Brent from Florida

Hi Kip, I was at my local marina here in Florida the other day looking at purchasing a new battery for my boat. I went to the marina because I assumed that is where you buy a boat battery. I wasn’t sure exactly what I needed, but basically needed a battery to just start my boat. I was wondering what is the difference between a marine battery and a automobile battery? The gentleman at the store told me that boats take special batteries, and that you have to buy a marine battery. What are the differences between a marine battery, and automobile battery?

Diehard Marine Starting Battery

Deka Starting/Deep Cycle Battery

BestBatteryTips.com

Brent, thanks for writing in with your question. Surprising enough Brent you are not the first one to ask us this question, however this is our first reply to this question. We would have like to known whether you have any auxiliary items hooked up to your battery on your boat, but will explain both ways.

A boat battery can be bought almost anywhere Brent, so shop around for a decent price. A lot of people don’t understand the difference between a marine starting battery vs a automobile battery. The Difference between the two is simple. A marine starting battery not only has positive and negative post on it, but it also has threaded positive and negative post on it as well. This allows boaters to wire up auxiliary items such as fish finders, and stereos. The Marine starting battery generally comes with wing nuts, or just standard hex nuts to secure wiring onto the threaded post. Don’t get confused and assume that a dual purpose Marine battery is the same as a automobile battery. A dual purpose marine battery is a starting battery and a deep cycle battery, where as a automobile battery is not a deep cycle battery. The only time they are the same battery, but with threaded posts is when its a marine starting battery only. With that said, if you are not running auxiliary items to your battery you can purchase a regular automobile battery with the proper cranking amps that your boat motor requires. A straight marine starting battery is made no different than a automobile battery other than the added threaded posts.

Steve from Washington

Hello, I was hoping you could help me with some cordless drill buying tips. I’m wanting to buy a Cordless drill, but have no idea which one to buy. I’ve been all over town, and have seen so many different name brands. How important is the voltage of a Cordless drill battery? Could you shed some light on the buying process for me?

12 Volt Cordless Drill

14.4 Volt Cordless Drill

18 Volt Cordless Drill

BestBatteryTips.com

Steve, thanks for writing in and allowing us to help you out. Buying a cordless drill can be confusing to say the least, especially if its your first time purchasing one. You posed the question of how important is battery voltage? Voltage is the heart of the drill, and is crucial in the buying process. Depending on the intended application the cordless drill will be used for, will aid in deciding the voltage one should purchase.

The most common cordless drill voltages are 12 volt, 14.4 volt, 18 volt, and 24 volt. The most common battery chemistries are Nicad, Nickel Metal Hydride(Nimh), and Lithium Ion. Obviously when looking at these two deciding factors, your available budget is a large part of the equation. You can spend anywhere from 50 dollars to 300 dollars depending on the combination above that you choose. Cordless drills that have the Nicad battery chemistry will generally be cheaper than the same drill with other battery chemistries. Primary reason for this is due to the Nicad is the oldest of the battery technologies. Nicad battery packs do not have near the capacity that Nimh, and Lithium Ion do. Nicad batteries suffer from the so called memory effect. This is due to the user not running the battery all the way down before attempting to fully recharge the battery pack. Consumers expectations of Nicad battery life are often cut short due to the weaknesses of the Nicad chemistry. Consumers on a budget however, Nicad cordless drills are a practical choice. Nickel metal hydride battery packs are light years ahead of Nicad battery packs. We here at BestBatteryTips.com would not bat a eye at buying a cordless drill with the nickel metal hydride technology. The capacity is far greater than the nicad battery pack. Nimh can handle 1000 plus charge, and discharge cycles. Nimh can also be charged or discharged at any time regardless of the batteries state of charge. Lithium Ion battery packs are the latest battery technology in the cordless drill market. Lithium Ion has excellent battery capacity, and is not susceptible to the memory effect. Lithium ion battery packs can handle thousands of charge and discharge cycles as well. Consumers can expect to pay more for cordless drills with the lithium ion technology. For the money we would suggest the Nickel Metal Hydride (Nimh) technology battery pack. We feel it has the best of all worlds, and is the most bang for the buck so to speak.

When deciding on battery voltage it comes down to the applications the drill is being used for. Purchasing a drill for light jobs around the house does not require a 24 volt cordless drill.  A 12 volt cordless drill will due just fine for hanging curtain rods, pictures, and putting together miscellaneous furniture. Homeowners who are into bigger projects such as building outdoor decks, roof repairs, or additions should consider purchasing 14.4 volt battery pack, and it would not be uncommon to purchase 18 volts. Commercial contractors are prime candidates for the 24 volt battery option. These drills are designed for use on commercial job sites where heavy usage is on top of the list.

Buying a drill should be a enjoyable experience, not a stressful experience. We hope we were able to provide you with some fundamental basics of cordless drill shopping.

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Odyssey Battery Line

Brian from Alabama

There seems to be a lot of confusion on the internet from what I’ve been reading. Who makes Odyssey batteries? I was under the understanding that Odyssey is the manufacturer of their own batteries. I was also told from a different source that Optima makes Odyssey batteries. Please help me with this question, because I have no idea what to believe.

