DieHard batteries are best known for their ability to power both on-road and off-road vehicles, making them a surefire choice for those who need a reliable car, RV, or boat powering option that’s still both long-lasting, and reasonably priced. By sticking to DieHard, you can guarantee all of these and make your purchasing experience much faster and simpler. Show
I’ve made this process even easier for you by picking five of my favorite DieHard batteries and reviewing them below, providing not only a small writeup about the products themselves but a pros and cons list that allows you to see the properties of each battery in an easiest-to-read format. If reading more into the topic is your thing, however, I’ve gathered some information about these batteries into a buyers’ guide at the bottom of this article. This shows my rationale for how I’ve judged these products, breaking them down into the sum of their parts and explaining what makes certain components more desirable than others. Best Overall Diehard Battery Runner Up Best Budget Diehard Battery Best Amp Hours and Reserve Capacity DieHard 38232 Advanced Gold AGM Battery - Group 34 DieHard 38188 Advanced Gold AGM Battery - Group 34R DieHard 38275 Advanced Gold AGM Battery - Group 35 DieHard 38217 Advanced Gold AGM Battery - Group 49 Amp Hours 55 hrs 55 hrs 50 hrs 92 hrs Reserve Capacity 120 min 120 min 100 min 170 min Cold Cranking Amps 775 CCA 775 CCA 650 CCA 850 CCA Check Latest Deals Check Latest Deals Check Latest Deals Check Latest Deals Best Overall Diehard Battery DieHard 38232 Advanced Gold AGM Battery - Group 34 Amp Hours 55 hrs Reserve Capacity 120 min Cold Cranking Amps 775 CCA Check Latest Deals Runner Up DieHard 38188 Advanced Gold AGM Battery - Group 34R Amp Hours 55 hrs Reserve Capacity 120 min Cold Cranking Amps 775 CCA Check Latest Deals Best Budget Diehard Battery DieHard 38275 Advanced Gold AGM Battery - Group 35 Amp Hours 50 hrs Reserve Capacity 100 min Cold Cranking Amps 650 CCA Check Latest Deals Best Amp Hours and Reserve Capacity DieHard 38217 Advanced Gold AGM Battery - Group 49 Amp Hours 92 hrs Reserve Capacity 170 min Cold Cranking Amps 850 CCA Check Latest Deals Best Overall Table of Contents
DieHard 38232 Advanced Gold AGM GP 34 BatteryCheck Price on Amazon My top pick is the DieHard 38232, or more specifically the DieHard Advanced Gold AGM GP 34. It’s a 55 amp hour battery, more than double the 20 amp hour batteries that you can find elsewhere on the market. You’ll be seeing AGM-type batteries a lot from DieHard. This means Absorbed Glass Mat which, for the consumer, tells you that it has a lower maintenance cycle than other batteries usually do, you won’t need to keep refilling it with water every month or so, making it great for those who don’t use their vehicles regularly too. A big factor in what makes these a great buy is their longevity. Getting more out of a battery is a great way of saving consumers money while justifying the price point of the battery itself, so it’s not surprising that many batteries try to last longer than their competitors. The DieHard Advanced Gold has features that allow it to do just that. Firstly, it has power optimization in its full-frame positive and negative plates, meaning that electrical shorts are better prevented. Electrical shorts are guaranteed to kill the lifespan of your batteries, so it’s a good reassurance that shorting these batteries out is much less likely than it may have been with other brands. Secondly, these batteries feature up to twenty times more vibration protection than your average lead-acid batteries, almost doubling the longevity of these models to not only add to the performance you can get out of them over their lifetime, but it also makes these a great cost-effective purchase for those who want to make their cash stretch furthest. Even if you need power when your charger connection is not available, these batteries have a longer-than-average reserve capacity that lasts for two whole hours, giving you more use out of them when you may be needing it most. Other design elements built into the 38232 Advanced Gold batteries to keep them working are their spill-proof constructions and the enhanced electrolyte suspension system. The first is fairly self-explanatory, the casing of these batteries is designed in such a way that it can handle accidental spills without the sophisticated electronic equipment inside getting destroyed or otherwise damaged. The enhanced electrolyte suspension system protects these same internal components by absorbing excess electrolytes, meaning they get less worn down in their day to day use and generate satisfying levels of power for longer. If all of the above wasn’t enough to persuade you, maybe you’ll feel safer knowing that your purchase will also be protected by a three-year free replacement warranty should any problems arise with your purchase. Pros
Cons
DieHard 38232 Advanced Gold AGM Battery - Group 34
Check Latest Deals Runner Up DieHard 38188 Advanced Gold AGM 34R BatteryCheck Prize on Amazon Second on my list is another DieHard battery from the Advanced Gold series, as all of the batteries on this list are, with the DieHard 38188 Advanced Gold AGM 34R Battery. It’s also rated at 55 amp hours, meaning it’s on par with our number one choice in terms of performance power. Part of the reason it can achieve this level of power is that it’s power-optimized at both the positive and negative plates, essentially short-proofing the battery and preventing any loss of battery lifespan in the long term. Like our first option, the reserve capacity for these batteries is also a neat two hours so, should the charging system fail, you have ample time to do something about it. The functional life cycle of these batteries is effectively doubled with DieHard’s Advanced Gold range. This is thanks to a multitude of construction elements that not only extend the life of key components but also protect those components from both internal and external threats. On the inside, a familiar electrolyte absorbing suspension system protects core battery components from overexposure to electrolytes, which damages the power-efficiency of batteries in the long term and leads to their inevitable wear out. On the outside, its casing has been made to high heavy-duty standards, being shockproof as to keep the functional parts of the battery safe from accidental knocks and falls. Pros
