Bigger battery possible?
Wooders,
I was referring to generic industrial Gel Cells rather than Optima types specifically constructed for the purpose, of course these are designed be used that way. Thanks for pointing out the difference.
However, most of the industrial Gel Cells have specific charge and discharge current limits, both of which are usually exceeded in automotive use. A "feature" of gell Cell design is their lower tolerance of extreme currents. Think of rate of chemical reaction limits in gell compared to that in liquid form. Exceeding those limits results in shorter life and may result in pressure build up and explosion.
Just because Optima and Exide have gone to great lengths to adapt and develop Gell Cell technology for specific automotive use does not mean the huge range of lower priced industrial Gell Cells is suitable.
If one ignores space limitations, think how much starting current would be available from liquid lead acid batteries to the same cost as Optima!
Put another way, how many standard liquid L/A batteries can I buy for the same price as one optima.
In practice space is a problem and so is vibration making specialist adapted gell batteries cost a lesser factor in purchase decision.
I had wondered if industrial Gell Cells were the case in GoJeeps battery failure.
I have to admit I have never had a stock battery fail in a short time unless I let it go very flat at least once. Similarly I took my stock battery to Cape York and back over allegdly 5 million corrugations, it didn't fail, but my OME shocks did.
My opinion is that Lead acide batteries of all types fail for a variety of reasons, like shock absorbers, buying expensive ones just makes you feel better..... in my experience they still wear out or fail in remarkably similar time.
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