Good Quality Battery

[ledphoot]

I have an Optima Yellow Top sitting in the Cuda right now, I am not terribly fond of the way it looks.. It's a good battery for sure, it's just really ugly I found a better performing battery that will look at home in the engine compartment.. XS Power V3400... It looks the part and delivers the goods.. I'd check 'em out.


https://4xspower.com/shop/vintage/v3400/

[Brads70]

at $345 it better last a long time. 

[ledphoot]

Oh no doubt.. XS Batteries are good batteries.. I paid $299 delivered for it from Crutchfield.

[Topcat]

Case looks very similiar to the Northstar and X2

[IRON MAN]

Indeed. A nice battery with plenty of juice. The dimensions are near perfect for the battery cover that's been hanging on the wall for years in a battery tray. Evidently the dimensions are close to a Group 24 battery. Hmmmmm

[ledphoot]

Case looks very similiar to the Northstar and X2

Probably made at the same factory, they are both AGM style batteries... There are some subtle differences but I do see the resemblance.

[ledphoot]

Found it for $260 here and they have free shipping... I had Crutchfield gift cars from my company's employee rewards program so I tend to buy my electronics from there.

http://www.emfcaraudio.com/xs-power-v3400/

[ledphoot]

From what I have been reading, Northstar is probably the leading battery on the market at the moment....

This XS V3400 just looks the part.. It's ALMOST as good as the Northstar, but not quite. It is better than an Optima.

[Topcat]

From what I have been reading, Northstar is probably the leading battery on the market at the moment....

This XS V3400 just looks the part.. It's ALMOST as good as the Northstar, but not quite. It is better than an Optima.

Undoubtedly the Northstar, /X2,/ Sears Platinum, is the best battery on the market.
Most reserve of any battery made in North America.

But they come at a cost on price and weight.

They use virgin lead on the plates which creates the most reserve possible.

Almost every battery manufacturer uses Calcium as a cutting agent to "stretch" out the lead a little more.

They adopted the drug dealer theory.   

Interstate is made by Johnson Controls.
Both the Optima and their wet cells are made there last I checked.

[Topcat]

Keep in mind that reserve is an important factor but so is cranking amps.

Northstar masters this.

Cranking amps is more plates but are thinner and closer to each other.
Reserve amps like a boat deep cycle are thicker plates.

So is a high cranking amp battery a good choice for everyday driving in AZ? Absolutely Not!
Plates need fluid cooling in higher temps.

Less cranking amps are a better choice in this type of  climate.

Now let's go to Canada.
Friggin Balls to  the walls cold. 

Cranking Amps are the most important thing there.
Nice and cold and those thin plates stay stiff for most of the year.

But remember, Reserve is important also.

If you live in a very cold climate and drive a ot in low temps, the X2 is a perfect choice for you.

I was a battery sales rep for 5 years. FWIW.

[Topcat]

So now it comes down to what brand to buy.

When it comes to wet cell battieries: Caveat Emptor.

Don't pay attention to all their names and bragging.

3 main companies:

Exide
Johnson Controls
East Penn

Exide appears to be waning the last few years. In fact, they shut down a major warehouse near me a few years ago.

Johnson Controls moved all battery manufacturing to Mexico quite a few years ago when I was selling batteries.

East Penn is the largest Lead recycler and is (what I believe) the best wet cell mfg'r right now.

Grp 31's were significantly heavier.

[ledphoot]

That's great info there!

I started looking at batteries because I needed one with top and side mount posts. An Optima probably would have done the trick, but when I look at the pictures of my engine compartment I don't like the way that battery looks... So I went with the XS instead. I am going to use the top posts for the factory wiring... The side posts will be used to create the non-factory wiring which starts with a Blue Sea Systems Safetyhub 100 Fuesblock.. This is where I will run my Fans / Headlights / Amplifiers and possibly where I will attach the Alternator for charging.

https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B003G8IK82/

[1 Wild R/T]

Might look at the Cooper-Bussman products....
Here's one option... They offer many...
https://www.amazon.com/Cooper-Bussmann-15303-2-2-4-Relays-Included/dp/B015YSWP8C

[ledphoot]

Already have the BlueSea fusebox.. It'll do what I want, the one you listed would probably have been a little cleaner. You'll have to come by and see whatcha think when Craig and I dial that part in. Motor should have fire in the whole within a couple of weeks. We're getting close.

[1 Wild R/T]

Cool... I'll try to escape from my world.. LOL... FWIW I've used a few of the Cooper fuse panels, very clean, no preinstalled pigtails, you crimp the connectors direct to your existing wires, format relays & fuses for your needs....  Lots of options from relatively cheap to $$$$, the connectors are weatherpak, the lid has a finned seal.... Nice stuff, OE or better quality... BlueSea is nice but I never cared for the pigtails that you splice to...