Thread: Best Battery for Discovery

Hi,
I have been using an Optima Yellow top battery under the bonnet for about 5 years in my D3. Transferred it into my D4, still going well. Can power my Waeco CF50 for two days easily. Waeco fridge stays in the back of the car for weeks at a time during summer months. Battery has been fully cycled many many times over the years. Totally maintenance free and no hassels. Costs a little more up front, but as you can see, lasts for a very long time. I use the Traxide Dual Battery system by the way.
Just my experience.

Discomaniac.

opps

I too have the Optima Yellow top as my second battery.
Had it in the D4 now for 15 months now with the fridge running 24/7.
No problems as yet.
Cheers, Craig

X2
I have used these batteries {Optima} for years in many applications and they have never let me down. The only time i have used other batteries was when space restrictions didn't suit the optima's and then i used oddysey's, also and excellent battery and they have a wider range of shape configurations which does occasionally come in handy, but for a second in the disco's definitely the optima.
cheers
P.S. they also charge from dead flat to fully charged in 45-60 mins
P.P.S Traxide dual battery system

Originally Posted by discomaniac

Hi,
I have been using an Optima Yellow top battery under the bonnet for about 5 years in my D3. Transferred it into my D4, still going well. Can power my Waeco CF50 for two days easily. Waeco fridge stays in the back of the car for weeks at a time during summer months. Battery has been fully cycled many many times over the years. Totally maintenance free and no hassels. Costs a little more up front, but as you can see, lasts for a very long time. I use the Traxide Dual Battery system by the way.
Just my experience.

Discomaniac.

I originally fitted an AMP-TECH D48 battery as my 2nd battery. A "cost effective" choice at the time with a Traxide system. After 12 months though I replaced it with the Optima Yellow top as it ended up leaking. Maybe a bit of false economy with the AMP-TECH (1/2 to 1/3 cost of the Optima).

Traxide setup excellent.
Absolutely no issues with the Optima and I've run a Engel fridge off it for several days without any issues at freezing temps. The fridge stays in the car for weeks sometimes.

During trips, I've got the UHF, 2 DVD's and Fridge running off it. Just about to add an inverter as well and change my fuse box to a blue seas box which is under the drivers seat. Easier than cable running back to the battery itself.

Hi Paul, and sorry mate but you have fallen for the misleading info being put about by a number of these wonder devices and battery chargers peddlers.

Gel and MOST AGMs do NOT need 14.4v to charge them. 14.4v is the MAXIMUM voltage that these batteries can be charged with.

ALL lead acid batteries can be fully charged with as little as 13.2v, so buy the battery that best fits your budget and/or requirements.

To be quite honest, you really need to be looking at batteries that can tolerate the high after starting voltages that D3 and D4s generate.

This can be as much as 15v

Your standard AGM and Gel Cell batteries are actually not very good at tolerating high voltages and are only useable as long as they are fitted some distance from the engine bay.

The suggestions of others in this thread about using an Optima battery is probably the best, all be it the most expensive way to go.

Drivesafe

BTW had your system fitted the other day - very professional.
Fitted the yellowtop battery.

If you had to jump start using your main battery off the yellow top what leads do you use again?

Regards

Chuck

Have 2 Engel fridges - using the yellow top as my 2nd and 3rd battery plus the new Traxide system - faultless

I have found in the past that heat can destroy 3 batteries simultaneously if underbody temps are high as they were in my previous Patrol

dj