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EFV-8 Club Forum / General Ford Discussion / why use an optima battery?

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Discussion Topic: why use an optima battery? -- page: 1 2 3

fenbach

08-14-2011 @ 8:52 PM

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i need a new battery. what are the advantages/benefits of using a 6-volt optima battery rather than a traditional lead-acid battery? in a '36 ford. thanks.

shogun1940

08-14-2011 @ 9:08 PM

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I use two 6 volt optimas inseries on my 40, and after sitting for three or four months the car starts up, they are now 6 years old

ford38v8

08-14-2011 @ 11:20 PM

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Fenbach, There are several advantages, and two disadvantages:

1 + = 800 cold cranking amps as opposed to 600 CCA.
2 + = No acid spills, no outgassing means no damage to your car.
3 + = No voltage drop during long term storage.
4 + = Small size, mount in any position, even upside down.
5 + = Will conceal inside a Ford Script battery case for originality.

1 - = Top quality is expensive.
2 - = Gimme a while, I'll think of one.

Alan

TomO

08-15-2011 @ 8:15 AM

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Alan, you missed the other disadvantage.

When installing in a pre 1940 battery case, the battery carrier has to be modified to accept the taller Optima battery.

Amazon has sales promotions on the 6 volt Optima quite often. I bought one at $120 including shipping and told a fellow club member about it, he got his for $115 including shipping.

Tom

fenbach

08-15-2011 @ 8:36 PM

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shogun1940, you say two 6-volt batteries in series. any chance you mean parallel? two in series = 12V.

TomO, 38v8 mentions that the optima can be mounted upside down even. do you have any idea if the battery would fit under the floorboard of my '36 if i tip it? of course, i could get the measurements and check myself, but it thought you might know.

thanks fellers.

ford38v8

08-15-2011 @ 8:50 PM

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Fenbach, for the '36, due to the height of the Optima as TomO points out, it must be mounted on it's side.

If I may offer a possible reason for Shogun's unusual installation, 6V may be syphoned off at the first battery, while modern accessories draw the 12V from the series hookup.

Alan

08-15-2011 @ 9:45 PM

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I made this mounting for a 6V Optima battery in my '35 fordor sedan. The judges probably won't like it but I really like it. Hopefully there will be a picture here after I click on submit because it was not there when I clicked Preview

JM

Wow..that's a big picture! I forgot to mention that I can pop that Optima and it's mounting out and put everything back for a stock battery mounting in about 10 minutes. I do like the Optima battery though.

This message was edited by JM on 8-15-11 @ 9:52 PM

TomO

08-16-2011 @ 6:39 AM

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fenbach,

You can secure the Optima any way that works for you. My post was meant for people that want to install the Optima in a Ford script case.

How ever you mount it, make sure that you have a way to disconnect it when you put your car away for the night. I prefer to mount a disconnect switch in the grounded side of battery.

Tom

oldford2

08-16-2011 @ 12:11 PM

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Just curious - I have seen several posts that say to put the battery shutoff on the ground side. Why not the negative? John

ford38v8

08-16-2011 @ 12:20 PM

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I think the disconnect became popular for two reasons: Electric clocks would run down a battery, and a disconnect helps prevent auto theft.

Unless you have an electric clock, I don't believe there is a valid reason to disconnect, especially with an Optima, as the Optima does not self discharge for months on end.

Alan

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