Kinetik Batteries ???????

Are any of you using them?

Save your money Anthony. They are just a cheap Chinese import. I am in the battery testing industry and I called Eric at Kinetik to get some test data and find out the company in China manufacturing them. He would give up neither. All there cool marketing about low ESR and such is probably just smoke. He would not even tell me how they calculated ESR. Although, he might not really be knowledgable as far as testing, just a sales guy. He seemed to sidestep alot and that doesn't sit well. Connnecting a battery to a stereo system is not a valid test.

Buy from a know source such as East Penn (Deka), JCI, Exide, Interstate, Trojan, Furukawa, CSB....You get the idea.

that is good to know....I just ordered a new Malibu 24 7 and my stereo guy was telling me that everyone is using Kinetik batteries. I found them on e-bay for half the price. I was using 4 Odyssey PC1700 batteries and never had a problem. Thank you for the info.

Terry,

Any recommendations for AGM's or other 12v solutions? The Exide golf carts in my boat have done well for the past two years, but they started dropping voltage on bigger bass hits last year when I upped the load on the amp to 1 ohms (1500 watts of bass vs 750). I am going to try a pair of the Kinetik 2400s this summer (already have them, on closeout they were cheap).

I am in the solar business. I know the stats on several slow drain situations. Moderate drain is not familiar territory.

I just so happen to have a Kinetik HC1800 and it works perfectly!! as a single source for starting and my stereo. My stereo guy told me to get it because they were better than stingers and optimas also. He does not sell them by the way.

i've had a kinetik in my truck for almost 2 years now. Running strong, has 2 1200watt rms amps and a 1500watt amp on it too. Lights don't even dim anymore when the bass hits!

^^^^^truck and boat are two differnt animals with regards to how a stereo is used.

^ they're not that different when it comes to powering amps. An amps power draw wouldn't be different in the two and neither would the batteries.

Any normal late model truck will have a significantly larger alt. on it, making the battery primarly used for starting. Boats with larger stereos deep cycle their batts. down quite a bit and sometime very low. When was the last time you drove your truck 6 hours in a day jamming the stereeo? How about having your boat beached playing for hours on end? Finally if yrou truck won't start you walk a few blocks and get a battery or cables...your boat won't start , I'm no Jesus so I'm not walking across water.

Battery choice is a little mroe involved on a boat.

Different animals.

www.enersys.com
look at the Odyssey 2150

I like the offerings from Exide and Odyssey.

Opinions are like •••••••••

I tried to find out for info on Kinetik today....

I talked to Rich Scott (engineering dept) to discuss the battery. I learned the following:

1. Max current listed on the website is through a dead short. He would not supply any test data though.
2. He did not know what the ESR was and how it was determined. If he did have he wouldn't supply it cause stereo guys don't need this information.
3. More plates for stronger power density as stated in the website could not be explained as he did not know how the battery was built.
4. Still would not tell who manufactures the battery in China.

This guy was the 4th one at Kinetik I've talked to and they have no clue about batteries. They sell them based on the wattage required.

These batteries may be manufactured from a reputable chinese company but with no disclosure I would lean to not so reputable. They buy based on price (commodity) and put their sticker on.

In the battery industry this information is shared and is no secret. Battery manufacturers get contracts based battery performance.

Here is a list of suppliers. If you can't find it on the list I would be hesitant to purchase.

http://www.batteryfaq.org/

hey Terry, out of curiosity since you seem to know quite a bit about all this stuff, how good are the optoma blue tops? buying a new-to-me boat and am guessing i'll probably want to change the battery sooner rather than later. the 2 i bought in 06 for my current boat are holding up well and just thought i'd get your take on 'em. i keep them plugged into a 3-step smart charger. thanks.

sam, i think the number of batteries you choose and how they're configured is more important than the brand of battery. but, we're splitting hairs here.. it is different. I know I do'nt have 4 batteries in my truck. i do in my boat.

terry, good list thanks for the info.

