Random questions 'bout battery/system

Mr Josh Zombie · Post by **Mr Josh Zombie** » Mon Nov 27, 2006 12:09 pm

So, for some strage ass reason, my stock battery decided to leak at the posts only when the car was on and destroyed my 0g terminals that I got from KnuKustomz... actually, it destroyed two sets... It ate off the coating and corroded the hell out of them. Mainly the negative terminal.

First question: Why did it decide to leak out? The battery is on my Ford Escort right now and I have no problems.

Second: What aftermarket terminals do most of you use?
I have 0g wiring running to my amp and alternator, as well as the Big 3 done in 0g.

Third: I plan on buying a Optima YellowTop D35 battery... found one of a good price on eBay. It's going to be just fine and dandy to sit around until spring time, right? Or should I wait until I'm ready to use the battery to buy it?

Last: All my wiring is done in 0g wiring... my grounds are tightened to bare metal. I was only running about 600watts, 250rms to my subs and I still got HORRIBLE dimming. I imagine new battery will finally fix this?

Thanks!!!

Mr Josh Zombie · Post by **Mr Josh Zombie** » Mon Nov 27, 2006 10:35 pm

so i take it NO ONE here on the board knows ANYTHING about audio systems? or what?

Seems like every question I have about audio... no one knows about... *shrugs*

scneonchic · Post by **scneonchic** » Tue Nov 28, 2006 5:14 pm

Okay...

1) Im not sure why it ate your terminals

on your neon and not on the escort.

2) I have the quick realease terminals from advance auto. Had them on there over a year and NO corrosion. I had corrision everwhere w/ the aftermarket ones I had (I dont remember the brand right off hand though ?) Tsunami maybe? I also have 0g wire for my system. (2 bostwick amps, one 12" TREO)

3) I have the redtop battery...also in the car for about a year. You should be fine getting it now. Might have to recharge it before you go to put it in the car. You can take it to an auto parts store, or put it on your own charger if you have one.

My neon sits for at least a couple of weeks before I can take it out since I cant always get up there once a week, and it always starts right up.

4) I still have dimming w/ a red top optima, higher amperage alternator, but I dont have the Big 3 wires on mine just yet. So Im thinking the yellow top should help w/ your dimming alot.

Do you have an UDP?

Dutch_Neon · Post by **Dutch_Neon** » Tue Nov 28, 2006 6:22 pm

Put in a power cap for the dimming, if everything else failes. Don't buy the really cheap ass ones since then you would be better of putting a penlite battery in the trunk.
The yellowtop should be fine after sitting on a shelf for a while. After all, don't all batteries just sit on a shelft till you buy them? It will probably only need some recharging and be done with it.
I don't use any terminals. I just add a (what's it called in English: kinda like a bolt with a ring on it).

Praesepe559 · Post by **Praesepe559** » Tue Nov 28, 2006 6:53 pm

If you talk to optima they will tell you the yellow top is made for long periods of slow discharge and then a recharged (deep cycling). They will also tell you right off the bat that it is not ideal for a high power audio system unless your intent is to play it with the car off for a long time and then get a jump start.

After some research i went with a stinger battery and i am much happier than i was with my yellow top. To prevent dimming you want a battery that discharges and charges rapidly, im not sure about the optima red top but that is exactly what the stinger batteries are designed to do.

Loud-e-nuf · Post by **Loud-e-nuf** » Tue Nov 28, 2006 9:24 pm

I actually have the same problem but only with my KnuKoncepts Negative, I had to replace the positive because I broke the allen bolt to tighten it. I run a Optima Red top currently but I'm going to mswitch to an Odessey when I install my 170 amp alternator....
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FORD FAIRLANE (NORTH AMERICA) HISTORY
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FAKE WEED

Mr Josh Zombie · Post by **Mr Josh Zombie** » Wed Nov 29, 2006 8:50 am

For starters, no, I don't have an UDP... probably wont ever get one just becuase I don't want to go through the hassle of installing it. *laughs*

I'll never, ever buy a cap. I've heard one to many bad things about them. More bad than good actually. If I did get it, I'd have it just to make my trunk look pretty.

In terms of the battery... yea, I thought the same thing to about it setting on the shelf. Figured I'd ask anyways. I like to be annoying from time to time.

