX Grande, with front & rear air lockers, ARB Sahara winch bar with tigers 11 winch, 2" EFS lift, 265/75/16 Achilles Desert hawk XMT, and more.
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Wire your lights and accessories off the optima. When wiring your winch, wire it directly to the start battery. Wiring to the deep cycle battery will drain the battery down to the point where your battery isolator will isolate it from the circuit making it useless. Optima are great batteries. You pay a little extra for them, but the quicker recharge times make up for it when out on the road. I've had mine for close to 5 years, previously in the old Toyota Surf I had and fitted into the Prado. No complaints here.
i have my winch wired to the main battery, whilst winching i flick the override switch on redarc to bridge both batteries. I'm using a standard main battery and 110Ah 700CCA second battery. Seems to work ok. I also run a fridge , 200W inverter for the laptop and a 18W work light. Normally get at least 2 days before i have to go for a drive to recharge.
Cheers
Phil
I'm in the process of selecting my second battery. I'll probably go for the Optima as the 65AH vs. 90AH seem a little misleading when you cosinder the advantages of the quick recharge time and it has the ability to start the car.
I just need to work out what the biggest Optima I can fit into either the OEM or AUX position and select the best/biggest tray. If anything can help in this regard, it would be greatly appreciated.
Been running an Optima 27F in my 120 series for last 12 months running the Fridge, UHF and driving lights without a problem, never had to start off of it (fortunately).
Used a Piranha battery tray bought from TJM, fitted in near the air box perfectly. Never really looked at swapping the AUX with the OEM so can't tell you how much larger you could go doing that (the 27F was large as would go in this position).
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