VCCA Home Forums TECHNICAL - GENERAL Electrical - 6 volt Best 6 Volt Battery??

The sears battery in my 32 was a "die easy"!!! Any suggestions on a battery will live long when stored for long periods of time. I use a battery tender but the Sears did not last but a few years.

I have had great luck (5+ years) with a 6 volt Red Top Optima battery. It has about twice the cranking amps of the original battery and it is a gel cell so does not require any maintenance. It will fit diagonally in the space for a group 1 battery. They are not cheap. I paid about $125.

I bought a NAPA Commerical (6 Volt) from NAPA Auto parts about 5 years ago while at a car show in Solvang, Ca. Been a great battery with no problems........

Any brand name that has over or 625 cold cranking amps.

i got a champion battery in my 30 for the last 7 yrs
still cranking good with a tender on it.

I wouldnt go with just ANY brand name...there are alot out there that are junk than wont last past a year. Some that will last maybee 2 years....some that will last 4...maybee 5 and the best, sometimes most expensive, lasting well up to 8 years, if taken care of.


I've heard Optima is good...I know interstate workhorse is good. I've had the last interstate last 9 years. Ofcouce it was well taken care of and float charged in the "off season".

there is also another battery called Nik-O-lite or Nik-O-life...Interstate and Nik-o-lite or Life, are one of the very few american made batterys left.

Most batterys today are just commercialised names that are mostly just made to sell and get you by a week, long enough to maybee obtain something better.

Oilspot,You got me confused here---you went from 1yr,2yr,4yr,5yr,and the absolute best 8yr for the most expensive battery available, properly cared for ----but you have gotten 9 years out of an Interstate Workhorse,which my research shows is a long way from the most expensive battery out there----so,you are reccomending the Interstate?? Do you have a secret as to how to get a battery to last that long,if so,share it please--the world disposes to many batteries into our ecosystem!! I have owned many,many cars,motorcycles,trucks etc. in the past 45 years and have NEVER gotten more than 5yrs. out of any battery that I can recall.Sure they may still take a charge,but are at best on their last cranking leg.

I just recently (this spring)replaced the 6 volt battery in my 31. The old battery was purchased from Auto Zone in 2002. This new one also was purchased from Auto Zone. The first battery was $45.00 with a 1 year free replacement warranty, this last one was $92.00 with a 3 year free replacement. I also am going on my 10th year for the battery in my John Deere riding mower and I have done nothing special as far as maintenance. did not disconnect or trickle charge in winter.

hoppy

The major problem with 6 volt batteries in our old Chevrolets is not undercharging but overcharging. At 8 amps it only takes a few miles of driving to restore the battery to full charge. After that the generator output just tries to overcharge the battery. Results in rapid water loss and deterioration of the cell plates.

Most old Chevy owners never drive their cars at night but insist on setting the generator to ~ 12 amps output. That just ruins the battery sooner. For the last 30+ years I run the headlights during the day to keep the charge rate to ~ zero, when I can remember. Then I have to remember to turn off the lights when I stop for a while. Big pain and having CRS don't remember so good.

I purchased a regulator (described on ChatII several times) that I have used for the past 5 or so years. Use the generator (1931 three brush) on the '31 and '28s as well. Keeps the battery charged but not overcharged. Now I don't have to remember to turn the lights on and off. I also set the generator output to as low as it will go ~ 6 amps. Even though I drive the cars occasionally in the dark with headlights on have never had a problem with running down the battery. Yes it shows a couple amps discharge with the headlights on but it will take many hours to discharge the battery at that rate.

I think i pretty well specified the spacifics compaired from a cheaper battery, to one of the more expensive ones. Maybee i should have said, to one of the BETTER MADE ones. Price at times, amazingly can have little to do with it...or it can have a HUGE amount to do with it... pick up the battery, see how much it weighs.

I recommend Interstate, simply becouse they are always fresh DIRECTLY from an Interstate Battery dealer, a good dealer WILL test them BEFORE they sell you the battery to be put into service and lastly, they are one of the less than a handfull of american battery makers left. I could probably count them on 3 fingers. And yes, i've had a Interstate work horse last 9 years...but it was also on it's last leg...still cranked the car but wouldnt hold a charge for long.

