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View Full Version : Best winch battery?


Huck
03-07-2004, 10:05 AM
Howdy all,
After a 4.5 trail on which I may have benefitted from having a self recovery device (I made it without one or a strap), I finally got a winch. I have owned Optimas in my FSJ's (red tops only) and never had a problem. On the site I have read people pushing the yellow tops or deep cycles. To be honest, no one has ever explained to me the true cost/benifits between the two.
So, I'm up for tapping some of your knowledge and experience in battery choice. I have a Warn HS9500i and hope not to be needing it on a regular basis. I also have a Costco membership and have seen some Optimas there as a Kirkland house brand battery. If anyone knows of a reason or two not to use one of the Costco versions, let me know. I'm under the impression that they spec the same as Optimas available in other stores. The only other thing I can think of, is that I'm only planning on running a single battery for a while. The dual battery option is a mod which is pretty far down the list of wants/needs.
On a different note, any cable versus synthetic winch rope advice. I have been impressed with the qualities and use of Masterpull synthetic, but I've also been told the UV action in AZ eats it up. I've been told (not seen) that other club members reach for their rope only to have it come out in pieces or be brittle and break. I need to respool the rope and already purchased the factory wire rope, but haven't done the spool/respool yet. I need a buddy's help for the 'perfect wrap'. I figured, since it was still sitting on the floor of the garage, I could return it if the synthetic is truly where its at. Thanks for the help, Huck

FourX4MudRomper
03-07-2004, 12:48 PM
I have the XD9000i Warn winch and am running with the yellow-top deep cycle Optima battery. One good thing about the Optimas is that they are gel filled and will NOT spill if you role over and also you won't get the battery acid spillage under ANY circumstances. I also have a very powerful amplifier for my sound system and the battery has had no problems running either or both the amp and the winch at the same time. However, I don't know much about the costco batteries so I can not give any advice there. One thing to look at is the cranking amps though. Look on the instructions for the winch and check out the cranking amps (I know mine requires at least 550 CA) and make sure the battery puts out the required amount or you will burn out the battery and/or the winch. Yes you will pay a lil more for the Optima but it hasn't let me down at all since I've had it and used my winch a few times and run the amp whenever I'm driving.

Just my two cents,
James

Stu Olson
03-07-2004, 12:58 PM
http://www.stu-offroad.com/misc/battery.htm

Huck
03-07-2004, 01:39 PM
Thanks for the link Stu,
I'm glad you saved that information. I'm going with the yellow top. In my 65, while heading in to hunt during a Flagsaff fall day, I broke my red top off of its perch. The fan blade sliced right through the plastic, exposing some of the paper cover over the gel coil. It did take away some of its power holding capabilities, but I was able to run it for another six months. After it kept running that day, I figured I would make a little experiment out of the whole mess. So, I just ran it until I felt the battery wasn't performing up to snuff. The Optimas I've had are crashed tested and they have still performed enough to get me home.
Thanks,
Huck

mr_super-hunky
03-10-2004, 05:50 PM
If you read Stu's link,

"I cannot drive my jeep out of the desert on a warrantee" !

Should be Optima's slogan!