Dry cell battery

[93Leg-c]

As I was taking a friend and his mom (who's is very poor health) on necessary errands today, my battery decided it needed a rest. Got a jump start, finished the errands, took them home, did some phone calls, and went to Sam's Club and purchased a dry cell battery.

The service technician said the dry cell battery will never have corroded battery terminals since the corrosion is caused by leaking battery acid. So my battery terminals should stay clean for the life of the battery (9 years prorated life with 3 year free replacement). He said I could saw it in half, should bullets in it, and the battery will still work. And, in comparing it with Sears Die Hard Gold battery, the Sam's Club battery has 650 cold cranking amps versus 550 on the DieHard.

The car does turn over VERY rapidly now when starting it. The car drives smoother with more power, and my headlights are also brighter and more evenly spread, it seems.

Is this dry cell battery the same kind as the yellow (or was it red?)top battery in another thread (which I couldn't find)? Does anyone have experience with this kind of battery?

[kastrix]

I've heard of the dry cell before but never used it in any vehicle. Although after reading that post i think i may go to walmart and get one...

[mTk]

Yeah, they are the same as the optima batteries. No venting of corrosive gases, no spilling, etc...last a lot longer too.

MK

[Brat4by4]

they are the same type or the same batter without the fancy label and top? how much is it at walmart? i really should have one for safety reasons with the battery in the trunk and all.

[93Leg-c]

I don't know about price at WalMart but at Sam's Club my dry cell cost $89 plus tax; totaled at $96 plus change. 23 minutes shopping in Sam's and I was on my way. Sears Die Hard Gold priced out at $79 plus tax. So far for me, the extra $10 is worth it!

[vrg3]

I thought Optimas were gel-cell, not dry-cell... Actually, I've never heard of dry-cell car batteries, since typically dry cell means alkaline rather than acid, which means a complicated charging procedure...

[93Leg-c]

vrg3, you could be right in that I have a gel cell battery rather than a dry cell battery. I just went by the words of the salesman. On the other hand, it could be a dry cell battery of sorts. I just needed a battery right away so I got the best one I could.

However, I do have the brochure on the battery. In part, this is how it is described:

1. ADVANCED TECHNOLOGY GRIDS: The NASCAR XLT features proprietary grids made of high purity lead-tin alloy. Combined with the advanced spiral-wound cell design, these corrosion-resistanct grids deliver the superior performance and durability available only from a maintenance-free, sealed valve-regulated battery like the NASCAR XLT.

2. PATENTED GLASS MAT SEPARATORS: Patented glass mat separators optimize the oxygen recombination process, reduce acid stratification, prevent premature paste shedding, and provide cushioning for better vibration resistance. The low internal resistance of the battery allows the NASCAR XLT to recaharge faster than conventional batteries.

5. SIX-VALVE ISOLATD CELL DIVISION: The NASCAR XLT multiple pressure relief valves prevent gasses from escaping under normal operating conditions and prevent air, water, and other impurities from contaminating the battery internally. The six individual valves allow isolation of cells for higher reliabiltiy, while permitting gasses to escape during overcharge or extreme temperature conditions. And no-free flowing acid can leak through the valves.

6. THROUGH-THE-PARTITION (TTP) DESIGN: The NASCAR XLT patented TTP inter-cell welds provide a shorter current flow compared to "Over-The-Partition" inter-cell welds and reduced current resistance to deliver more "power per pound" than conventinal batteries.

Sealed/NonSpillable -- Recombinant Technology -- Maintenance Free -- Virtually Indestructible Design

Perhaps some of you engineers can enlighten us on whether you can tell from the description of the battery if it is a dry cell design or just fancy wording for a gel cell battery design or maybe somehting different.

[georryan]

Any updates on this? Do we know if this battery is te same design as an optima battery?

[georryan]

For the record I think this is the battery that is sold at Sam's:

http://www.autosupplyusa.com/exorbat.html

[BAC5.2]

It's unlikely that the battery is the same as an Optima.

They seem similar (based on the description above), but none of the specs are similar. They all have more hot cranking amps, but only the Marine battery has the same cold cranking amps as a Yellow Top. None of them have the same reserve life (down by 30 minutes).

Whichever one has 650CCA is 100CCA down from the Yellow Top sitting in my trunk.

[BAC5.2]

Oh, Sears and Pep-Boys sells the Optima.

The Red Top is a bolt in, Group 35. The Yellow Top is a 34/78DT, so it's larger and won't fit the stock location (I've got mine in the trunk, no worries). They also make a Yellow-top in a Honda size, which is like 3/4 of the standard yellow top.

[93Leg-c]

georryan: The exide battery seems to have the same technology as the one sold at Sam's Club. Perhaps they are made by the same manufacturer?

BAC5.2: From the specs you've indicated, it seems that the Optima is a superior battery. I guess that's why it cost so much more. But if anyone wants or needs the best, the Optima seems to be the optimum battery right now.

Oh, georryan, the mechanic friend of mine who's quite knowledgeable about cars just told me two days ago says the dry cell battery I have is a gel cell battery.

[BAC5.2]

Often called Dry-Cell because they don't spill. Not because they ARE dry-cell batteries.

[93Leg-c]

Right!

[tris91ricer]

So the dry cell is actually the gel-cell similar to the optima? My battery's dying now too.. got it on a trickle charger here at work, so i'm gonna see what happens.. i'm hoping to spring for an optima anyway...


-=tris

[BAC5.2]

The Gel-cell that he got is inferior in spec to the Optima Yellow Top I've got in my trunk.

It exceeds stock specs though, so it's probably fine.