What deep cycle batteries (such as Optimas or SVRs) fit the Protege's stock battery location? Was it necessary for you to modify anything or discard the battery retaining bracket?

If I'm not mistaken all Proteges use the same size battery, which is size 35 and rated at 550 CCA stock. Thanks.

 

Different brands have different size batteries. For example, SVR makes many different sizes of deep cycle batteries. When you say spiral cell, were you referring to the Optimas? Thanks.

 

Fo an optima you have to cut the tray or make a new one.

 

I squeezed the optima yellow top in my stock tray

 

How did you squeeze it in? Can you elaborate on how you got it to fit and if you used any tricks?

 

Yup your idea of the optima red in the engine bay and the yellow in the trunk is a popular setup and probably a good idea. I am basically looking for the same benefit without using a dedicated battery for audio. They say the yellow top works fine as a starter battery, which is why I am interested in installing the yellow top in the engine bay (basically a budget setup, less wiring and more trunk space).

The main reason I want the deep-cycle is that I can run it down by playing for however long (hour or two?) with the engine off and charge it back up if needed (either using alternator or a battery charger). Like you said, your red top can't play for more than 20 minutes, that's why you need a deep-cycle.

 

What is the ampage the sound system runs? Deep Cycle batteries require some particular charging to survive the 300 cycles or so they can pull from near dead.
I hate to admit it, but I killed one once in about 50 improper cycles, and that was the Ohio generator in the car.

 

What exactly happened?

 

1st- Nice to keep running into friends this way!!

Cold weather, too many full dead cycles, and no build charges with a trickle off to full. The Ohio did a good job of fill the batttery, but not topping, I ended up with a "memory" issue, so said Optima, and the batter wound up thinking is had a full charge at about 80% charge, not a good place to be!

That is why I try to get folks to think before dropping yellow tops.

There are some fine chargers on the market that will get your a fine, long life out of any true deep cycle, but they are not the lower end chargers from Manny Moe and Jack. The one I use any more is chip controlled, and compensated for the ambient temperature when charging.

I continue to use red tops, have one in the RX-7, and still use a yellow top in the Sentra. I have yet to crack a screw on rebuilding the Mazdaspeeds audio system but I will go red top when I do.

It is just unless you are truely competing, or spending hours in the car listening to sound with the motor cut, I think folks would be better off with a high amp/ cold crank battery. Just my opinion, and I don't sell them for a living!!

Dave

 

I don't sell them either. About 2 years ago Tweeter got the brilliant Idea to ditch optima for SVR, WTF!

I don't know anyone that has sold a single SVR!

Just to clarify, as I am slightly confused, it seems that wihtout a long charge period after each large draw the Yellow top may develope memory issues? Is there something that can be done to aviod theis other then using red tops, allow not a bad idea?

 

Just to clarify, as I am slightly confused, it seems that wihtout a long charge period after each large draw the Yellow top may develope memory issues? Is there something that can be done to aviod theis other then using red tops, allow not a bad idea?

Well I have never seen the yellow top as a great starter battery anyway, but they can be used that way. For a full cycle drain, the alternator is not the way to recharge though, a controlled charge is.
A controlled charge is more like a high charge until about 70%, then a tapering charge until about 90% and then a trickle to finish off and saturate. So I understand. I will try to find the link for you, I at one time found a Canadian professor's website on the subject of controlled recharging that was a great read on the subject. He maintained that you could keep batteries almost forever if you treat them right and charge them in the proper manner. He was not that keen on ever doing a total or near total discharge though, and seems to me he killed a absorbed matt battery like a spiral cell in under 10 cycles.
I like reds just fine- for Oklahoma they can produce fine cold crank amps, and have enough reserve I don't see lights dimming to the music, so I am happy.
This is not to say that folks can't use a yellow top as a starter battery, I have one in the Sentra with the nicest sound system, but I do regulary plug it onto a microprocessor controlled charging system to keep it properly charged.
I hope I have not muddied the waters more-
Dave

 

Thanks! Now I get it.

 

"but I do regulary plug it onto a microprocessor controlled charging system to keep it properly charged. "

could you expalin in more details about this charging system, IE. make, model, cost..