I am still using my TCH Panasonic (made in 2006) as 2nd battery for gate opener. I have 2 deep cycle connected together on solar charger.
I am safe betting Yellow Top Optima I had installed will last same if not more. Exactly for same reason you mentioned, David. I simply can not justify to myself to pay over $400 for a battery.

 

We've parked our 07 TCH in the garage for a month several times while traveling with no adverse consequences upon return. The car starts every time without hesitation. After 8 years (car was bought in fall of 06) I replaced the 12v battery just to play it safe. Yep, the dealer price was high, but I rationalized it all by reviewing how little I've spent on this car for non-routine maintenance. It's been a gem.

 

Decided to check the voltage of my aux battery and it's reading 11.6 via the cheap amazon techstream cable. Looks like I'll be replacing this ASAP. I'm leaning heavily towards the prius optima yellow top DS46B24R (vs the d35) any reason to not go with the prius yellow top?
I'd be happy to post how to check aux voltage via techstream if anybody is interested. It took me a bit of fiddling to find it.

 

Post me who you bought the cable from. I bought one and drivers disk that came with it was faulty. Seller never sent me replacement and I returned it.
Prius battery is simply smaller capacity. But it came up that according to Optima rep, Prius battery actually has vent tube attachment. This may be of some advantage. You don't have to rig the tube attachment onto the Camry size battery.
11.7 on that battery is cut off low voltage considered LOW.

 

http://www.aliexpress.com/item/v8-10...279644499.html

This is who I purchased from. The price was right so I thought what the heck. I used the instructions from the Tundra forums to install the drivers.

http://www.tundratalk.net/forums/tun...ings-such.html

 

Just installed a MotoMaster Eliminator Ultra from Canadian Tire in the HyCam. It came vented and the spec check out. Just unplugged the old battery and installed the new one. No error codes on startup.

My guess is it's an Exide rebrand.

Product #10-2420-4 Oddly the newer (grey body) batteries don't have a vent hole.

It was cheaper than the Prius Optima with a larger capacity.

 

I just checked the voltage across the terminals and it's reading 12.83V with ambient temperature of 66F. I used my Fluke 87V meter to check the readings without the engine on. Built date Nov.2006 original Panasonic AGM battery. Since this is an auxiliary battery and with 109,000 miles on the odometer. Any owners have the original Panasonic AGM on 2007 Camry Hybrid? BTW the car was parked for 8 hours when the readings were taken.

 

It's deep cycle battery. You can not test it like that. But to your question, my 06 Panasonic is still in service for my gate opener.

This is deep cycle battery testing protocol:



http://www.pacificpowerbatteries.com...aq/dcfaq3.html

 

Well now that I've read everybody comment regarding the replacement of the 12V auxiliary battery on 2007 TCH I have come to my own conclusion that I can comment on. Like I said in my earlier comment I'm still getting between 12.64-12.83Volts so no need to worry about it. When it's time to replace it will be the original Panasonic.Why you may ask, because the engineers at Toyota design this battery to last. Why mess around with other brands and do all the modifications. I intend to keep my TCH for another 10 years so that's reason enough to go with the OEM. Until that time I will monitor the auxiliary battery.
Right now I can pick up the OEM Panasonic for around $262.00 online so the price difference is not that much considering the quality and durability.

 

Your conclusion is based on ignoring a lot of what people have told you.

12.64-12.83V 12-24 hours after shutting the car down? How does it do with a load test?

Voltage alone is a completely unreliable way to determine a battery's state of health. If you're relying solely on it, you have insufficient data upon which to base an assessment.

The previously provided link for testing is great. It doesn't appear that you have bothered with any of the load testing - the only reliable way to ensure a battery's state of health.

9 years on a lead-acid based battery even VLRA (AGM or gel) is the equivalent of an elderly person with incontinence.

Pretty sure Toyota doesn't design Panasonic's battery for them...