Better Battery...

    I've read in some ither threads that Optima was bought out by a Mexican company and is now pretty poor quality. Someone posted another good brand of battery, which I cant find right now, but my question is, can you use just any automotive battery in there (provided it fits the space)?

    Quote from KayTwo

    I've read in some ither threads that Optima was bought out by a Mexican company and is now pretty poor quality. Someone posted another good brand of battery, which I cant find right now, but my question is, can you use just any automotive battery in there (provided it fits the space)?


    That's the new trend. Big companies with good quality sells out and someone else makes everything cheaper quality and that company goes under. How sad.


    RNJ12

    Quote from KayTwo

    I've read in some ither threads that Optima was bought out by a Mexican company and is now pretty poor quality. Someone posted another good brand of battery, which I cant find right now, but my question is, can you use just any automotive battery in there (provided it fits the space)?

    Rural king? Tractor King?


    I remember the thread... Not sure who it was...

    Quote from KayTwo

    I've read in some ither threads that Optima was bought out by a Mexican company and is now pretty poor quality. Someone posted another good brand of battery, which I cant find right now, but my question is, can you use just any automotive battery in there (provided it fits the space)?

    Sure you can , an electrical 12 volt system does not care which brand of battery powers it during the starting cycle after that its basically just a storage cell powered by the alternator. it wouldn,t make sense to install one with less cranking amps than the O.E.M. one as Polaris engineers have already done the research and determined the minimum amount of cranking amps recommended for your sling, However you can never go wrong putting a larger cranking amps battery in as long as it,ll fit. As far as marine grade deep cycle , the only difference is deep cycle batteries consists of heavier lead plates which are not as susceptible to permanent damage everytime you do run a battery down then have to boost or recharge it( DUE TO POSITIVE GRID CORROSION) . a typical automotive starting battery (USED IN ALL MASS MANUFACTURED AUTOS) with the lighter plates does incur a shorter lifespan every time its pulled down to where it requires a boost, whereas a deep cycle sees minimal damage when pulling it right down to dead stage and will almost always charge right back up with as many usable cranking amps in the future.


    So if your prone to providing light shows all night, music , etc, a deep cycle is the way to go as you don't risk permanently weakening it when you do run it dead, just beware of some of those cheaper batteries claiming to be deep cycle or marine grade, if it doesn't weigh noticeably more than a similar size automotive (starting) battery it truly doesn't have the heavier plates, but a slightly heavier advertising label as it contains more bullshit!


    the deep cycle will have less cold cranking amps than a similar sized automotive (starting) battery , the rule of thumb if you want to use deepcycle and run in cold weather is to upsize your deep cycle battery by 20 % for similar cold cranking amps in cold weather. But given most Sling owners do not operate much below freezing I dont see the need to run deepcycle like we Canadians do in a lot of our seldomely used equipment here unless of course you are prone to running lite shows and music, hour after hour after hour .Then a deep cycle would be worth the extra cost.

    and of course the AGM (Absorbed glass matting) battery recommended is a newer construction type than the old school deep cycle batteries (flooded) I referred to above, but the lifespan and recharging theory still applies . The main difference is AGM batteries gas very minimally and are commonly referred to as non gassing , whereas flooded lead acid batteries gas quite a bit when overcharging , not much during a normal charge cycle but always more than an AGM battery . it puzzles me that Polaris and people think you are safer in a non gassing AGM battery used in the slingshot as I dont know too many people riding around in a sealed cabin environment where minimal battery gassing could present a problem. The entire automotive industry uses hundreds of thousands of normal flooded starting batteries everyday that are situated close to the occupants and separated only by minimal baffling or firewall that is in no way shape or form considered air tight and the occupants then are seated in a closed cabin right above or behind that and certainly more exposed to gassing than a person in a open SLINGSHOT So I dont know that the added expense of AGM is worth it at replacement time . just my honest opinion , for what its worth lol

    All that being said , I am a big fan of AGM batteries for their specific benefits it,s just that most don't apply to Slingshots. The biggest benefit is that in cold weather a flooded battery discharges when not in use about 13 % a month ,where as an AGM only discharges 1 to 3 % a month in the same temperatures, The simple remedy is don't leave your slingshot sitting in cold weather for three or four months straight without recharging, if your running a cheaper flooded battery , and recharging can consists of just running long enough to have the alternator top up the battery every month or two.
    And of course the biggest benefit is the AGM is maintenance free as it is a self regulated battery and basically does not vent when overcharging , therefore you never have to add water , a big benefit considering where your sling battery is located, really ? come on, honestly unless an overcharging electrical failure occurs adding water to a battery is more of a myth than a regular maintenance thing and that overcharging condition is going to have to be addressed anyway , an AGM will not prevent that .
    So did I always run the added expense of AGM in my aircraft as they were stored in non heated hangers or outside and hardly ever ran through harsh Northern winters, you bet ! but would I in a southern aircraft ran regularily ? nope, there simply isn't enough benefits for me to warrant the extra cost.

    Quote from KayTwo

    I've read in some ither threads that Optima was bought out by a Mexican company and is now pretty poor quality. Someone posted another good brand of battery, which I cant find right now, but my question is, can you use just any automotive battery in there (provided it fits the space)?

    Yes, I am using costco interstate battery.

    Is not that I am mean, I just don't sugarcoat what I say.

    Quote from Slingrazor

    Rural King Automotive AGM Group 34 Battery RK-AGM34 : Rural King


    From previous page.

    Has anybody tries this battery in their Slingshot? The RK specs show it to be approximately 10.19"L x 7.07"W x 7.88"H (10-3/16 x 7-1/16 x 7-7/8) compared to the Optima 34 series at 10.06"L x 6.94"W x 7.88"H. That means the RK battery is about 1/8" wider and I wonder if there is enough room to fit. I have a 2015 base model so I have a slightly larger battery tray than the newer Slingshots.
    I almost ordered one, but would like to know it fits first.