Battery help!
Thread Starter
Advanced
Joined: Dec 2008
Posts: 87
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From: Lake Stevens WA
Battery help!
I need to replace my battery on my 02 C5 and just want some opinion's on Optima Battery's if they are worth the price and whether the Red or Yellow top. I do have a high output stereo system in the car so i need the extra power and the car is being stored in my Cover-it garage so no heat garage, but it is covered.
Safety Car
Joined: Sep 2000
Posts: 3,571
Likes: 420
From: Taildragers rule! USA1
Optimas have been getting a pretty bad rap on the C5 board. I'd just go to Walmart and pick up the battery that fits.
Your sound system doesn't work off the battery. Nothing other than the starter does. Everything else gets it power from the alternator.
Best......Have a great Thanksgiving.
Your sound system doesn't work off the battery. Nothing other than the starter does. Everything else gets it power from the alternator.
Best......Have a great Thanksgiving.
Thread Starter
Advanced
Joined: Dec 2008
Posts: 87
Likes: 0
From: Lake Stevens WA
Optimas have been getting a pretty bad rap on the C5 board. I'd just go to Walmart and pick up the battery that fits.
Your sound system doesn't work off the battery. Nothing other than the starter does. Everything else gets it power from the alternator.
Best......Have a great Thanksgiving.
Your sound system doesn't work off the battery. Nothing other than the starter does. Everything else gets it power from the alternator.
Best......Have a great Thanksgiving.
I have the answers that i need.
Drifting
Joined: Mar 2007
Posts: 1,530
Likes: 0
From: Yelm Wa
we only have had one problem with optimas in our cars (we have 8 cars & optimas in all but two)
the red tops are great but if the battery goes totally dead you cant recharge it well,the yellow ones you can & they are great. Love them
the red tops are great but if the battery goes totally dead you cant recharge it well,the yellow ones you can & they are great. Love them
Team Owner
Joined: Dec 1999
Posts: 34,873
Likes: 487
From: Lacey WA RVN 68-69
NCM Sinkhole Donor
Optima batteries that are close to a full discharge can't be recharged like a "regular" battery; you need a charger with an extremely slow charge rate.
Go with an Interstate or AC Delco. Get the one with the most CCA's you can find for the battery group size.
Will the car be sitting or will you occasionally drive it or start if and let it run for some period of time? The C5 will show some small amount of current drain and it would be best to leave a battery maintainer on the car if you have power available or start the car every few weeks and let it run for 10-15 minutes. Don't use the sound system. Actually running the engine for awhile can't hurt as it will help to remove condensation from the exhaust and the engine. Also run the A/C system for awhile to keep the seals in the A/C system from drying out. Cabin heat will remove moisture and keep things dry.
The alternator is designed to charge the battery. Electrical power for the car comes from the battery and the alternator re-charges the battery. Heavy constant current drain on an alternator will cook it in a short period of time. Look at cars with extra amps for the sound system. there are heavy-gauge wires running directly off the battery to those devices. The get their power directly from the battery and the alternator recharges the battery.
Go with an Interstate or AC Delco. Get the one with the most CCA's you can find for the battery group size.
Will the car be sitting or will you occasionally drive it or start if and let it run for some period of time? The C5 will show some small amount of current drain and it would be best to leave a battery maintainer on the car if you have power available or start the car every few weeks and let it run for 10-15 minutes. Don't use the sound system. Actually running the engine for awhile can't hurt as it will help to remove condensation from the exhaust and the engine. Also run the A/C system for awhile to keep the seals in the A/C system from drying out. Cabin heat will remove moisture and keep things dry.
The alternator is designed to charge the battery. Electrical power for the car comes from the battery and the alternator re-charges the battery. Heavy constant current drain on an alternator will cook it in a short period of time. Look at cars with extra amps for the sound system. there are heavy-gauge wires running directly off the battery to those devices. The get their power directly from the battery and the alternator recharges the battery.
Safety Car
Joined: Sep 2000
Posts: 3,571
Likes: 420
From: Taildragers rule! USA1
The alternator is designed to charge the battery. Electrical power for the car comes from the battery and the alternator re-charges the battery. Heavy constant current drain on an alternator will cook it in a short period of time. Look at cars with extra amps for the sound system. there are heavy-gauge wires running directly off the battery to those devices. The get their power directly from the battery and the alternator recharges the battery.
""As long as the engine is running, all of the power for the accessories is delivered by the alternator. The battery is actually a load on the charging system. The only time that the battery would supply power with the engine running is when the current capacity of the alternator is exceeded or when engine is at a very low idle."""
http://www.bcae1.com/charging.htm
Last edited by ztheusa; Nov 25, 2009 at 12:14 PM.
Thread Starter
Advanced
Joined: Dec 2008
Posts: 87
Likes: 0
From: Lake Stevens WA
Optima batteries that are close to a full discharge can't be recharged like a "regular" battery; you need a charger with an extremely slow charge rate.
Go with an Interstate or AC Delco. Get the one with the most CCA's you can find for the battery group size.
Will the car be sitting or will you occasionally drive it or start if and let it run for some period of time? The C5 will show some small amount of current drain and it would be best to leave a battery maintainer on the car if you have power available or start the car every few weeks and let it run for 10-15 minutes. Don't use the sound system. Actually running the engine for awhile can't hurt as it will help to remove condensation from the exhaust and the engine. Also run the A/C system for awhile to keep the seals in the A/C system from drying out. Cabin heat will remove moisture and keep things dry.
The alternator is designed to charge the battery. Electrical power for the car comes from the battery and the alternator re-charges the battery. Heavy constant current drain on an alternator will cook it in a short period of time. Look at cars with extra amps for the sound system. there are heavy-gauge wires running directly off the battery to those devices. The get their power directly from the battery and the alternator recharges the battery.
Go with an Interstate or AC Delco. Get the one with the most CCA's you can find for the battery group size.
Will the car be sitting or will you occasionally drive it or start if and let it run for some period of time? The C5 will show some small amount of current drain and it would be best to leave a battery maintainer on the car if you have power available or start the car every few weeks and let it run for 10-15 minutes. Don't use the sound system. Actually running the engine for awhile can't hurt as it will help to remove condensation from the exhaust and the engine. Also run the A/C system for awhile to keep the seals in the A/C system from drying out. Cabin heat will remove moisture and keep things dry.
The alternator is designed to charge the battery. Electrical power for the car comes from the battery and the alternator re-charges the battery. Heavy constant current drain on an alternator will cook it in a short period of time. Look at cars with extra amps for the sound system. there are heavy-gauge wires running directly off the battery to those devices. The get their power directly from the battery and the alternator recharges the battery.
Pro
Joined: Apr 2006
Posts: 607
Likes: 0
From: Olympia Washington
That is a common misconception:
""As long as the engine is running, all of the power for the accessories is delivered by the alternator. The battery is actually a load on the charging system. The only time that the battery would supply power with the engine running is when the current capacity of the alternator is exceeded or when engine is at a very low idle."""
http://www.bcae1.com/charging.htm
""As long as the engine is running, all of the power for the accessories is delivered by the alternator. The battery is actually a load on the charging system. The only time that the battery would supply power with the engine running is when the current capacity of the alternator is exceeded or when engine is at a very low idle."""
http://www.bcae1.com/charging.htm
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