I am using a Die Hard Battery that i bought new and it seems like it is going dead all the time and i am leaving the charger on my battary every freaking other night. I have 3 10 inch subs a 250/1 jl amp and a capacitator yet my lights still dim when the bass hits. I had this problem even before i got the system in there. Do you think it is my battery and what kind would you guys recommend??

 

Once you "kill" a battery, you do lose some of its capacity. If it becomes fully drained even once (leaving lights on, etc, stereo on too long, etc) you lose capacity. The more times you do it, the worse the battery. You can totally kill a battery within a week if you wanted to. With your lights dimming, I would check your amplifier has a ground point, and make sure your power wire is atleast 8ga.

 

That's simply not true. A battery gets worn by constant charging, discharging, and recharging. Eventually the plates inside deteriorate. Vibration is also an enemy.

Those batteries in an auto parts store have to be rotated and recharged if they sit too long. They are not recharged one-by-one, they are done in bulk. My hardly used Exide which came out of a Camry sat in my basement for 2 years. I recharged it, and it has been fine ever since. It was 16 degrees F yesterday.

People here are so concerned about how the battery looks so many just keep pushing Optima regardless of the fact that Interstate and Exide had batteries with more CCA for less $$$.



Well there's a new game in town!

 

So my die hard should be working up to its full capacity? I have a warranty maybe i just got a bad cell or something?

 

You yourself said some of the main reasons people buy Optimas. They are far more resistant to vibration than other batteries, and can be recharged/discharged thousands more times than traditional batteries. Also don't neglect that the warranty is 10 years, whereas most other companies are 7 (which is typically as long as those batteries last).
-Cyrus

 

Seriously, I think the main reason people buy Optimas is because of the look and the name. With the car turnover rate of the typical auto enthuasist, having a 10 year battery is pretty pointless. Most guys in here aren't ever happy with what they have therefore they're always buying a different car in attempt to make themselves happy.

Back to the orginal post, it sounds like the alternator cannot handle the draw of the stereo. When your car is running, the battery is doing nothing other than getting charged. The battery is only used for starting.


Dave

 

Yep, you're totally right. But when the people who follow trends have coyne, or their parents do, cos. will step up to the plate and take that money down. Does it make sense to spend $110+ on a car battery that's the wrong size? C'mon now.

Exide already made a battery with more CCA than Optima, but they realized that those Optima folks aren't buying it for only CCA, it's looks. That's why Exide now has the "Select Orbital XCD." You'll see, people on the forum may start putting those in if it gets trendy enough.

 

If you ever suspect your Diehard may be running out of juice go to Sears and get it tested for free. If it is dead you will get another battery for free. Cant beat that.

Adding to what Dave B said, while you are sitting at a stoplight and your system is turned up does your idle drop at all? If so , then its safe to assume you are drawing more then your alternator can handle.

 

Thanks guys you are helping soooo much!!