Cons
DieHard 38188 Advanced Gold AGM Battery - Group 34R
Check Latest Deals Best Budget DieHard Battery DieHard 38275 Advanced Gold AGM GP 35 BatteryCheck Price on Amazon Next, is the DieHard 38275 Advanced Gold AGM GP 35 Battery, this time an Advanced Gold battery from a different group. This Group 35 battery has the lowest reserve capacity of all listed at only one hundred minutes. This is still admirable, however, and only twenty minutes less than the previous two options. At any rate, it’s more than the standard reserve capacity. Where specs are concerned, these batteries carry a 50 amp hour rating, roughly double than what many other batteries are capable of. What’s more impressive about these models is that they also last a very long time, allowing you to get as much performance and cost-efficiency out of your purchase as possible. Like with all DieHard batteries, longevity and durability are this model’s watchwords. You’ll find it packed with many of the same features that are present in the above battery models, just that this model in particular runs slightly less powerful in exchange for a smaller price point. It has much more vibration protection than other batteries, estimated to be about twenty times more when compared to common battery alternatives. This vibration protection works well with a heavy-duty, shock-proof construction that keeps the battery inside safe from any workplace accidents that may occur. With both of these working in tandem, external threats to this battery shouldn’t be something for you to worry about. Where those all-important interior components are concerned, the battery system itself is made with an integrated electrolyte absorbing suspension system. This simply means that excess and stray electrolytes are kept away from the certain components that would be, albeit slowly, damaged by them. This essentially slows the wearing process to a crawl, getting more use from your battery. It’s important to fight against this creeping damage to your batteries, but those who have had batteries short out know that it can only take a second or two to ruin your battery and send your cash spiraling down the drain. Thankfully, this model too has a power-optimization in its positive and negative frames, negating the risk of a short. Pros
Cons
DieHard 38275 Advanced Gold AGM Battery - Group 35
Check Latest Deals Best Amp Hours and Reserve Capacity DieHard 38217 Advanced Gold AGM GP 49 BatteryCheck Price on Amazon Last but not least is the DieHard 38217 Advanced Gold AGM GP 49 Battery, a very high rated option at 92 amp hours, providing a great performance baseline for those in need of raw power. With this added power, it’s no surprise that the reserve capacity for this battery is high too at one hundred and seventy minutes. That’s nearly three hours of usable spare power capacity should your charging system fail. These batteries can keep functioning at 0 degrees Fahrenheit so if you’re in need of a product that can survive below-freezing temperatures, you’ve found it. In general, it’s made to withstand most that nature will throw at it. The casing of the battery is made of tamper-resistant material that’s heat-sealed, making the box functionally shock- and spill-proof to protect the equipment inside from accidental damage. As for the battery interior, it optimizes power in its positive and negative plates to prevent critical technical failures that could ruin the longevity of these batteries, and sometimes even cut their lives short. Despite all of its features, it’s a smaller battery than others. While great for those looking for a compact setup, it can cause some trouble when fitting in certain vehicles, and will likely require added securing to keep it in place. Pros
Cons
DieHard 38217 Advanced Gold AGM Battery - Group 49
Check Latest Deals Buyers’ Guide – How to find a great batteryThis buyers’ guide is here to show you what’s what when it comes to batteries. Finding the best battery for your needs, whether it’s DieHard or another brand, is simple when you know what to look for. I’ll show you exactly what to look for by breaking down these batteries into their parts and explaining how and why certain features are better than others. I’ve split this section into four parts, the battery’s type and size, performance, life, and the accompanying warranty, if one applies. Battery Type and SizeThe two main types of batteries for cars and watercraft are lead-acid batteries and AGM batteries. As mentioned above, all of the DieHard batteries in our list are Absorbed Glass Mat (AGM) batteries, so chances are you’ll be leaning heavily toward AGM options. The types of battery function differently depending on how you’ll be applying them. Lead-acid batteries require water changes so that the electrolyte water solution keeps it powered. They’re generally lower priced than AGM batteries, often to a significant degree, but this is a tradeoff since they don’t tend to be as powerful as AGMs. Those