Im running the Sea Volt batterys from West Marine. I didn't see them on the battery list in the above link. What does that mean? Batterys IMO are like grandmas cold recipie. Everyone has one and they swear their's works the best. Sounds like other subjects here. Im no battery tester but I can tell you that Optimas work ok IMO. I used to run them and I can tell you the Sea Volts work better than the Blue top Optimas, Yes there are much better batterys out there. Their are super expencieve designer batterys, Do you need one of these? How should one judge a good battery from a no so good battery? IMO it should have to do with Amp hrs VS size. I like AMG battery's. I know people here like flooded golf carts but It think they like the price and the amp hrs more Vs AMG or Gell batterys. With the golf carts they have more bang for the buck and thats why people like them. Are they a better battery? IMO NO. A Standard blue top Optima is 55 Amp hrs and costs about $120-$150. Judge it or hold it as the standard when deciding weather its a good or not so good battery 4 you take into its size weight and most important its Amp HR's. IMO if you use the size, weight, amp hrs and cost of a blue top optima as a guide you can match up battery to battery head to head and make your own choice weather its better or not.

Hey G. I'm sure there are hundred of manufactures around the world not on the list. I had never heard of Kinetik prior to me joining WW. I took a look at their website and thought it was interesting from a consumer stand point and another from an industry stand point. So I contacted them to find out more about the battery and hit a brick wall. You'd think I was asking where the stained blue dress was....

I hate to see people fall pray to slick marketing and lose more money out of their pockets. After all we could use the extra coin for some gas.

As for who's battery is best....go with a reputable company, spec it out correctly and I'm sure it will meet your needs. Kinda like asking who builds to best wakeboat.

just a thought,
if you are spending thousands of dollars on stereos and batteries why not just buy a decent battery from any auto parts store and keep it in the boat in case you drain the large battery?

like i said just a thought and my 2cents

Terry I understand you work in the business, but I switched to kinetik's because so many SPL competitors use them. I have had kinetik's in my boat(2nd full season) and they have worked well enough that I don't see any need to change them out in the near future. My system isn't the most powerful, about 2000-2200 watts RMS, but I have yet to have an issue. I also don't need to charge the batteries during the "season" and the batteries were still at 12V after sitting for 7 weeks. I would also imagine that you are probably talking to a CSR or inside sales rep that really doesn't care to know the more technical questions you are asking.

However I did find these batteries and thought about switching if my kinetik's crap out.

http://www.remybattery.com/Departments/Extreme-Performance-Batteries/Deka-INTIMIDATOR-Battery.aspx

Ewing the gentlemen I spoke to today was their engineer. I'm happy if it has performed well for you.

As far as the Deka batteries they are top notch. I've been to their facility and it is impressive.

Terry what makes the Deka better than Optima? I don't know crap about batteries, just judge by what works for people.

once you use lifeline batteries you will be sold. They are the real deal. I have 2 in our boat and a huge 1400 watt system and blast for hours without draining them. check them out their in house engineer is one smart dude.

Huge 1400 watt system huh

Terry you do know someone has to graduate last. I am contemplating switching to a 4K sub amp...I would guess that might hurt most of batteries...I will let you know.

That 1400 watt system has to be huge for sure...

I didn't say Deka was better......

1 fosgate 800 watt sub amp
1 fosgate 100x4
1 fosgate 50x4

You do the math motherf@#$er.............LOL
yea probably not huge compared the your sweet jensen 3000 watt system

Tom, lets not be snarky, its AC Delco

Tom, 1400 RMS is not that big. I think that was the intent of the previous post. No one said you overstated the wattage. I would consider 2k and under average.

Tom that is a nice setup...huge would be reserved for 3K RMS and up...

It has nothing to do with the wattage of the amp. Its the amount of amps it will draw at 14v.

Here's another for you guys. I've gotten good recommendations on these from the industry materials Phd's. Take a look..........

http://www.northstarbattery.com

Tom you're funny, and apparently extremely immature as well. Have fun with your monster 1400 watt system buddy. I run JL audio deuchbag.

funny direction this thread took. I think different people just have different ideas of what a huge system is. As long as everyone is happy with theirs, were all good.
Terry- seeing that you obviously have some expertise in testing etc of multiple batteries, in your experience what is good brand for 2nd bank of batteries (Specifically to power high draw stereo's?)

One man's huge is definitely another mans small. I actually read that as him being facetious but my brain tends to go that way plus I have a huge 2" cock

Incidentally, where were people getting the Kinetic batteries cheap? I thought it was JCWhitney but I checked their site and couldn't find them.

how about orbital batteries that are gel filled. they are supposed to be better than the optima batteries? just put two in my boat for about 500 bucks. did i get ripped or are they gonna be good?

