Diehard Platinum P1's
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Joined: Jan 2003
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From: Sayre, PA
Your truck is only as reliable as it's weakest link. You can probably start it with one normal car battery most days, might as well just buy one of those if that's all you need. 
To me the batteries are a single point of failure in a $40,000 rig, being able to start in the coldest day of winter with the most CCAs, having some extra reserve time, being able to operate in any orientation without concern, and most importantly being built to withstand harsh vibrations without failing makes the P2s the easiest choice of equipment I make. They go in every vehicle I own and are the only ones I recommend to anyone ever for any vehicle period.
If you want to save two dinners out worth of cash over 5 years and run a wally ward / costco special built by the lowest bidder in china, so be it, but I certainly wouldn't question someone buyng a much better unit for a little more money.
The misinformation I see in this thread is those who think traditional plate batteries are "just as good" as AGM batteries.
To me the batteries are a single point of failure in a $40,000 rig, being able to start in the coldest day of winter with the most CCAs, having some extra reserve time, being able to operate in any orientation without concern, and most importantly being built to withstand harsh vibrations without failing makes the P2s the easiest choice of equipment I make. They go in every vehicle I own and are the only ones I recommend to anyone ever for any vehicle period.
If you want to save two dinners out worth of cash over 5 years and run a wally ward / costco special built by the lowest bidder in china, so be it, but I certainly wouldn't question someone buyng a much better unit for a little more money.
The misinformation I see in this thread is those who think traditional plate batteries are "just as good" as AGM batteries.
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Joined: Aug 2007
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From: Republic of Texas
I've got the platinums in size 65. Love them, they spun the starter so fast it almost scared me when I first installed them.
I bought them because my stockers only lasted 1.5-2 years, both were junk when I tested them. I read some place the stockers only cost $75 each at the dealer... If that is true I would have went that route if I knew at the time. I just felt like spending money the week I bought the platinums.
I bought them because my stockers only lasted 1.5-2 years, both were junk when I tested them. I read some place the stockers only cost $75 each at the dealer... If that is true I would have went that route if I knew at the time. I just felt like spending money the week I bought the platinums.
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Joined: Sep 2007
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From: MN
I have a pair of these batteries in my truck I orginally had some other battery in the sears line(I think gold ones), I bought the truck salvage and the batteries gave out in the mild of winter, I brought both batteries in and they gave me an upgrade cause they didn't have golds in my size. I have had no problems starting the truck at -25 with out it plugged in.
IT'S A GOOD IDEA TO KNOW what you are talkeing about. 
Their batterys are made by Interstate, a very good battery.
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Joined: Dec 2008
Posts: 69
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From: southern il.
with sales tax you are looking at 400 bucks for a set of platinums, with the discount available from advance now over the internet you can get a set of 34/78 red top optima's delivered to your door for 260 and change.I have never personally had a set of red top last less than seven years. yes you are getting more reserve capacity with the platinums and another forty pounds hanging over your front axle. The red tops have enough reserve to crank your cummins till the starter burns up!! I guesss with the platinums you could run your flashers longer after the starter burns up?? Either way the agm batteries are the way to go if you are going to keep your truck a long time as there is no acid damage.
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Joined: Apr 2008
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From: Flagstaff, AZ
I'm seeing $271.98 shipped for a pair of the 34/78 red tops, $327.98 for the yellow. This is a good deal for the Optima batteries. I don't need batteries yet, so I'm not making the choice today, but if I were I'd have to think long and hard. The P2 still have a much better warranty, more CCA, and the warranty support of every Sears store in the country.
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Joined: Nov 2007
Posts: 4,737
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From: Kuna, Idaho
I just got my Platinum's for $340. They are a MUCH better battery than OEM. Much quicker starts in cold, and no where near the voltage drop during grid heater cycle, pre and post engine start.
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Joined: Sep 2010
Posts: 30
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From: Sunny South Florida
Sears private labels Odyssey batteries as mentioned before. Odyssey has a great reputation in the marine industry especially saltwater near shore and offshore. Ask me how I now.. 
