Looking to upgrade my battery

[gbub]

It seems the factory battery in my Badlands is marginal for how I intend to use it. I have gotten suggestions which include adding another battery but I don't think I want to go that route for various reasons.

My preference is to install a battery with more CCA and capacity. I have gotten information from @Jazer on an Optima Yellow Top DH7 (Group 94R) battery that is made to fit the Bronco. It has higher CCA at 880 with capacity of 80 AH. I was concerned that it being a deep cycle battery, it would not be ideal for a daily driver. I then found out new generation vehicles work better with deep cycle batteries. So this is an upgrade and is well worth considering. It will probably have a reduced life than what I am used to with an Optima Red Top.

While I was searching for other options, I came across another brand that seems to be available only through Batteries Plus. The brand is X2Power and is also a deep cycle AGM battery but is BCI Group 27F. The size is about the same as the DH7 but it is about 1.25" taller. It has 930 CCA and capacity of 92 AH. That is even better to my liking. It appears to be able to fit in my Bronco but the terminals may not fit. The Optima has DIN-Type A1 and the X2Power has SAE Terminals. I am guessing the Bronco has the DIN terminals because the Optima is supposed to be and exact replacement for the OEM but with more CCA. The DIN terminals are supposed to smaller in diameter and taller than the SAE terminals. So, the Bronco connectors may not fit the X2Power battery. I guess I will just have to go look at the X2Power battery to be sure.

The X2Power battery has good reviews and has a 4 year free replacement warranty and appears to made in the USA. I could not find the warranty on the Optima but it is probably less than 4 years free. The Optima also appears to be made in Mexico.

Odyssey also has a BCI Group 94R battery but it has less CCA than the Optima DH7. Any suggestions on other AGM batteries that may be better?

I have not been able to find out what the Motorcraft replacement has for type of terminal. Does anyone know for sure what type of terminal the Bronco has?

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[Madden_07]

Optima's havent been worth a shit in a while now, in my experience anyway. I've been left stranded multiple times with a Red Top I had, and I've heard others with similar complaints.

I run a Deka Intimidator in my whole fleet and they've been problem free and great.

 

[gbub]

Per your advice, I looked into Deka Intimidator Batteries. They seem to have a great reputation. The only Deka Intimidator battery I could find for the Bronco has basically the same CCA and capacity as the OEM battery. So, that would not meet my requirements for an upgrade even if it may be an upgrade in durability.

I have heard from several people that Optima batteries are not very good, but I have not experienced that. I have used Red Top for at least 30 years and have them in three of my vehicles now. I have gotten very good life out of them and the last one I replaced was 11 years old. I have never had one totally fail me. I normally get a warning by a slower starting rpm.

Thank you for the recommendation. It would be on my list if it had more capacity.

 

[Mojave Norte]

When the time comes I've book marked the ODYSSEY ODP-AGM94R H7 L4

ODYSSEY are said to be super durable, and made in USA I believe
and 850 CCA versus Ford OEM 800

Price around $300

 

[gbub]

I did look at the Odyssey battery. It does have higher CCA than OEM but is still lower than Optima and X2Power. I want as much capacity that I can get. It is still a possibility if it is made in the USA.

 

[Poppavein]

I’ve also heard that Optima quality has gone down since they moved manufacturing to Mexico.

 

[RHeinz]

Just curious…. Why do you need more capacity (watt hours…amp hours)?

 

[raymondcielo]

I had my Jeep about 4 years. Around 3 years in the battery went dead. AAA came and jumped me and asked me if I had the start/stop feature. I said yes and he said that kills the batteries nowadays. He said thats about as long as you can expect if your car has that feature and you drive mostly short trips. So as soon as I was able to disable that on my 2021 Bronco Badlands I did. Going on 39 months of owning it and probably will change by next winter. I live in NJ so I assume that where you live and the temperature swings has something to do with it as well.

 

[gbub]

Just curious…. Why do you need more capacity (watt hours…amp hours)?

