Optima RT-S4.2 Red Top 12v 50ah 815CCA Battery

Tidewaiter2

Tidewaiter2

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Does any Forumite have experience of this battery, good, bad, indifferent?

Our DETA 9yo engine start battery is beginning to show it's age we suspect.
No Complaints, you understand, just a little slower each time on a cold morning, just like us!:)

There are space and terminal position constraints in the battery box and with some changes to the securing system,

Bardens suggest that an Optima RT-S4.2 Red Top 12v 50ah 815CCA Battery is the best modern traction replacement, albeit the price is a bit eye-watering.

Before we rush off to Bardens ( they've been great help on all our boats power queries) and blow the kids inheritance, all input appreciated, particularly on longevity, reliability, value for money.

Thanks for your help
 
Tidewaiter2 said:
Bardens suggest that an Optima RT-S4.2 Red Top 12v 50ah 815CCA Battery is the best modern traction replacement, albeit the price is a bit eye-watering.
Click to expand...

£243?? I'm sure it's a lovely battery, but it sounds completely extravagant unless that's the only size which will fit your battery box. Boat diesel engines are fairly small in automotive terms, and ordinary car batteries at under £100 are perfectly good as starter batteries.
 
Red Tops are great for starting. I've just installed in our current boat. The last boat had one as well. They are quite strong, no topping up required and cannot leak.
Excellent longevity.
I paid 175 Euros.
 
Tidewaiter2 said:
Does any Forumite have experience of this battery, good, bad, indifferent?

Our DETA 9yo engine start battery is beginning to show it's age we suspect.
No Complaints, you understand, just a little slower each time on a cold morning, just like us!:)

There are space and terminal position constraints in the battery box and with some changes to the securing system,

Bardens suggest that an Optima RT-S4.2 Red Top 12v 50ah 815CCA Battery is the best modern traction replacement, albeit the price is a bit eye-watering.

Before we rush off to Bardens ( they've been great help on all our boats power queries) and blow the kids inheritance, all input appreciated, particularly on longevity, reliability, value for money.

Thanks for your help
Click to expand...

Yeah we use Optimas on the ship for all our survey gear and my work boat/ lifeboat MENTALLY expensive and dont last any longer than a lead acid battery that costs a 1/5 of the price , unless you have won the lottery just buy a truck battery and change it 5 years later , thats all i do , the optimas wont last any longer than that .
 
If you want to go down that route then an Odyssey of comparable capacity is half that price. This type of battery has some advantages over a standard lead acid. Significantly smaller physically and can be mounted in different orientations. However, if these two features are of no value - ie you have space for a LA battery mounted in the normal way then any standard automotive battery for a diesel engine will do. Starter battery in a boat has an easy life if it is used only for starting. Make sure you have a charging system that immediately recharges after start.
 
Cheers for the input

Very useful as always, particularly re service life.

Biggest problem is the height and lugs on the bottom of most current truck/van batteries(see Bardens website as an eg), which take them over size for the batt box space.

We've looked long and hard at the sizing, and I think I'll take SWMBO and her templates round a big Halfords, then make a call-

As the starter battery gets priority, so a less expensive, smaller truck/van battery than current one, which delivers the approx cold cranking power of a Redtop, but may only have a two or three year life, looks favourite.
 
I pulled a Bluetop Optima out the skip, must be 10 years ago, and it's still going strong in the boat, in between used in various cars and for emergency jump starts. Powers the domestics onboard and has never gone flat. Wouldn't shell out for a new one though...
 
I had an Optima for the bowthruster and it looked as if it might be starting to fail after 3 years. As I'm off on an extended cruise I moved it to the engine start and if it does fail I'll just put in a car start battery. However, I suspect that it will be fine as a start battery.

It had Reversed Terminals and I bought a replacement from Tayna as I'd bought other batteries from them and service was good.

I ordered an Optima Red Top RT S 4.2 for £159.90 delivered. It was slightly cheaper than the Reversed terminal model and leads were long enough to handle the change. Tayna didn't have it in stock and called to ask if they could send Reversed or Centre post version at no extra cost. No problem and battery arrived very promptly.

So check Tayna or BatteryMegaStore if you want an Optima. However, car battery should be fine and much cheaper if you can get one to fit (& with sufficient cranking capacity).

PS PM me if you want to use Tayna as I think I might have a discount code from last purchase (not much, only 2-3%).
 
Have made the call!

Many Thanks to All for the info and help
We found on Battery Mega Store an Optima 12v RTS 3.7 AGM, with 2 year warranty, with 44AH, but CCA(SAE) of 730.
It was reduced from £187.74 ex VAT to £163.25b inc VAT and delivery.

This Battery's dimensions are L 237mm, W 162mm, H 191mm
It will fit our absolute max space of L 340mm, W 164mm, H 230mm
with just a bit of packing out.
Max Width is critical, and ruled out the cheaper van & truck models, with their top and esp. bottom lugs

As the engine battery has priority charging underway & on shore power,
and only has to turn over and start a 35hp Yanmar, regularly throughout the year, should be ok.Esp as can switch the domestic bank into engine start in extremis.
Time will tell, as usual:o
 
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