Your killing me Hate, and I definetely don't think he was be facetious. If he was kidding he wouldn't have gotten so ButtHurt by my response.

William you paid $250 a piece for those? Hate they were getting them from JC whitney and millionbuy.com.

(Message edited by 05mobiuslsv on April 08, 2008)

He was sure acting like Fosgate is the bomb too, not that they don't make some good stuff but c'mon muther f&*^er's!

^^^^^^^..

I swear we have to get together and go riding this year!!

Yeah, we'll have to sort that out some time. I checked the Farmers Almanac and it look's like were gonna be in for a dry and hotter than normal summer so there should be plenty of boat time plus my corn should come in nicely!

Your corn, wtf? I hope like hell it's a hot one in the NW this summer.

nubu.. yeah.. 248 each.. are they any good. i was gonna get optima but napa didnt have any and said that these were better than them

If it was one of these looks like you paid a little more than you should have..

http://www.remybattery.com/Departments/Extreme-Performance-Batteries/Exide-Orbital-Battery.aspx

ya i got ripped... hope they are good batteries. oh ya and there were core charges in that also.

Hate and nu bu.......you guys crack me up.

I actually use those Exide Orbitals in my boat and they work great for me running an extremely small 2300 watt system (mostly Jensen Schitt). I bought them at Schucks for roughly $180-$190. I actually had an issue with one and they replaced it free of charge after about a year so warranty and customer service is good too.

Did you buy your craico system there to? They had some sweet subs there a while back, ya the magnet on the back was like the size of a quarter. I knew they were good.

i think im gonna go get some optimas and just have 4 batteries in my boat then

Yeah like I would buy craico when I can afford Jensen and I don't run a sub per say just some 6x9's in truck box's. Pair those with a little DJ Magic Mike and I lump down the lake!

That's what I would do, go get them at costco then you can take them back anytime you want within the 18 month warranty and get new ones if needed. The specs on the optima blue tops are actually a little better, and I mean a little bit. Looks like the optima has 5 more reserve hours capacity?

Get it right Hate, I have the 3000 watt Jensen system remember .

Terry I have seen some guys run the NSB90 but I have also heard they are pricey and hard to get.

Or, how about hard to get at a good price...

LOL you guys are funny. I'm kidding it's the internet remember?........LOL
Also those orbital blue tops are better IMHO than the optima and are 169 at checker auto. I run one in my rhino. You really should check out lifeline batteries they are way better than optima and cost the same as a blue top. Check batteries plus or http://www.lifelinebatteries.com/marinebatteries.php. And as far as my system being huge, i'm old so that was huge back in my day. Apparently I'll have to step it up on our new boat we pick up next week to keep up with you ballers!! Supposed to be 90 this weekend here in AZ see you on the water!

This thread was a great way to start the day!

Tom those specs on the lifeline batteries do look way more impressive than the optimas. They're heavy as hell to, would make for some great ballast.

Ah ha! I knew he was kidding kinda sorta not really but I am now. LOL I'm with ya Tom and thanks for sharing on the lifeline marine batteries. It's nice to have so many people from different fields here so we can pick each others brains.

I'm definitely diggin those Lifeline batteries. Thanks for posting those.

Doin a comparison,
4 Blue Tops would cost me $600 give me 220ah be 10"x28" and weigh 172lbs.
1 Lifeline GPL-4DL would cost me $490(online) give me 210ah be 21"x9" and weigh 135lbs

Since mine sit near the front, weight is actually a problem. Those lifelines sound great...hmmmmm...

If you guys are looking at the Lifeline I can forward any questions you have to a friend of mine at Concorde and get more info If anyone would like.

Looks like a good deal: http://www.factoriesonline.com/ProductInfo.aspx?id=3135928

Lets see some specs of all the different batteries to prove who has the best performance.

I have a buddy bringing me some lifelines for some testing. Although the BCI test is rated in minutes @ 25amps (reserve capacity) I'll set up a test which has steady 5 amp draw which pulses to 150 amp every second until it reaches 1.75vpc. I think this better reflects how we are using them connected to stereos. The pulse would reflect bass hits.

I'll pull the blue top out of my boat which is new and run the same test and see how they stack up. I should have some data beginning of June if all goes as planned.

If anyone thinks of a test regime that is more accurate, or if some one has actually measured input current on the amps at 3/4 volume and have the data so I could recreate it let me know.