6 Volt Batteries

[Roadster Rich]

Any recommendations on using a more standard 6 volt group 1 battery or paying a premium for the Optima type 6 volt battery for our A's?

[BRENT in 10-uh-C]

Depends on your useage IMO. I have a 6v Optima in my daughter's Model T speedster and since the summer of 2007 it has been going strong will long periods of the vehicle not running.

Just the other day I went out and started the engine which had been setting since the Christmas parade last Winter without any charging or boosting. They are a superior battery due to technology but with that comes a price. From a long distance side-view glancing under the car, they are painfully obvious on a Model A. The next downside is the price of the battery and necessary hardware to hold it into the battery support carrier. If you use your car with frequency and are a good steward to your vehicle's battery (using a battery tender and keeping a constant check on the electrolyte level) & charging system, the regular type of battery will give good service too.

[28 Special Coupe]

I bought a group 1 battery from O'Reilly Auto Parts a few years ago and have been perfectly happy with it. I just started up my Model A a few weeks ago after sitting dormant since early December and had no problems whatsoever.

Although the Optima is superior technology, it's way more expensive. The group 1 would probably suit you just fine.

[Roadster Rich]

Thanks for the advice. I think that I will go for another standard battery based on what you have experienced. Important is the tender, and I have not had that in use as a rule. Probably why this battery only made it three years or less.

[Bruce Adams]

My six year old Optima is SUCH a trooper.
Its great to return after leaving the lights on or starting it a zero degrees, F or whatever, and seeing no effect on the battery. The horn appears to work better with the engine off, too, I guess its because the Optima keeps its full charge.
Yes, I guess it cost at least twice as much as a normally flooded Group 1 battery.

[29ModelA]

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I had HORRIBLE luck with the 12V Optima's in my jeeps, enough so that I will not touch one for our Model A with a 10' pole.

I have a $70 Exide from TSC.

[BILL WILLIAMSON]

Brent,
On Optima looking "funny," a friend lined his battery carrier with grooved stairtread rubber, looked lik a REAL battery at a glance. B.W.

[ryan1929]

OPTIMA 6 VOLT Batteries are the best! Henry ford would approve...

[BILL WILLIAMSON]

Originally Posted by ryan1929

OPTIMA 6 VOLT Batteries are the best! Henry ford would approve...

Whew!! I'm glad you cleared that with Hank, as I bought one awhile back. What else did he have to say?? Bill W.

[eagle]

ANY battery needs to be taken care of. The Optima are tough but will sulfate too if left dead or low for a period of time. I know an auto parts store owner who only recommends the Optima for use on squad cars/ambulances/etc due to the heavy current drain and large charging alternators. Otherwise, he doesn't feel they are worth the cost.

[Kurt in NJ]

I have had long life with both regular batterys, and the Optima, the Optima is 14 years and still going, the regular batterys I got 7, & 9 years out of them, 5 years from one off a "junk" pile ---all except for the original tar top repro script battery---it struggled to get 3 years ---
I have never used a battery tender, the generator has been enough to keep my batterys charged.

[Mike V. Florida]

From what I can find, 6v group 1 batteries are found by the following numbers;

NAPA - BAT 7244
Exide - 7200
Tractor supply - Com 1 HP (part number 0470506) I think.
Autozone - 1-6 volt

[Dodge]

I had one "Miracle" battery that I bought at a Chevron station, I kept it on a battery
tender used only distilled water in it and some mubo jumbo battery stuff from
J.C. Whitney call VX-6 or something that I put in from new.
The battery lasted for 18yrs. before I ruined it by putting on a non-automatic charger
and went home for the night and forgot about.
It boiled the battery and ruined it.
Never got more that 5-6 yrs. out of any other battery since then.