HELP PLEASE: Battery options for TR | FerrariChat
Buy

HELP PLEASE: Battery options for TR

Discussion in 'Boxers/TR/M' started by Col. Kurtz, Mar 11, 2016.

This site may earn a commission from merchant affiliate links, including eBay, Amazon, Skimlinks, and others.

  1. Col. Kurtz

    Col. Kurtz Formula Junior

    Jun 20, 2013
    276
    New England
    Full Name:
    Walter E.
    #1 Col. Kurtz, Mar 11, 2016
    I'm considering replacing the wet battery currently in the TR with a gel Optima. It will likely be a RedTop. I've used one before in a high horsepower Japanese import since the battery was relocated in-cabin, and loved it.

    So...
    1. Have any of you ever used an Optima RedTop in your TR?
    2. If YES, which model was a direct/best fit?
    3. Do you have any other info to share about it (i.e. hated it, loved it, was hard to clamp into place, would recommend against, etc, etc)?

    Thanks!
     
  2. Philwozza

    Philwozza Formula 3

    Apr 23, 2009
    2,045
    Winchester UK
    Full Name:
    Phil Worrall
    #2 Philwozza, Mar 11, 2016
    I believe that they are a very good alternative and modern tech as well.

    P
     
  3. rpissm

    rpissm Formula 3

    Aug 11, 2013
    1,620
    Salt Lake City, UT
    Full Name:
    Joe
    #3 rpissm, Mar 11, 2016
    I had a pair of gel batteries in my TR (big stereo put in by previous owner). Can't remember the brand offhand, but they were blue. Didn't have any problems with them until they wouldn't hold much of a charge any more. Now I have a standard lead-acid car battery in there.

    Edit: THey were Kinetic 800w batteries, like this: http://www.amazon.com/Kinetik-HC800-BLU-Current-Battery/dp/B000LUDEOI/ref=sr_1_3?ie=UTF8&qid=1457729379&sr=8-3&keywords=kinetic+battery
     
  4. MS250

    MS250 Two Time F1 World Champ
    Lifetime Rossa

    Dec 10, 2003
    26,578
    Full Name:
    Avvocato
    #4 MS250, Mar 11, 2016
    I can't recall the make of mine, but I do recall I had a hell of time finding a battery for the tr as an exact replacement because you need a reverse Polaris battery. At the time , there was only one or two suppliers, and only the one had stock - name escapes me , but I don't think there are a lot of options to get a correct TR battery. Unless supply has changed recently.
     
  5. 1TRICK6

    1TRICK6 Karting

    Aug 28, 2014
    159
    So. Cal (L.A./O.C.)
    Full Name:
    Jim
    #5 1TRICK6, Mar 11, 2016
    I bought the Optima Red Top Group #34R with the reverse post for my 89 TR. Fits perfect, lots of cranking power, but wasn't cheap.
     
  6. Col. Kurtz

    Col. Kurtz Formula Junior

    Jun 20, 2013
    276
    New England
    Full Name:
    Walter E.
    #6 Col. Kurtz, Mar 11, 2016
    Perfect! You, my fellow TR owners, are a wealth of information and knowledge.

    Mucho, mucho thanks!
     
  7. markboj

    markboj Karting

    Nov 3, 2004
    71
    Australia
    #7 markboj, Mar 12, 2016
    same, although I used the yellow top 34R with the spacer clipped to the bottom for a perfect fit here in Australia.
     
  8. dgt

    dgt Formula 3
    Owner Silver Subscribed

    Jan 14, 2011
    1,292
    Northeast, USA & Oz
    Full Name:
    Andrew
    #8 dgt, Mar 12, 2016
    +1
    I used this 34R in my 512TR after lots of measuring and reading here.
    The R stands for reversed terminal polarity, only a few manufacturers make this IIRC.
    It's been good so far.
     
  9. rugby

    rugby Formula Junior

    Apr 10, 2015
    364
    Atlanta
    #9 rugby, Mar 12, 2016
    The Optima RedTop is not a gel cell, it is an AGM (absorbed glass mat). The AGM battery uses a different charger setting.

    What is the difference between AGM and Gel batteries? | OPTIMABATTERIES

    In other fchat battery threads, the RedTop has had mixed reviews. I have the YellowTop in my 360 and will soon be replacing it with a Duracel 34 AGM from Costco. It has a 55 amp hour capacity for around $150.
     
  10. Jeff Pintler

    Jeff Pintler Formula Junior

    Jul 20, 2005
    537
    Richland
    Full Name:
    Jeff Pintler
    #10 Jeff Pintler, Mar 13, 2016
    Last edited by a moderator: Sep 7, 2017
    I wonder if the MODs might consider a sticky on this post? Search feature is your friend. Seems like every 2 weeks there is a question about batteries. Anyway: I have had friends run Optimas in their porsches and they fail more often than a normal battery. That was my experience on mine also. The model you need is 34R for reversed terminals. Another solution is the small Mercedes battery as they also have the mounting tabs on the sides to hold the battery in place.....you don't want the battery falling out in an accident or when the car is up side down. Plus Mercedes sells a lot of batteries so they are fresh. Interstate makes great batteries available at Costco. Remember that AGM or GEL batteries require a different charging voltage than Lead acid batteries. You may have to use a cresant wrench to bend the battery tray retaining tab up slightly to a 45 degree angle. That is what I did on mine. FWIW.

    Jeff Pintler
    89 348tb, 86tr, 99 360 3-pedal, S-160 bobcat
    Image Unavailable, Please Login
    Image Unavailable, Please Login
     
  11. rugby

    rugby Formula Junior

    Apr 10, 2015
    364
    Atlanta
    #11 rugby, Mar 14, 2016
    From what I have read, the TRs require the 34R. Your 360 probably requires a 34R as well. My 1999 360 has the plus terminal on the driver (left) side of the battery. I don't know if it was made that way, or if the PO reconfigured the cabling, but I get to use the 34 with the standard terminals. It's actually six bucks cheaper :)
     

Share This Page