After talking to nitehawk for awhile last night about terminals, i'll probably be avoiding the aftermarket ones from here out. Who knows... Defentally not happy with the KnuKonceptz terminals. They said they never seen anything like it either when I sent them pictures of it.

thanks all!

danielc24 · Post by **danielc24** » Wed Nov 29, 2006 12:19 pm

i had 1200 watts running at 1ohm with 2ga wire on my stock battery and it dimmed really bad so i bought the yellow top and after that it barely dimmed at all , then i got a 3 farad cap and it stopped completely , but then after a while my amp took a crap so i dont know if the cap is to blame or what

Nick Drake · Post by **Nick Drake** » Wed Nov 29, 2006 2:25 pm

Something's fishy about that battery. I'd just ditch it for a gel cell'd battery. They don't leak, even if the battery itself is cracked.

Secondly, I use some from NAPA that are supposed to eliminate the threat of corrosion.

Don't worry about letting the battery sit around for a while, some of the batteries at work are older than that. Just wouldn't go over 6-7 months. When you get it, just check to see if it has a sticker on the side (they all should). It should say a letter and a number. The letter is a month (a = january, b = feb. etc. oh and the letter I isn't used) and the number is the year it was made (5 for 2005). That should give you some reassurance. Just have it tested for load and decide if you need to charge it that way.

Lastly, I'm not sure what's going on with your dimming, I'm running about the same powered setup and get no dimming. I actually am only running 4 gauge wiring to everything. I'd just see if the battery fixes it, I mean it was leaking right?

Mr Josh Zombie · Post by **Mr Josh Zombie** » Mon Jan 08, 2007 7:15 pm

**UPDATE**

So, it's been a few months that the battery from my dodge has been on my escort, and sure enough, there's corrosion on it. So, it was the battery that was indeed eating the shit out of my terminals.

Battery still works perfect though. I'm keeping it for use on the Escort, and I just bought a Optima D35 YellowTop for the Neon. I'm going to drop my wiring down to 4g, just so I can clean up my engine bay some. (anyone want a shit load of 0g wire for cheap?

)

Still on the look out for some good terminals though... I want flashy, that can hold 0g wire, and wont get eaten to shit by my battery. (I don't think a dry cell CAN eat terminals, can they????)

silentneon01 · Post by **silentneon01** » Fri Jan 19, 2007 7:01 pm

my red top sat on the floor behind my passager's seat for 6 months before I put in and god knows how long it was on the self for and when I did put it in it worked fine. Still getting dimming on my red top but I do have UDP.

I like street wire's connector stuff.

gilly02le · Post by **gilly02le** » Tue Jan 30, 2007 12:03 pm

ive got an optima d34-78, its a gm sized battery so no, its doesnt fit the battery tray properly.. However, i just used one of those massive cable ties to hold it in place...

If you have an optima battery and are having any problems with it, i would just take it back, They have a three year warranty, and if they mess up they will give you a new one...

my question is...how are your lights dimming with an optima battery.. have you not replaced any of your grounds? and what size wire are you running.. because i've got about 1500W running all the time, and no matter what i do, i cant make my lights dim, even with a UDP, and at idle!!!

Mr Josh Zombie · Post by **Mr Josh Zombie** » Tue Jan 30, 2007 12:24 pm

huh? oh... wow... i keep forgetting about this post.

Yea, everythings fixed now. (might wanna read the whole thread. i know you're trying to help, but everything you mentioned was pretty much answered)

I JUST bought the Optima, never had one until around the first of this month. With my stock battey, 0g grounds, i had dimming.

Upgraded to the Optima D35 (modded tray to fit it 100%), re-filed down my paint, tightened my grounds even more, and finally i don't notice dimming.

gilly02le · Post by **gilly02le** » Tue Jan 30, 2007 12:32 pm

yeah i was hoping that an optima battery would help you out.. as i used to be able to get my lights dimming to the point where the battery light would come on.. lol.

I really need to figure out a nice way to mount my battery in the tray tho.. or move it to the trunk.. because i havent modded the tray at all.. and my battery is about a cm too big, all the way around, to drop into the tray. If only someone made nice polished tray that would fit perfectly..

Mr Josh Zombie · Post by **Mr Josh Zombie** » Tue Jan 30, 2007 12:59 pm

all i did, was the side that's hidden, it rests against the strut, i grinded off that entire section, smoothed it, then painted it so it wouldn't rust.

No on is the wiser.