Battery of Choice?

FadeToGray

TJ Enthusiast
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Joined
Feb 4, 2019
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192
Location
NH
Is there a battery of choice these days that everyone is running? No crazy power needs, just looking for something reliable that can handle the New England winters.

I've historically run Optima batteries, but I've heard they have gone way down hill in terms of quality over the past few years.

Or is everyone just going to an Autozone or O'Reilly's and just buying the house brand to save some cash?
 
I’ve heard nothing but great things about the odyssey’s but the price was a little steep for my application. Ended up with a Deka Intimidator (AGM) for about half the price and I’m very happy so far.
 
I ran a Duracell agm from Sams club. Made here in the USA by east penn manufacturing. Cost like $150. Worked great in the four years I had it before I sold my Jeep.
 
Interstate on mine since the Sears store closed for the Diehard Gold.

It's a shame that Sears no longer sells the Diehard Gold. I had previously purchased one for my '98 XJ and '11 JK.
We still have a Sears near us, but I am not even sure that Sears automotive is still open.

Optima quality has not been the same since they moved the plant to Mexico.
IF I need to purchase another battery I will probably go with Interstate...
 
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Agree with the above. Stick with quality AGM batteries.

I use NorthStar batteries. They're a very high quality battery commonly used in high demand applications.

Stock size is a Group 34. A Group 24 is about 15% larger capacity and will fit with little or no modifications. It is the exact same shape and size except 1" taller than a Group 34.

If you have the wedge style battery hold down, no modifications are needed for a Group 24. (If you have the clamp style hold down, it will need to be extended.)

This is the specific Group 24 battery I use:
https://www.northstarbattery.com/product/nsb-agm24m
I prefer the "Marine" designated ones because they come with an extra set of terminals which make it very easy to hook up a winch cable or other large cable.
 
The lead content is noticeable, this thing felt like it weighed twice as much as the old battery. It's made by NorthStar. I purchased it through Batteries + Bulbs. Note the battery specs on the model you get is better than the one pictured in their catalogue.
Battery.JPG
 
Agree with the above. Stick with quality AGM batteries.

I use NorthStar batteries. They're a very high quality battery commonly used in high demand applications.

Stock size is a Group 34. A Group 24 is about 15% larger capacity and will fit with little or no modifications. It is the exact same shape and size except 1" taller than a Group 34.

If you have the wedge style battery hold down, no modifications are needed for a Group 24. (If you have the clamp style hold down, it will need to be extended.)

This is the specific Group 24 battery I use:
https://www.northstarbattery.com/product/nsb-agm24m
I prefer the "Marine" designated ones because they come with an extra set of terminals which make it very easy to hook up a winch cable or other large cable.
Wowza
Nice battery but thats a lot of $$$$$$$$$$$$$
 
For some reason I'm still stuck in the days when $150 would get a quality AGM and still get sticker shocked when I see that price on a middle of the road lead acid.

I worked at Autozone during college and inexplicably I still think they should cost $80.
 
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I was a huge Optima fan. Huge. Then they shite the barn. I was getting 2 years out of a battery. Any battery can do that. So, in a hurry, I bought a Walmart special. And have gotten at least 7 years out of it. Still going strong. I use it to jump start diesel tractors all winter. I pull the battery out and walk it to the tractor. And it has been doing that the whole time. Sometimes jumping 2 or 3 diesel engines before it gets put back and gets a chance to charge up again. So what more could I ask for? I think it was on sale for ~$50 when I got it. Is that a fluke? Maybe, but I have heard similar stories often enough. So, value for dollar, they are hard to beat. I don't show off all the shiny bits under my hood expecting 'ooohhs' and 'aaahhs' like some do.
 
Agree with the above. Stick with quality AGM batteries.

I use NorthStar batteries. They're a very high quality battery commonly used in high demand applications.

Stock size is a Group 34. A Group 24 is about 15% larger capacity and will fit with little or no modifications. It is the exact same shape and size except 1" taller than a Group 34.

If you have the wedge style battery hold down, no modifications are needed for a Group 24. (If you have the clamp style hold down, it will need to be extended.)

This is the specific Group 24 battery I use:
https://www.northstarbattery.com/product/nsb-agm24m
I prefer the "Marine" designated ones because they come with an extra set of terminals which make it very easy to hook up a winch cable or other large cable.
This will be my next battery
 
My simple take on batteries for a Jeep TJ/LJ:

Top of the Line Pure Lead AGM: Pure lead AGM batteries such as Odyssey and Northstar. Rugged, high performance, high quality batteries but at a high price. Not for everyone, but not everyone needs one.

Mid Level Calcium AGM: Calcium AGM offerings by East Penn such as the O'Reilly's SuperStart AGM, NAPA Legend AGM and Duralast Platinum AGM store brands are highly rated and probably suitable for 90% of TJ/LJ owners looking for an AGM battery. My recollection is that the Duracell AGM battery from Sam's Club falls into this category.

Conventional Flooded Lead Acid: I have used Interstate batteries from Costco for years with great success. The Costco Interstates are identical to the Interstate batteries at the Interstate Store but with a better "no questions asked" 42-month full replacement warranty and a lower purchase price.

Optimas: Not on my list because people are flogged mercilessly on this forum for even suggesting that an Optima may have positive attributes. I haven't owned an Optima battery for 20 years or more so I have no current information

From a February 12, 2019 post in a similar thread regarding AGM batteries:

A quick Google search revealed this:

"East Penn makes a lot of conventional, calcium AGM batteries. At Auto Zone, the DuraLast Platinum is a calcium AGM, while the DuraLast Gold is a flooded, maintenance-free battery. At NAPA, the Legend is a calcium AGM. At O’Reilly, the Super Start Platinum is a calcium AGM."

The article from which the text is quoted has a great discussion of the different types of AGM batteries and their application to police vehicle use. It also explains the differences between "thick plate calcium AGM batteries" such as the offerings by East Penn, and "thin plate pure lead AGM's" which include Northstar, Odyssey and Optima. The article concludes:

"Both the calcium AGM and the pure lead AGM crank longer and are more tolerant of deep cycle drains than OE maintenance-free batteries. That said, there is a performance difference among these two types of AGM battery. Since the thinner plates in the pure lead AGM have more surface area contact than the thicker plates in the calcium AGM, they are more efficient during both discharging and recharging. The calcium AGM is 'better' while the pure lead AGM is 'best.'"

See: http://www.hendonpub.com/law_and_order/articles/2015/04/agm_battery_technology

It appears from the article that in the hierarchy of AGM's the Napa Legend is better than a flooded lead acid battery but not in the same category as a pure lead AGM battery such as Northstar, Odyssey and Optima. It also explains the substantial price difference between the East Penn offerings and those of the other AGM manufacturers.

I am currently running a Costco Interstate (Costco item # 850241) conventional lead acid battery. It starts my jeep on the first crank every time, illuminates all of my lights, and keeps up with my Warn M8000-S winch. What's not to like? However, my next battery purchase will probably be one of the mid-priced calcium AGM's from East Penn if for no other reason than an AGM will eliminate any risk of damage from battery acid in the event of a tip- or roll-over.



Happy battery shopping.