Re: Optima Red Top battery box and battery cable sizing
[Re: AlexP]
#1721888
01/05/15 03:11 AM
01/05/15 03:11 AM
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Joined: Jun 2005
Posts: 793 Utah
topbrent
super stock
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super stock
Joined: Jun 2005
Posts: 793
Utah
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Calculate your total maximum potential amperage load first. This will tell you what size cable you need. ECU, injectors, fans, pumps, stereo, headlights, horn, tailights, domelight, A/C, signals, markers, brake lights, 12v acc, oxygen sensors, ect. Make sure you pay attention to the ground capabilities also. You need low resistance on that side of the circuit as well. Depending on your grounding scheme preference, nearly 45-50 ft of 1/0 cable is probably what is spec' for your application (charge+ground). (I would keep it simple and use a modern lightweight battery up front. ![](/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/Twocents.gif) ) ![](http://www.distinctbeat.com/gaugeguide.jpg)
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Re: Optima Red Top battery box and battery cable sizing
[Re: AlexP]
#1721889
01/05/15 03:30 AM
01/05/15 03:30 AM
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Joined: Jun 2003
Posts: 52,972 Romeo MI
MR_P_BODY
Master
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Master
Joined: Jun 2003
Posts: 52,972
Romeo MI
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I assume this is in the RR.. if you have a rear fire wall behind the seat(alum or steel) you dont need a box for the battery... if not.. then yes you need a enclosed box ![](/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/wave.gif)
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Re: Optima Red Top battery box and battery cable sizing
[Re: MR_P_BODY]
#1721890
01/05/15 11:48 AM
01/05/15 11:48 AM
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Joined: Feb 2011
Posts: 4,302 Nebraska
72Swinger
master
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master
Joined: Feb 2011
Posts: 4,302
Nebraska
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Ballistic Fabrication makes sweet battery holdowns that fit in a regular marine box.
Mopar to the bone!!!
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Re: Optima Red Top battery box and battery cable sizing
[Re: AlexP]
#1721891
01/05/15 12:25 PM
01/05/15 12:25 PM
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Joined: Oct 2003
Posts: 7,506 Az
Crizila
master
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master
Joined: Oct 2003
Posts: 7,506
Az
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About the best bang for the $ is the kit from Summit #SUM-G1231-K. Comes with 20 ft of 1 gage.
Fastest 300
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Re: Optima Red Top battery box and battery cable sizing
[Re: Crizila]
#1721892
01/05/15 12:52 PM
01/05/15 12:52 PM
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Joined: Dec 2003
Posts: 22,696 Bitopia
jcc
If you can't dazzle em with diamonds..
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If you can't dazzle em with diamonds..
Joined: Dec 2003
Posts: 22,696
Bitopia
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It is odd that chart jumps from 4 gauge to 1/0. ![](/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/1343795-scratchchin.gif) And DC travels in the core of the wire unlike AC that favors the surface.
Reality check, that half the population is smarter then 50% of the people and it's a constantly contested fact.
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Re: Optima Red Top battery box and battery cable sizing
[Re: jcc]
#1721893
01/05/15 12:56 PM
01/05/15 12:56 PM
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Joined: Jun 2003
Posts: 52,972 Romeo MI
MR_P_BODY
Master
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Master
Joined: Jun 2003
Posts: 52,972
Romeo MI
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Quote:
It is odd that chart jumps from 4 gauge to 1/0. ![](/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/1343795-scratchchin.gif)
And DC travels in the core of the wire unlike AC that favors the surface.
I didnt know that DC likes the core.. thought they all used the outer area ![](/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/wave.gif)
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Re: Optima Red Top battery box and battery cable sizing
[Re: MR_P_BODY]
#1721894
01/05/15 01:21 PM
01/05/15 01:21 PM
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Joined: Sep 2003
Posts: 10,645 Houston, Tx
AlexP
OP
I Live Here
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OP
I Live Here
Joined: Sep 2003
Posts: 10,645
Houston, Tx
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Quote:
I assume this is in the RR.. if you have a rear fire wall behind the seat(alum or steel) you dont need a box for the battery... if not.. then yes you need a enclosed box
It is for my RR.
I don't have a wall behind the seat, but I'd really like the box to prevent the battery from being hit by anything in the trunk. I'm going to skip the NHRA requirement and leave the trunk switch out.
I'm honestly not sold on the Red Top. I researched last night, and I'm convinced to buy a premium parts house AGM battery over the Red Top.
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Re: Optima Red Top battery box and battery cable sizing
[Re: AlexP]
#1721895
01/05/15 01:25 PM
01/05/15 01:25 PM
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Joined: Feb 2011
Posts: 4,302 Nebraska
72Swinger
master
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master
Joined: Feb 2011
Posts: 4,302
Nebraska
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Dollar for dollar you can't beat a CAT battery group 31. 880cca.
Mopar to the bone!!!
