"Christopher H. Dow" wrote:
> <<snip>>
>
> Hi Charlie,
>
> I'd be interested in specific details of problems your customers have
> encountered. Optima batteries are very popular in off-roading circles,
> because the deep-cycle battery can be used for starting, and the extra
> demands of winching and auxilliary lights (which are critical for night
> driving in forrests and the desert) are often best handled by a
> deep-cycle. Further, I have friends who've run Optimas for years as
> starting and winching batteries and have participated in multiple
> competitions where the batteries were worked very hard winching, etc.
> Also, are your customers using one or two Optimas? Placing two in
> paralell doubles the RCM.
>
> Admittedly Optima batteries have an RCM of 120, which is, indeed, less
> than the Interstate Group 27 battery's 160. However, Group 27 batteries
> are 12 1/16" x 6 13/16" x 8 7/8" = ~718ci (from
> http://www.rtpnet.org/~teaa/bcigroup.html -- I was unable to find
> Interstate's claims for dimensions on their web site). The Optima
> yellow tops are 10" x 6 3/4" x 6 3/4" = ~ 455ci That yeilds ~ 0.223
> RCM/ci for the Interstate, and ~0.264 RCM/ci for the Optima. Thus, the
> Optima has an 18% better RCM/ci rating. But, it doesn't stop there.
> There is the matter of what can actually be made to fit. Since fitting
> two group 27 batteries in the rear of my trailer is nearly impossible,
> if I use one, my RCM capacity will be limited to 160. Since I can fit
> two optimas easily, my RCM will be 240. That difference is 33.3%.
>
> That's why I chose Optima over other battery types.
>
> C
So far they have been trying to use them in place of Group 27's in the provided
storage space. That doesn't have any squeeze room. Only one battery will fit in each
compartment. In their cases it all boils down to RCM, and as you point out that's 1/4
less with the Optima. Their applications are straight dry camping, not winching and
the like. That aside you gave a good review of the pluses and minuses, thanks
Charlie
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