You will not see that quality with a box store battery.

It's really no skin of my nose what anybody decides to run...but if anyone asks...it's interstate for me.

Seems most batteries are manufactured by a few companies, just packaged differently for retailers. So, they are much the same. Check Consumer Reports ratings. Make sure you get the right size: i.e.; CARQUEST makes the 1-30, 640 CCA, and the 2-30, 675 CCA, 6 volt batteries, the 2-30 being 1 & 3/8" longer than the 1-30. This was too big for my 1950 Chevy, and the 1-30 was an exact fit.

"I also set the generator output to as low as it will go ~ 6 amps."

Chipper,

With the Peterson voltage regulator doesn't the regulator control the generator output? If that is so what is there to adjust in the generator? The ampmeter on my '36 PU shows a substantial charge right after I start the engine but very soon settles down to a tiny charge rate.

Does yours do that too?

Ray W

Peterson recommends setting the third brush for the maximum output and letting the regulator set the charge rate. I did that for a short time. When I realized that it only took a couple of minutes to restore the charge from starting the engine, I set the generator to minimum charge rate ~ 6-8 amps. Still only takes a few minutes to replace the starting loss and I don't have to worry about overheating the generator and slinging the solder from the armature. Seems to be enough to keep up when the headlights are on bright setting or only slight discharge. I can live with that as I don't use the lights often or for an extended time.

i just had to replace my battery late last year.
replaced with the same champion. cost 92$

I've used Carquest Batteries for the past 15-18 years and have had good luck with them. I always take the Positive Cable off in the Fall and reconnect it in the Spring. And they are no where near 92.00.

I installed an Optima 6 V gel battery in my 32 three years ago. With this battery the starter spins like a 12V.

I, too, recommend Interstate. They are good batteries and I have had great service out of both their 12 volt and 6 volt ones.

Based on experience with one, I don't recommend no stinkin Optimas.

Charlie

I will also go with the Optima Red Top, Bought Mine off of Amazon and love it, will NOT go back, also picked up a Battery Tender for it and keeps it happy !!

For maximum CCA's Optima is your best choice.

After going through 2 lead acids I finally went with the Optima AGM battery. Would never go back!


OPTIMA® REDTOP® 6V The ultimate starting battery for your vintage 6-volt car or boat. Ultra high-performance SPIRALCELL TECHNOLOGY® AGM (absorbent glass mat) battery with reliable cranking power for your auto, car or truck and twice the life. The OPTIMA® REDTOP® will outperform and outlast traditional batteries in demanding cranking/starting applications. The ultimate high-CCA starting battery for vehicles that have alternators capable of keeping up with all electrical loads.

If you have demanding electrical accessory loads such as winches, audio systems, and other devices, take a look at the YELLOWTOP® product line.

The OPTIMA® model number for this battery is 6V. If you are replacing a 6 volt OPTIMA® battery you already have, this model is the same as batteries marked 8010-044, 9010-044, 27901, 6V, RED6V, SC6A, or N996VRED.

What is the average going price for a 6 volt Optima?

Batteries Plus shows them today at $184.99 but there is a $10 off coupon on their web site. I have had one for 11 years in one 1950 and it is still good. The Delco I bought in 2011 for the other 1950 is on its last legs so will likely replace it with a 6V Optima.

I started this thread back in 2011 and ultimately decided on an Optima gel battery and am very happy with my decision. I keep a battery tender on it and it spins like a 12 volt and has never let me down. I think the performance far outweighs the initial high price.

I haven't had very good luck with Delco 6 volt batteries. For the overall best cranking power definitely go with the 6 volt Optima.

I bought my Optima from Amazon:

Optima Batteries 8010-044-FFP RedTop 6V $112.59

with FREE PRIME Shipping, they ship them via ground...

got mine, nicely packaged, no damage !!

Was a HARD Deal to beat, and Amazon is an Authorized Dealer, so they can warranty them !! Checked that out BEFORE I Bought Mine.