Question: Best batteries to buy for Humvee (yes I did a search before posting this)..

[doghead]

Right below the Train and Submarine forums...

 

[dhaumann69166]

Interstate used to be about the best in my opinion but in the last year and a half I have had three sets replaced (under warranty) in two pickups when they were about 6 months old. They weren’t ever run dead and 2 sets never saw cold weather. I have had a couple friends have the same issue and when I had them replaced the mechanic said it’s getting to be a common issue. Most people are staying with them just because they are really good at honoring the warranty. Pull out the bad ones and they just swap you a set of new ones. I also found out that you don’t want to run Most dry cell batteries on new diesels. Something about they alternator isn’t quite compatible and it will shorten their life. We run Optima dry cells in our 5 ton dump truck without issue so maybe it’s just the new diesel. When it comes time to replace the batteries in my HMMWV I will most likely go Optima red top.

 

[DatGuyC]

Interstate used to be about the best in my opinion but in the last year and a half I have had three sets replaced (under warranty) in two pickups when they were about 6 months old. They weren’t ever run dead and 2 sets never saw cold weather. I have had a couple friends have the same issue and when I had them replaced the mechanic said it’s getting to be a common issue. Most people are staying with them just because they are really good at honoring the warranty. Pull out the bad ones and they just swap you a set of new ones. I also found out that you don’t want to run Most dry cell batteries on new diesels. Something about they alternator isn’t quite compatible and it will shorten their life. We run Optima dry cells in our 5 ton dump truck without issue so maybe it’s just the new diesel. When it comes time to replace the batteries in my HMMWV I will most likely go Optima red top.

That's because they don't have the reserve capacity that good old lead acid batteries do. New vehicles have so many electronics in them nowadays that use power even when the vehicle is off that it just drains the dry cells to nothing.

 

[NormB]

Optima Yellow and be done with it. I may be able to hook you up from a local shop.

I went with these, one failed in under 16 months, amazon backed the warranty but the price had gone up by 75$ in the meantime.

Probably would've done fine with red tops.

You'll find all kinds of answers to your question here.

First question to ask is why are you replacing yours? (mine were toast from the start, mismatched, something seller threw in from an auto shop supplier or somewhere).

Second, do you want AGM or typical lead-acid? (I got tired of dealing with checking water and specific gravity/charge - had one set of batteries in a generator that died 'cause when you looked inside the battery there was a shine, clear plastic splash guard that LOOKED like there was water inside to my aging eyes and I ran them dry. Bought Optima yellow tops for that too).

Keep in mind with yellow tops and other brands the battery hold down MAY interfere with (i.e. SHORT OUT on) the positive terminal. Mil-spec terminal cover helps, but keep an eye on this.

 

[gtodan]

My Wisconsin ANG M998 came with Optima Red tops installed. I always wondered why the auction videos showed it starting right up in the middle of a Wisconsin winter. (no jump required after sitting for almost six months).

That's because they don't have the reserve capacity that good old lead acid batteries do. New vehicles have so many electronics in them nowadays that use power even when the vehicle is off that it just drains the dry cells to nothing.

 

[JoeJrTheBarber]

I have used the Schumacher SE-1-12S-CA Fully Automatic Onboard Battery Charger - 1.5 Amps on Amazon for $29.50. They work well and can keep a charge during a freeze.

I went to high school with Tony Schumacher of NHRA Top Fuel drag racing fame (fun fact).
Question on the on-board charger: Do you wire it to just one of the two batteries, do you split it to both, do you run two chargers (one per battery) ?

Or do I go with a "two bank" unit which looks to offer two separate leads pairs (one per battery).. ?

 

[tage]

Experts only, please.

Let me up load my university transcript for physics w/calculus for ya.
Confusion was series v. parallel wired batteries.
Series doubles the voltage to get 24 volt with same capacity on two batteries. Parallel wired batteries is the same voltage double capacity off of two batteries...

If you want expert, let's go to home depot and do an anode/cathode with a salt bridge diy breaking bad style.

 

[NormB]

I went to high school with Tony Schumacher of NHRA Top Fuel drag racing fame (fun fact).
Question on the on-board charger: Do you wire it to just one of the two batteries, do you split it to both, do you run two chargers (one per battery) ?
Or do I go with a "two bank" unit which looks to offer two separate leads pairs (one per battery).. ?

As a qualified "expert" (in Baltimore county and city court proceedings where I've given paid testimony in years past on motor vehicle injury patterns and physiology and physics of same) and inveterate tinkerer with electronics, mechanics, gardening, plumbing, drywall, painting, and more, I'm reminded of the old saw "an expert [or specialist] is someone who knows more and more about less and less until he knows absolutely everything there is to know about nothing."

Or, as Robert Heinlein once wrote "specialisation is for insects."

So much for bona fides.

Definitely consider TWO chargers, something like a Battery Tender Junior for about $26. Low-powered (there's even a model for California's tyrannical mandates on power consumption), charges, maintains and does this pulse-thing to keep sulphate from killing cells.

Or you can buy their two-bank model for $90; pays your money, takes your chances.

Fairly reliable, I've had one (one) connected to a pair of Everstart Marine 109AH flooded lead-acid batteries (in parallel) for about five years and they still test out just fine w/ a carbon pile load tester and run my ham radio and 500W linear for hours when needed.

I'd been using a 24 volt charger for the set in series in my HMMWV until one battery died, now I'm running two of the Jr. models.

YMMV.

 

[karlsmith]

With the Optima, there was room to put in bookends of 7.62 cans to keep the fit tight. I painted the lids with bed liner. Perfect for tools, etc.

 

[dhaumann69166]

What are the battery posts covered with when they come from AM General? I have been told that with my deep water ford kit there are supposed to be some kind of waterproof caps on the battery connections but have not been able to find them.

 

[Action]

What are the battery posts covered with when they come from AM General? I have been told that with my deep water ford kit there are supposed to be some kind of waterproof caps on the battery connections but have not been able to find them.

I have only seen the red and black boots. They are not waterproof. I have had mine under water. Nothing happens to them. It isn't like putting a toaster in the pool.