Optima Batteries

[Scott21]

Has anyone used the D51 and D51R in a 38?

http://www.optimabatteries.com/battery_selector/

[idiocrates]

I've never used the Optima batteries in a vehicle....in fact I was unaware they even made these batteries in a vehicular series......but I can definitely vouch for the quality of the Optima brand. They were our original supplier of valve gas regulated maintenance free batteries for communications systems in the USA.....and we never had a single failure of one while in service. As time wore on they were eventually replace by absorbed glass mat batteries but it was almost always due to a need for a much larger battery then Optima cared to manufacturer. So.....sorry I couldn't specifically answer your question......but that's my $.02 worth.

Jim

[wesk]

Dave,
My experience was I didn't see any real difference to justify the extra cost and in some cases shipping.

The local battery stores 36 Month warranted units hold up just as well. They also last just as long and then some. 2HN's if they are new when you buy them they will hold up just as well. If you are buying surplus NOS then your risk level increases. The key to dual battery longevity is:

1-Proper installation. Making sure the electrical system is charging correctly with a digital volt meter not that idiot gage in the dash.

2-Periodic maintenance. IE servicing, cleaning terminals and cleaning the battery and it;s box.

3-Service and maintain a pair of dual batteries as just what they are, A matched pair.

4-Proper daily use is a biggy. If you let her sit for says and weeks then you should be using a 24 volt maintainer and disconnecting the battery ground and be sure the maintainer maintains the pair of batteries as a pair.

The G503 thread you started had some very interesting answers as well:
http://www.g503.com/forums/viewtopic.php?f=11&t=146440