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Re: Optima Red Top battery box and battery cable sizing
[Re: AlexP]
#1721896
01/05/15 01:34 PM
01/05/15 01:34 PM
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Joined: Jun 2003
Posts: 52,972 Romeo MI
MR_P_BODY
Master
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Master
Joined: Jun 2003
Posts: 52,972
Romeo MI
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It is for my RR. I don't have a wall behind the seat, but I'd really like the box to prevent the battery from being hit by anything in the trunk. I'm going to skip the NHRA requirement and leave the trunk switch out. I'm honestly not sold on the Red Top. I researched last night, and I'm convinced to buy a premium parts house AGM battery over the Red Top.
I've been running Die Hard(I believe it is) in my race car and in my Rampage.. the one in the race car has been in there for YEARS.. never even had a charger on it... we did some testing on the Optima batteries at Chrysler(the battery lab did) to see if we would go with them in production... they werent that great and didnt go with them... also being that I run a alt on all my junk I use the standard auto battery and not the marine ones.. they have a different way of being used(without a alt) ![](/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/wave.gif)
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Re: Optima Red Top battery box and battery cable sizing
[Re: MR_P_BODY]
#1721897
01/05/15 01:55 PM
01/05/15 01:55 PM
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Joined: Feb 2005
Posts: 20,190 PA.
pittsburghracer
"Little"John
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"Little"John
Joined: Feb 2005
Posts: 20,190
PA.
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Give these a look. Been using them for many years in Matts and my cars and really like them. http://www.diehard.com/products/automotive
1970 Duster Edelbrock headed 408 5.984@112.52 422 Indy headed small block 5.982@112.56 mph 9.42@138.27
Livin and lovin life one day at a time
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Re: Optima Red Top battery box and battery cable sizing
[Re: pittsburghracer]
#1721898
01/05/15 02:10 PM
01/05/15 02:10 PM
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Joined: Jul 2006
Posts: 4,319 Puyallup, WA
StealthWedge67
master
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master
Joined: Jul 2006
Posts: 4,319
Puyallup, WA
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Not that there aren't good & poor batteries, but I know that when I was younger, I spent about a year working in a battery factory. We had a few different specs of batteries (based on lead core surface area) that we built in a number of different color cases. Then, you guessed it, we slapped on stickers from just about every battery brand available! I slapped on stickers from Napa, to DieHard, to every Auto Parts store brand you can think of. All the same batteries. Other than the newer Gel-type batteries, my experience working for GBC (General Battery Corp.) tells me that the reason they all look the same, is because they are. ![](/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/Twocents.gif)
LemonWedge - Street heavy / Strip ready - 11.07 @ 120
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Re: Optima Red Top battery box and battery cable sizing
[Re: StealthWedge67]
#1721899
01/05/15 02:48 PM
01/05/15 02:48 PM
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Joined: Oct 2003
Posts: 7,506 Az
Crizila
master
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master
Joined: Oct 2003
Posts: 7,506
Az
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A word of caution on older batteries. They may pass a load test, and still not be up to cranking the engine over and firing the ignition at the same time. The last few times I have been out to the track, the car started fine cold off the trailer. No problem driving to the tech lane and teching in. Warm the motor up, drive to staging and shut down and wait for the call. Go to start up, good crank - no fire. As I would release the ignition switch to the run position ( drop out the starter ) the motor would try to fire. Cold motor & starter, no problem. Heat soak a bit in staging and the current draw went up enough to keep the ignition from firing the plugs. Starter draw was in specs. Voltage drop tests were all under .1 volts. Battery TESTED good. Installed new battery. Problem went away.
Fastest 300
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Re: Optima Red Top battery box and battery cable sizing
[Re: Crizila]
#1721900
01/05/15 03:12 PM
01/05/15 03:12 PM
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Joined: Sep 2003
Posts: 10,645 Houston, Tx
AlexP
OP
I Live Here
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OP
I Live Here
Joined: Sep 2003
Posts: 10,645
Houston, Tx
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I like sealed batteries, so the AGM is the best of both worlds in terms of performance and safety. I need to move the battery to the trunk to support the accessories in the rear. Two fuel pumps and an eventual amplifier. Also, I need the battery out of the engine bay to allow for me to mount a centrifugal supercharger on the drivers side of the hemi. A good trade off... ![](/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/beer.gif)
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Re: Optima Red Top battery box and battery cable sizing
[Re: Crizila]
#1721905
01/05/15 09:33 PM
01/05/15 09:33 PM
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Joined: Sep 2008
Posts: 29 Washington State
lorenr
member
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member
Joined: Sep 2008
Posts: 29
Washington State
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What about battery weight? When I started this post I thought that someone would comment on battery weight. I'm under the impression that the reason many use the "red top" is because they are more durable, weigh less and are smaller. Does someone make a better AGM battery? I need something that will fire a high compression road race car and is lighter than a lead acid battery. I kind of thought that might be an AGM battery. Lithium ion batteries are the ticket but are just much money. Loren ![](/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/bow.gif)
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