There are only a few companies that actually make batteries. Most of what you see are large chain stores or major dealers who often private label their batteries, for example in the United States, EverStart for Wal*Mart, DieHard for Sears, Interstate for Costco, Denka for West Marine and DuraLast for Auto Zone. Don't forget "lowest" bidder get's the business. So based on this and the fact that Odyssey is private labeling for the Sears Platinum series it is a good thing if you want a very reliable, well trusted battery.
Buy what you feel comfortable with, I've used Odyssey in my boats, now that I can purchase the same battery at a substantial savings vs. Odyssey label brand for me it's worth it.
Cheers
Capt. Jan
There are only a few companies that actually make batteries. Most of what you see are large chain stores or major dealers who often private label their batteries, for example in the United States, EverStart for Wal*Mart, DieHard for Sears, Interstate for Costco, Denka for West Marine and DuraLast for Auto Zone. Don't forget "lowest" bidder get's the business. So based on this and the fact that Odyssey is private labeling for the Sears Platinum series it is a good thing if you want a very reliable, well trusted battery.
Buy what you feel comfortable with, I've used Odyssey in my boats, now that I can purchase the same battery at a substantial savings vs. Odyssey label brand for me it's worth it.
Cheers
Capt. Jan
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Joined: Dec 2008
Posts: 1,409
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From: Colorado Springs, CO
The problem is that the private label - like Sears/K-Mart or Costco - may specify a price point. To meet that price point, the manufacturer may use lesser materials or processes to get there.
Just because the Platinum is made by Odysse or the Costco is made by Interstate doesn't necessarily mean that it's as good as the branded version. It could be, but don't assume so without checking. If the exterior looks differant, maybe the interior does, too.
Somebody commented that spending extra money for more CCA's is a waste of money. Maybe. As time goes on, the CCA's will gradually drop, it won't hold a charge as long, and won't start as well when the going gets tough (like -5*F). We all know this. If you start out with 30% more than what you need, it will be a long time before it drops below a functional level. If you start with 5% more.......
You pays your money and takes your chances.
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Joined: Dec 2008
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From: southern il.
lumping all batteries made by johnson controls as equal is like saying a ford fiesta and f550 were equal vehicles because ford made them both!! Companies make different quality batteries for different vendors according to price point the vendor wants to sell at. Champion labs make some dirt cheap oil filters but also makes the delco ultragaurd gold, they come out of the same plant they are definately not the same filter.
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Joined: Sep 2010
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From: Sunny South Florida
Don't forget "lowest" bidder get's the business.
Cheers
Capt. Jan
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Joined: Aug 2006
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From: New Mexico
So, how does alternator output play a role in the battery lifespan?
Not all alternators put out the same charging voltages. Some vehicles alternators put ot 12.something and some put out 13.something. If the battery design is a 12.something and you are constantly over charging it with a 13.something output, would that not actually shorten the lifespan of the battery?
CD
Not all alternators put out the same charging voltages. Some vehicles alternators put ot 12.something and some put out 13.something. If the battery design is a 12.something and you are constantly over charging it with a 13.something output, would that not actually shorten the lifespan of the battery?
CD
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Joined: Sep 2010
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From: Sunny South Florida
http://www.windsun.com/Batteries/Bat...ery%20Charging
(I have no association with this site.)
Battery Charging
Battery charging takes place in 3 basic stages: Bulk, Absorption, and Float.
Bulk Charge - The first stage of 3-stage battery charging. Current is sent to batteries at the maximum safe rate they will accept until voltage rises to near (80-90%) full charge level. Voltages at this stage typically range from 10.5 volts to 15 volts. There is no "correct" voltage for bulk charging, but there may be limits on the maximum current that the battery and/or wiring can take.
Absorption Charge: The 2nd stage of 3-stage battery charging. Voltage remains constant and current gradually tapers off as internal resistance increases during charging. It is during this stage that the charger puts out maximum voltage. Voltages at this stage are typically around 14.2 to 15.5 volts.