performance shortcomings are why I’d recommend you set some cash aside for AGM batteries instead. Absorbed Glass Mat (AGM) batteries are the more modern battery systems available and are known for their charging capacity. They also hold a charge for longer, which is very important when deciding on which batteries to buy and is even better for those who don’t use their vehicles for long periods. As for its size, this will depend on your vehicle. Make sure you know the size of your vehicle’s battery compartment, either through an industry designation or through raw dimensions. Try and match these with your prospective battery choice, paying attention to the width, height, and length of your battery and the hole it’s supposed to fit in. You want to be careful when installing a battery since, if you force a larger battery into a smaller hole, you’ll likely violate your warranty guideline. If you haven’t got any experience with measuring batteries and similar mechanical items, then you can get the assistance of your local mechanic. Battery PerformanceYou want your batteries to have a great performance, otherwise, there’s little point in having them. First, you should clear up whether your vehicle can be powered by the battery you want. You can get a more powerful battery too, of course, but we’d suggest that you not go overboard since powerful batteries need equally powerful chargers, and these will be unnecessary expenses when a lower powered battery will do. Amp HoursAmp hours are a rating of how much energy is stored in a battery. The higher the number the longer than battery will last between charges. My first two battery picks, the DieHard 38232 and the DieHard 38188, both have amp hour ratings of 55 Amps. This means these batteries can provide 55 amps of current for 20 hours at 80 deg F before falling below 10.5 volts. Of course, 80 deg F is quite warm so if the temperature is a cooler or even cold your battery will not last nearly as long before dropping below 10.5 volts. Reserve CapacityRC is an important metric to look at, too. RC is reserve capacity, which is how long your battery can keep supplying power after the charging system fails for whatever reason. The average RC is about ninety minutes, or an hour and a half, but DieHard batteries are known for having RCs that exceed this number. If you are shopping for specifically DieHard batteries, we’d say to only get those with a minimum of one hundred and twenty minutes of reserve capacity. Since it’s handy in tricky or even emergency situations, it’s great to have a generous reserve capacity and not need it than need but not have it. Cold Cranking AmpsYou may wish to pay attention to the CCA of a battery too. This is the Cold Cranking Amps, which means how much power is required to start the an engine at cold temperatures. The higher the number the more amps a battery can deliver at cold temperatures. The rating refers to how many amps the 12 volt battery can deliver for 30 seconds while maintaining a minimum voltage of 7.2 volts at 0 deg F. So for a 12 Volt battery with 775CCA like my top choice, the DieHard 38232, it can provide 775 Amps for your engine to start for 30 secs when the temperature is 0 deg F and will maintain a voltage of at least 7.2 volts. Battery LifeAs I said above, longevity is pretty important for batteries. The candle that burns twice as bright lasts half as long, and that’s a pretty weak setup where batteries are concerned. Having a lower but consistent power supply is infinitely more desirable than having a short burst of power that won’t last very long, not to mention it’s more expensive. Standard batteries will last about two to three years, hence why many warranties will have that period of time as an expiration limit to them. As a side note, it’s best to buy as fresh a battery as you can. Manufacture dates should be made known on the product listing page and the battery itself. Brand new is preferable but, if you are buying older ones, never buy batteries that exceed six months in age. At that point, the investment into the battery won’t be worth it. WarrantyMost batteries will come with some sort of warranty, the DieHard options above included. We’d say the minimum warranty you should accept is twenty-four months, but a prorated warranty that lasts for a staggering eighty-four months is preferable. If you do get a warranty, familiarize yourself with the violation guidelines so you can avoid them and ensure your purchase remains covered. This will involve the care put into battery installation and the water levels in your batteries. How long is the average car battery last?Some cars will get up to five or six years out of their battery, while others will need a new one after only two years. In general, your car will usually need a new battery after three to four years. Replacing your car battery is another part of routine maintenance.
Is DieHard Gold a good battery?DieHard Gold automotive batteries meet or exceed the vehicle manufacturer's battery starting and reserve capacity requirements, ensuring you get the power you need for a quick start every time. DieHard Gold batteries are engineered with Stamped Grid Technology, which is a stronger and more durable positive grid.
What is the average life of a 12 volt car battery?Battery manufacturers suggest the average lifespan of an auto battery falls anywhere between three and five years — and for good reason.
How do I know when my car needs a new battery?Signs Your Battery Needs Replacing. Difficulty Starting the Ignition/Turning Over the Engine. ... . Dashboard Lights & Lighting Issues. ... . Electrical Malfunctions. ... . Poor Performance in Cold Weather. ... . Strange Odor.. |