Battery

[tom4bren]

Optima Yellow top works great in Protons

VT, a battery buddy is an electronic device that is installed in series with the positive lead on the battery. If the voltage drops too low, the battery buddy isolates the battery from the electrical system (shuts down). Theoretically it shuts off with just enough juice left to restart the vehicle. You have to actually pop the hood and push a button on the battery buddy to start the car if it's been tripped.

[circmand]

Optima Yellow top works great in Protons

VT, a battery buddy is an electronic device that is installed in series with the positive lead on the battery. If the voltage drops too low, the battery buddy isolates the battery from the electrical system (shuts down). Theoretically it shuts off with just enough juice left to restart the vehicle. You have to actually pop the hood and push a button on the battery buddy to start the car if it's been tripped.

Instead of this a trickle charger would be better

[Riff Raff]

VT, a battery buddy is an electronic device that is installed in series with the positive lead on the battery. If the voltage drops too low, the battery buddy isolates the battery from the electrical system (shuts down). Theoretically it shuts off with just enough juice left to restart the vehicle.

I have the watercraft/marine version "Battery Buddy" in my ski-boat. It has saved my bacon on countless occasions, and you definately don't want to be out on the open water with a dead battery!!! Most vehicles have things that always draw power; namely the clock on the stereo is the biggest culprit. The "Battery Buddy" is best for vehicles that are operated infrequently (like a boat); situations where it may be hard to get an actual jump from another vehicle (like a boat), or isolated locations such as a boat marina without a nearby electrical outlet (like a boat).

For cars that are driven daily, the "Battery Buddy" is really not necessary. Stored cars (garage queens) should always have a high quality Battery "Maintainer" plugged into an electrical outlet at all times anyway, thereby keeping the battery at full charge capacity. Every vehicle in my detached 8-car capacity 1800SF garage/shop has a high quality Battery "Maintainer" plugged into it (always ready to go).

As far as battery brands, I've always used Sears DieHard's over the past 30+ years in all of my many vehicles (cars & boats) with great success. There is always a Sears (& now K-Mart) nearby, and their build quality, high CCA rating and battery warranty on the entire DieHard line is the best in the industry. I've never used Optima due to their very expensive price. The Sears DieHard (also @ K-Mart) gets my vote everytime for ease of purchase availabilty, high build quality, great monetary value, high CCA rating, and the best warranty in the business.

[vt_maverick]

I have the watercraft/marine version "Battery Buddy" in my ski-boat. It has saved my bacon on countless occasions, and you definately don't want to be out on the open water with a dead battery!!! Most vehicles have things that always draw power; namely the clock on the stereo is the biggest culprit. The "Battery Buddy" is best for vehicles that are operated infrequently (like a boat); situations where it may be hard to get an actual jump from another vehicle (like a boat), or isolated locations such as a boat marina without a nearby electrical outlet (like a boat).

Or when you're say, out on a deserted beach in a national park, miles away from the nearest car, gas station, etc., and the minimum tow fee is $250.

[nfpgasmask]

Or when you're say, out on a deserted beach in a national park, miles away from the nearest car, gas station, etc., and the minimum tow fee is $250.

Well, that is always my fear. I am building up my Trooper to be my hard-core expedition vehicle. After I am done, she is going to be pretty stout. The last thing I want is to get stranded 60 miles from the nearest paved road because of a dead battery. I guess I should always park near a hill so I can do a push start if I get stuck.

Bart

[tom4bren]

VT,

Try here:

http://batterybuddy.com/

Looks like they've discontinued the 'battery buddy' so that they can introduce the 'battery brain' for more $$$ (but still less than $70 so that's not too bad).

The only experience I've had with them was when we installed some surveillance equipment on some Suburbans for the Boarder Patrol years ago. We didn't want them to use the equipment for hours on end without the engine running and then not be able to start the Burb for the final chase.

[pbkid]

Well, that is always my fear. I am building up my Trooper to be my hard-core expedition vehicle. After I am done, she is going to be pretty stout. The last thing I want is to get stranded 60 miles from the nearest paved road because of a dead battery. I guess I should always park near a hill so I can do a push start if I get stuck.

Bart

you should invest in one of those jumper boxes (im not sure what they are called but they store enough charge to jump a vehicle and are relatively small) if your really planning on using the trooper for long expeditions like that.

[circmand]

you should invest in one of those jumper boxes (im not sure what they are called but they store enough charge to jump a vehicle and are relatively small) if your really planning on using the trooper for long expeditions like that.

$29.95 at Pepboys but you needed to keep it charged as well. I do not see why you could not create a one way circuit that would allow a running motor to charge up a battery. Then have a switch that you could hit that if your car would not start would reverse the flow so the always charged battery could then jump the car.

[pbkid]

$29.95 at Pepboys but you needed to keep it charged as well. I do not see why you could not create a one way circuit that would allow a running motor to charge up a battery. Then have a switch that you could hit that if your car would not start would reverse the flow so the always charged battery could then jump the car.

sure, but then you would need a very large diode/very expensive battery isolator

same idea that they use for high end car audio, 2 batteries. but they dont cross signals, otherwise they would drain each other.

[vt_maverick]

$29.95 at Pepboys but you needed to keep it charged as well.

That's my major problem with the chargers, I'm too forgetful to make sure it's charged all the time. The battery brain/buddy isn't a replacement for a charger, but it should at least help to avoid the drain situation, which in my experience is what caused all of my battery flatlines.

Want to eventually have both, but chargers can be big $$$ if you want a really good one.