i hear you shouldnt buy optimas any more as they've droped some of the cell backs out. when they moved their camp to mexico

 

this explains ty read this
http://elitecm.net/forums/viewtopic....tima+batteries

 

Thanks for the info guys. I'll let ya know how it goes.

One more question though. So I bought a signal holder and put a 12v automotive dome light in it. I use it to discharge my cap (after removing the fuse of the power line) but putting one wire on the - and one wire on the + side. When the light stops shining the cap is drained.

To slowly charge my cap and avoid the spark when I hook up a battery, I remove the inline fuse and put one wire between the fuse holder until the light lights up and then goes off.

Now, if I get a new battery and put the + terminal on the battery, can I place my "Slow charge light" between the - battery terminal and the wire that goes to it to charge the cap w/o a spark? Or will it melt the small wires of my slow charge light?

 

Well that may very well be the case, I've always felt optimas are over priced any ways. But you can not beat odeessy batteries, I've got a tiny 20 something amp hour battery in a small sailboat I have for the electric motor, I never use the damn thing, and after sitting for over a year the battery still has 12.6v on it. Odyessys are expensive but worthwhile int he long run. But if your not going to dish out more than $200, just get a regular AGM battery and don't cycle it and you will be fine.

And Tyler I've never worked with a cap, so I really don't feel comfortable giving you any advice on that one. I will say though, you don't need one. If you get yourself a large AGM battery, you will be fine. Just re do your electrical terminals, I would bet money you've got a bit of corrosion at the battery, alt, and the voltage regulator. Until you fix all of that, a cap may stabilize your voltage, but your putting a strain on your battery and even alternator. When you have corroded terminals and a dieing battery, your cap is getting almost completely drained, then it surges current to refill it. You've seen the huge spark that comes from a drained cap, it surges just as quickly when it gets drained low after a big hit of bass. While a very small cap can be somewhat benficial in your system, a large one like that is really only making your battery and alt work a bit harder.

 

Well I got back from the battery place and they tested both my battery and amplifier multiple times and they came back fine.

The terminals for the battery are clean, but ill have to check the alternator. I also was talking to a master installer at Best Buy (an older guy 30-40 yrs) and he said the cap in no way can hurt the system. When I watch the voltage on the cap it doesn't drain to much.

Bah, this is annoying. Do you think it could be anything else? If not, I might try removing the cap to see what that does.

 

LOL I like how you give a guy in his 30's credibility for working at best buy.

No it won't destroy your battery or alt, the same way adding a lot of amps won't. But it does add an extra load, and will decrease the life of a battery to a certain extent. Forget those "tests" that they do, I guess in a car there are a lot more tolerances. In a boat a dead battery means your stuck out there. Either charge your battery, or run your car for a while. The next day if the voltage is not over 12.5 your battery is not 100%, and if drops even .1 volt over night it is not 100%.

 

dude. just give me a good tv, a freaking desktop, and new soundsystem and im never leaving home again

 

i hate laptops.

 

Fatty is going to buy a Baja 5t, Brandon jealous? Just need some money... I think I'm gonna start modding xboxs again, I hope people still remember me from 2005...

 

My block is together. Getting cams, springs, and retainers tomorrow.