BestBatteryTips.com

Brian, thanks for taking the time to submit your question to our Mailbag Mondays segment. We always enjoy finding out whats going around on the world wide web. We still to this day get a chuckle out of some of the gossip on the web. Well Brian here’s the real deal on Odyssey batteries. Odyssey Batteries are not manufactured by Odyssey. Odyssey batteries are manufactured by Enersys. Enersys is the largest industrial battery manufacturer in the world. Enersys is without a doubt a global leader in providing a very high quality battery. Enersys also has the largest line of AGM technology batteries on the market. The Odyssey battery is known for its up to 10 year life expectancy, and the use of pure virgin lead plates inside the battery. The Odyssey battery is said to be able to sit in storage for 2 years and still be good as new. The Odyssey battery is very resilient to vibration, which is very important considering most batteries fail prematurely due to vibration. Enersys stands behind their product by offering a unprecedented 48 month free replacement, and up to 100 months pro rate warranty. You can shop around, but those kind of warranties in the battery business aren’t something your likely to run into elsewhere. When it comes to AGM technology, nobody as anything on the Odyssey brand battery. We here at BestBatteryTips.com highly recommend the Odyssey battery to anyone looking for the ultimate battery.

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Auto Repair Shop

Sam from California

Hello Kip,

I’m writing in to ask a question that I have. I took my car to a shop to investigate a starting problem I was having. The mechanic told me that my battery was shot. I told them to go ahead and put a new battery in. When I went to go pickup my car from the shop, I noticed that the cover that used to be around the battery was no longer there. I asked the mechanic what happened to it, and he said that it was not required. I’m not sure what the cover was for, but it had to be for something. Was this cover something that only came with the new battery from the factory, and not with the replacement battery? Just curious as to what the deal is here.

BestBatteryTips.com

Well Sam I can only hope that people like your mechanic show up here at BestBatteryTips.com so as to learn things like the reason behind a battery cover. The battery cover is a very instrumental part of a batteries life expectancy. The battery cover is a protective shield against heat. Batteries do not respond well to high temperatures, and nowhere is the temperature higher than under the hood of your automobile. Think of how hot it is under the hood of your car when its 95 degrees out, and your automobile engine is warmed up to a temperature of 200 degrees roughly. Needless to say, its not where I would want to be hanging out. The battery however doesn’t have a choice in the matter. Engineers designed that cover to help protect the battery from the heat because without it you are sure to have premature battery failure. The battery cover was made to fit the battery group number that goes in your exact automobile. So if you replaced your original battery with the same battery group number that was in it before, the battery cover will slip right over your new battery. I would be sure Sam to get that cover back on your new battery. I’m not saying your battery wont  make it 5 years, but I am saying that it has a greater chance with the cover installed.

Ted from Illinois

I’m a corn and soybean farmer in Illinois, and have been a die hard green man for many years. I’ve always bought John Deere Strong box batteries. I’m not crazy about the price of them, but I seem to have pretty good luck with Strong Box batteries. My question is, who manufactures John Deere Batteries?

BestBatteryTips.com

Ted, thanks for writing in with your question. You are officially are first farmer to submit a question in our Mailbag Mondays Q&A. We don’t have a prize for you, just wanted to let you know your our number one farmer! John Deere has several different battery brands. They offer the John Deere Hibernator, John Deere Strong Box ST, John Deere Strong Box, John Deere Road Gard, John Deere Spiral Energy (Gel), John Deere Performance, and John Deere MowPro. Exide Technologies is the manufacturer of John Deere batteries. Exide is one of the largest battery manufactures in the world, and have been making John Deere batteries for many years. Exide and John Deere have designed a excellent product line that many farmers are proud to use. As you know, farming is a somewhat seasonal occupation when some equipment is used versus others. The John Deere Hibernator battery was designed to discharge in the non peak times with the ability to recharge the battery and begin use again during peak times of farming. A example of an application for the John Deere Hibernator would be a sprayer, which is only used one time a year. You are able to get the sprayer out of storage in the early summer and charge the John Deere Hibernator back up and go about your business. When done spraying for the year, put the sprayer back in storage till next year and the process starts all over again. We don’t have any data on how well the Hibernator works in these conditions at this time.  Exide has been making batteries for decades, and is a proven leader in the battery manufacturing world. John Deere selected the right manufacturer for the job.

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John Deere Hibernator

John Deere Strong Box ST

John Deere Road Gard

John Deere Performance

Jumper Cables

Jill from Kansas

Hello, Could you explain to me how to jump start a car?

BestBatteryTips.com

Referred to as Jump Start, Jump starting, or jumping is a procedure used to start a vehicle that will not start due to a discharged battery. Some reasons for needing a jump start are leaving the headlamps on, leaving the interior lights on, leaving the car ignition in the ON position, a weak battery, and or a defective alternator.  Jump starting is an effective way to start a vehicle that will not start on its own power. Both vehicles must be the same voltage and both must be negatively grounded. Always be careful when jump starting another vehicle, battery explosions are very common while jump starting vehicles. Corrosion on one or both vehicles, loose battery connections, a battery with a bad or weak cell, and arching of battery jumper cables can cause a explosion. Always be sure to wear eye protection for this reason when jump starting another battery. Below is an explanation of jump starting another vehicle.

