12 Volt Battery {eLearnAid}

I've herd good things about these "yellow top" batteries. I'm tempted to put a higher capacity batter in my Prius.

 

You may want to review this thread: http://priuschat.com/forums/gen-ii-...-12v-battery-replacement-opinions-please.html. Especially posts 7 and 12.

According to the TSB, the 2010 uses a special battery. I wonder if what you show is part of the battery venting system. But that's just a guess.... Let us know when you figure it out.

 

Oh woah, thanks for the link to that thread. I sure wont be adding an aftermarket battery to my 2010!

 

All of the optima's meet Toyota's requirement, They are about the best battery there is for an automobile if money is no object.
I don't think they are warrantied in a Prius though unless you have some kind of monster stereo system or other large electrical load, and like to play it without the car being in the ready mode.
That being said, I have Optima's in all of my other vehicles, just don't think the Prius needs one.

 

The elearnaid Optima battery is intended for a Mazda Miata, and does include the vent tube provision. I'm unsure if regular Optima batteries have provision for a vent tube

 

What's an elernaid? I ask because my wife has left the lights on and or the door open and or the trunk open on our Miata killing the battery several times, so I know it has to be on it's last legs. I was unaware of an Optima for the Miata. You would think that it would be hard to forget to turn the lights off on a car with pop up headlights wouldn't you?
The OEM battery for the Miata was made by Panasonic and I think one of the very first Gel cell batteries. The Westco sealed AGM battery has been considered the only option, but I'd rather have the Optima.

 

Tony,
Did the orginal vent tube fit the new Optima battery?
Thanks

 

This company offers a kit for the Prius that includes the correct Optima battery - from the Miata - and the post adapter.

12 Volt (12v) Toyota Prius Auxilary Battery for 2004, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2008 and 2009 with installation kit and free shipping

Apparently, Mazda Miata owners are familiar with this battery

optima red top battery - which should I buy? - MX-5 Miata Forum

Hope this helps

It did for Hobbit

Prius 12V swap

 

Jayman,
Thanks, apparently there is no actual Optima Miata battery. It still doesn't fit, yes the mount can be modified and made to work of course, but I was hoping Optima had made a Miata specific battery, Oh well, sorry to hijack

 

What's with the giant UPS in Hobbit's post? If it is connected to the 12V battery, why not use it as the 12V battery? Most of the UPS's I've used use big lead acid 12V batteries as a power supply

 

The Prius is harder on the Aux battery in many ways than most other cars. It doesn't need cranking amps, but it does suffer from extended, somewhat elevated drains. Open a car door, and even after closing it, the thing stays awake and using quite a bit of power for a long time. Leave a map light on, and it doesn't matter what kind of stereo you have in there. The Yellowtop for me is insurance that I'm glad to have. The car sits there and leaks all the time (leave your SKS system on by chance?)

I need a higher capacity battery not because of how I USE the Prius. But because I so rarely use the Prius. Here's my page on it for my 2006.
Prius Optima Aux

 

Okay, I'm reviving an old thread...I need to vent.

Bought the D51 Optima yellowtop Jan 2008 for my 04 Prius. Jan 2010 and it will not hold 11 volts at rest (per the diagnostic "secret" Prius screen). And it drops to 10.3 volt when in ign on (the second press of the power button). I comes to find out the warranty "back then" is 2 years. Current models of the d51 the warranty is 3 years. Am i just unlucky or is there any room for a "discounted" replacement? Seems these optima yellow tops are NOT the cat's meow. 2 years? That's worse than the 4 year old Toyota OEM Prius battery! NO abusing here, it will not start the car after sitting for the weekend. Thanks for listening...anyone else not impressed with optima?

Curt

 

Curt,

How far do you regularly drive? The Prius battery charging system uses a "Constant Voltage" method which is results in safe, but very slow charging. Short trips will not keep the 12v battery charged. Get a "Battery Minder":

BatteryMINDer® Plus AGM/OPTIMA Maintenance Charger / Desulfator-Conditioner 12 Volt – 1.0 Amp | All | Battery Chargers by BatteryMINDers.com

Which should recover your battery capacity and then maintain it at full charge while your car sits idle.

JeffD

 

Hey thanks for the link. Yeah, the elearnaid person said the same thing, suggested similar product. Mostly I'm driving less than 10 miles (around 10 minutes) one way on surface streets only. I'm a prime candidate for a plug-in, let me tell ya!

When I do drive highway speeds and more miles...no problems with the battery. If it sits for 2-3 days (weekends), then it goes too low to start my Prius. Plus the cold weather lately...yep, I guess I could use a battery minder.

Curt

 

I was in the same situation as you. I bought the Optima back in 2008. Thinking that my battery is about to die because right after I first got it I accidentally drained the battery and now it sits at or below 11.5v I bought a new one since the old one had a short warranty. I bought a batteryminder 12v charger because I needed a charger anyway and now I have two good Optimas. The new one is in my car and the old one is just sitting around waiting to be used for something.

I have a short commute. 22 miles round trip. My car sits about 23 hours a day. So the battery never really gets charged. I plan on buying that batteryminder in the link above this summer and hook it into my charge port so when my Hymotion battery is charging the Optima battery will get a charge.

 

Thanks for the info in this. 12v in my 2005 died today after a long weekend so this is a welcome, upgrade replacement.

Was looking at the Braille battery, but doesn't seem like anybody used that in a Prius.

 

That "thing" is the battery temperature sensor which is used to automatically adjust the charging voltage. The battery vent is on the positive terminal side of the battery.

 

Huh ??? 22 MILES !!!! That's a short commute ???

If a battery doesn't last (or won't charge successfully) being driven 22 miles a day .... that battery is GARBAGE.

Why do so many people think they're doing something 'better' by spending more money on a non-proven 'upgrade'.

I don't get it ... just buy the Toyota battery ... it works.

REV