I take fairly long off-road adventures in remote wilderness every year. I have an ARB refrigerator that I have used since the 90s. I keeps my cold storage foods and drinks. I have found after the refrigerator is used overnight my Bronco OEM battery voltage gets low enough that sometimes the power port shuts off. I don't have a problem with that but if it is hot at night the refrigerator might get too warm. I need a battery with more reserve power. The OEM battery is only good if conditions are good and I am afraid as is gets older it may get worse.

 

[gbub]

I’ve also heard that Optima quality has gone down since they moved manufacturing to Mexico.

Apparently, I am very lucky. It is my understanding that there were some issues with Optima batteries when they went to Mexico for manufacturing. After a couple years they figured out the problem and got it fixed. I guess I did not need a battery during those bad years.

 

[gbub]

I had my Jeep about 4 years. Around 3 years in the battery went dead. AAA came and jumped me and asked me if I had the start/stop feature. I said yes and he said that kills the batteries nowadays. He said thats about as long as you can expect if your car has that feature and you drive mostly short trips. So as soon as I was able to disable that on my 2021 Bronco Badlands I did. Going on 39 months of owning it and probably will change by next winter. I live in NJ so I assume that where you live and the temperature swings has something to do with it as well.

I can believe that. I don't use the A/S feature very much. I think A/S is one reason deep cycle AGM batteries are used in newer vehicles. The draw on the battery when the engine is off is another reason. The problem with deep cycle batteries is they don't have a long life when used in an automotive situation. Standard non deep cycle batteries don't last long when used as deep cycle. So, we need deep cycle batteries and just have to live with the shorter life.

 

[brkdncr]

I had my Jeep about 4 years. Around 3 years in the battery went dead. AAA came and jumped me and asked me if I had the start/stop feature. I said yes and he said that kills the batteries nowadays. He said thats about as long as you can expect if your car has that feature and you drive mostly short trips. So as soon as I was able to disable that on my 2021 Bronco Badlands I did. Going on 39 months of owning it and probably will change by next winter. I live in NJ so I assume that where you live and the temperature swings has something to do with it as well.

I wouldn’t accept a dude jumping cars as an expert on batteries. They’re under qualified and has significant selection bias.

 

[raymondcielo]

I wouldn’t accept a dude jumping cars as an expert on batteries. They’re under qualified and has significant selection bias.

Pretty blanket statement by someone who doesn't know the techs qualifications, but there is always one in the group. And Im sure you have the qualifications or know "people" that know much better! This forum is about having conversations and getting peoples experiences with an issue they are having. If the answers someone gives isn't to your liking click past it and post something constructive.

 

[RHeinz]

Pretty blanket statement by someone who doesn't know the techs qualifications, but there is always one in the group. And Im sure you have the qualifications or know "people" that know much better! This forum is about having conversations and getting peoples experiences with an issue they are having. If the answers someone gives isn't to your liking click past it and post something constructive.

I liked your response. Thanks for the reminder. I’m 74 and have jumped a lot of batteries. Now, which side of the BMS should you connect your jumper cables?

 

[RHeinz]

I take fairly long off-road adventures in remote wilderness every year. I have an ARB refrigerator that I have used since the 90s. I keeps my cold storage foods and drinks. I have found after the refrigerator is used overnight my Bronco OEM battery voltage gets low enough that sometimes the power port shuts off. I don't have a problem with that but if it is hot at night the refrigerator might get too warm. I need a battery with more reserve power. The OEM battery is only good if conditions are good and I am afraid as is gets older it may get worse.

Rather than add another hour or so to my starting battery capacity, I went with this:

It also opens up many other options with regard to refrigerators, etc.

You can sleep better at night knowing that your Bronco battery is not being loaded, even though the Bronco protects it from discharge fairly well.

Just my opinion with camping experience with a fridge at very remote sites. Hope to see you out there!

EDIT: And…with solar panels, I can do multiple nights at a remote site without running the Bronco.

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