Battery Jump Start Diagram (Source BCI)

Make sure all battery cable connections are tight, and no signs of battery corrosion.

Make sure both ignitions are turned off and all accessories inside are off. (Heater fan) (lights) (radio) (wipers) (etc.)

(1) Connect the RED positive to the positive post of the car with the dead battery.

(2) On the other end of the jumper cables, connect the RED positive to the positive red post on the battery in the car with the good battery.

(3) Connect the BLACK negative cable to the negative post on the good battery. (Car giving the jump start)

(4) On the other end of the jumper cables, connect the BLACK negative to the block or frame of the car receiving the jump start. The block or car frame is used to complete the circuit and keep any sparks away that might occur during making the circuit complete.

(5) Start the car giving the jump start first.

(6) Then rev the engine to 2000 r.p.m.. (wait 10 minutes before attempting to start the other car)

(7) Start the car with the dead battery. (failure to start, wait 3-5 minutes before attempting another start)

(8) Once car is started, disconnect jumper cables in the reverse order. Be sure to start with the Black negative on the engine block or frame first.

Autolite Battery

Brad from Texas

Hello, I live in Austin Texas and went down to my local Auto Parts and bought a Autolite Battery. I have never heard of Autolite batteries before seeing them at the Auto Parts store. What kind of battery did I buy? I saw other batteries on your site, but not Autolite batteries. Who makes these batteries? Thank you for a educational site.

BestBatteryTips.com

Brad, Autolite batteries are manufactured by Exide Technologies, one of the largest battery manufactures in the world. Exide operates in 80 countries and in 2009 had net sales of 3.3 Billion.

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Motorcraft Battery

Chad from Nevada

I have ford motorcraft batteries in my 2003 Ford diesel pickup. I went to our local ford dealership to buy another set. I asked a guy in the parts department who makes the batteries, but he said he wasn’t sure. Can you tell me who makes motorcraft batteries, and why they are so much better than other batteries?

BestBatteryTips.com

Chad, the answer to your first question is Johnson Controls. Johnson Controls has been making Ford Motorcraft batteries for many years. Johnson Controls batteries are the OEM replacement for the Ford Motor Company. Johnson Controls makes batteries for a lot of private labels and Motorcraft is one of many. Please check out our previous article on other batteries made by Johnson Controls. The answer to your second question regarding quality over other battery brands. Johnson Controls makes batteries for its private labels according to the owners specifications. Ever wonder why Everstart batteries at walmart are so cheap, for what appears to be the same battery to the outside competition? The answer is simple, its not the same battery. Everstart batteries are made to walmarts specification based on pricing, and may have less lead in them. Comparing apples to apples can be very difficult in the battery world. Obviously you have had good luck with the motorcraft batteries, and have no reason to look elsewhere for batteries, unless your not happy with the price of them. I’m not sure you get what you pay for, but you do get more. The results vary a lot with regard to the application the battery is being used for.

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Snowmobile

Frank from Michigan

Hello, I have several snowmobiles and it seems I’m always buying batteries for one of them. I was wanting to know if you could give me some battery tips on extending the life of a snowmobile battery? Your site is very educational, thanks for your efforts.

Bestbatterytips.com

Snowmobile Battery

Frank, thank you for the kind words. Snowmobile batteries are a very seasonal battery. This is why the battery manufacturers only offer 6 months free replacement on a snowmobile battery, ATV Battery, and Motorcycle battery. If your lucky you may may find a battery for these types of applications that offers a 1 year free replacement. I assume sense you used the word several that you have 3 or more snowmobiles. Purchasing Battery maintainers for all of your machines could deter a person because of the cost to do so.

12 Volt Battery Tender Jr.

The only way these types of batteries can get a good life expectancy is to have them always on a battery maintainer. You would be surprised how long these small application batteries can make it when a battery maintainer is always hooked up to them. The battery Tender for example puts out 1.5 volts to your battery to keep it 100 percent charged. The Battery Tender also shuts off on its own when the battery is fully charged. Once the battery drops down in voltage, the Battery Tender turns back on automatically and brings the battery back up to 100 percent charged. The number one reason for snowmobile, ATV, and motorcycle batteries short life is due to sulfation on the lead plates inside the battery as a result of low battery voltage. Once the battery plates get these deposits on them, they loose the ability to move electrons has efficiently. As a result the battery cannot produce the Cold Cranking Amps(CCA) it was designed to produce. The more times or the longer the battery is below voltage the worse the sulfation. Everybody is aware of the high cost on snowmobile batteries, ATV Batteries, and Motorcycle batteries. The cost of a 12 Volt Battery Tender Jr. is $29.95, however your batteries longevity generally speaking triples if not more. Don’t take long to get your invest back on a battery maintainer. Remember to always remove the battery from snowmobiles, ATV’s, and Motorcycles during long periods of storage. These machines often times have a constant drain on the battery even though the key is turned off.

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