Float Charge: The 3rd stage of 3-stage battery charging. After batteries reach full charge, charging voltage is reduced to a lower level (typically 12.8 to 13.2) to reduce gassing and prolong battery life. This is often referred to as a maintenance or trickle charge, since it's main purpose is to keep an already charged battery from discharging. PWM, or "pulse width modulation" accomplishes the same thing. In PWM, the controller or charger senses tiny voltage drops in the battery and sends very short charging cycles (pulses) to the battery. This may occur several hundred times per minute. It is called "pulse width" because the width of the pulses may vary from a few microseconds to several seconds. Note that for long term float service, such as backup power systems that are seldom discharged, the float voltage should be around 13.02 to 13.20 volts.
Chargers: Most garage and consumer (automotive) type battery chargers are bulk charge only, and have little (if any) voltage regulation. They are fine for a quick boost to low batteries, but not to leave on for long periods. Among the regulated chargers, there are the voltage regulated ones, such as Iota Engineering and Todd, which keep a constant regulated voltage on the batteries. If these are set to the correct voltages for your batteries, they will keep the batteries charged without damage. These are sometimes called "taper charge" - as if that is a selling point. What taper charge really means is that as the battery gets charged up, the voltage goes up, so the amps out of the charger goes down. They charge OK, but a charger rated at 20 amps may only be supplying 5 amps when the batteries are 80% charged. To get around this, Statpower (and maybe others?) have come out with "smart", or multi-stage chargers. These use a variable voltage to keep the charging amps much more constant for faster charging.
Battery charging takes place in 3 basic stages: Bulk, Absorption, and Float.
Bulk Charge - The first stage of 3-stage battery charging. Current is sent to batteries at the maximum safe rate they will accept until voltage rises to near (80-90%) full charge level. Voltages at this stage typically range from 10.5 volts to 15 volts. There is no "correct" voltage for bulk charging, but there may be limits on the maximum current that the battery and/or wiring can take.
Absorption Charge: The 2nd stage of 3-stage battery charging. Voltage remains constant and current gradually tapers off as internal resistance increases during charging. It is during this stage that the charger puts out maximum voltage. Voltages at this stage are typically around 14.2 to 15.5 volts.
Float Charge: The 3rd stage of 3-stage battery charging. After batteries reach full charge, charging voltage is reduced to a lower level (typically 12.8 to 13.2) to reduce gassing and prolong battery life. This is often referred to as a maintenance or trickle charge, since it's main purpose is to keep an already charged battery from discharging. PWM, or "pulse width modulation" accomplishes the same thing. In PWM, the controller or charger senses tiny voltage drops in the battery and sends very short charging cycles (pulses) to the battery. This may occur several hundred times per minute. It is called "pulse width" because the width of the pulses may vary from a few microseconds to several seconds. Note that for long term float service, such as backup power systems that are seldom discharged, the float voltage should be around 13.02 to 13.20 volts.
Chargers: Most garage and consumer (automotive) type battery chargers are bulk charge only, and have little (if any) voltage regulation. They are fine for a quick boost to low batteries, but not to leave on for long periods. Among the regulated chargers, there are the voltage regulated ones, such as Iota Engineering and Todd, which keep a constant regulated voltage on the batteries. If these are set to the correct voltages for your batteries, they will keep the batteries charged without damage. These are sometimes called "taper charge" - as if that is a selling point. What taper charge really means is that as the battery gets charged up, the voltage goes up, so the amps out of the charger goes down. They charge OK, but a charger rated at 20 amps may only be supplying 5 amps when the batteries are 80% charged. To get around this, Statpower (and maybe others?) have come out with "smart", or multi-stage chargers. These use a variable voltage to keep the charging amps much more constant for faster charging.
Capt. Jan
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My only comment regarding the Sears Platinum Series and Odyssey brand is I have done an in depth comparison based on years of using and recommending Odyssey for marine use and the Platinum battery. There are some cosmetic differences to differentiate the brands. However from a performance stand point I have not found any substantive differences between the brands except price. NOTE: all my observations come from marine applications and not automotive.
Cheers
Capt. Jan
He also said the only difference between the Odyssey marine vs auto battery was the terminal style and placement.