How are these things in terms of power output and reliability? They claim "up to 1200CA"... what is the actual output of these batteries and are they worth it? I can't really see myself paying $175-200 for a Red Top or something even more ridiculous.

 

I have got one in my truck! I can watch a whole movie at the drive in with my system full blast and afterwards my truck doesnt stuggle to start. They have a wicked 72 month warrenty too. It is a great alternative to any optima.

IMO it has more CCA and CA than a optima.

2 drawbacks of them are they are not a deep cycle batter (meaning they will fry if you drain them to dead to many times but they have wicked warrenties so who cares!)

2nd they are not sealed so they have to be under the hood (unlike the optimas that you can put in the cab)

 

CT also sells the Orbital "Extreme Cycle Duty" battery. Numbers look very good but I can't remember the price so wait for a sale.
And it is a deep cycle I believe.

 

I want something that has quick discharge capability... I don't play the system with the car turned off at all and I don't plan to mount the battery in the back. This looks like a good battery then.

I also read that a deep cycle will kill your alternator if you don't charge it. The vehicle that I'm putting the battery in is a Mazda Protege with a 70A alt.

 

^^^I don't understand.....why wouldn't you charge it?

 

My 2 deep cycles work fine in my car with a 65 amp alt? Weird Maybe I have good luck or something.

All the alt does is keep the charge topped up.
It doesn't care if it's deep/short/tall whatever cycle.

X

 

I have an eliminator in my car..lasted 2 years then wouldn't hold a charge..happened 1 month ago..great waranty and CT just swapped the batteries right there..for what I paid for it it has held up great..the new one is rockin' also..

 

I picked one up about 10 years ago in the Hat back when they still had lifetime warranties. I'm now on my 4th or 5th free replacement. They seem like good batteries overall, and most of the deaths have been my fault(leaving interior lights on for a week in -30c etc).

 

In my old 300zx i fried 3 alternators and went through 5 eliminator batteries (two of them because the alternators started over charging) and the other from general abuse and neglect, i'm assuming. CT always honored their warranty.. hehehhe bang for the buck, they were always great... hold good power and with a considerable reserve.... go for it...