Optima Yellow Top Batteries

[wody]

I'm just asking. I couldn't find them around here (Autozone, O'Reillys, etc, dont carry them).

 

around 150 to 200

[Sierra35E]

around 150 to 200

Thanks.

[Rausche]

I personally am not a huge fan of the yellow tops. In my dually, I used a red top and blue top. Reasoning below:

 

The yellow top is a deep cycle battery (deep cycle is really a style of discharge, moreso than actual battery construction; most batteries could be considered "deep cycle" if it were determined by construction alone). The yellow is meant to have a huge load applied to it for a long(er than usual) period of time. This is NOT how cranking our trucks over is defined. That kind of power is meant for things like winches or lots and lots of lights. Our trucks do not draw/load (read: crank) for more than 10 seconds, which is the period of time where necessary for a deep cycle battery to overtake a standard discharge style battery (performance-wise).

 

Now don't get me wrong, I'm not saying that the yellow top is a bad battery, or not to use it, just that its purpose isn't to start our trucks. Buy it for your old diesel or tractor.

 

The red top is a starting battery. It provides the maximum amount of power it can for the first 10 seconds of draw/load, which would be when you crank your truck over. (NOTE: The falloff of power is only slight gradual decline after 10 seconds, it doesn't just die, lol) For 80% of applications where a yellow top is used, a red top would work just dandily in its place. They also recharge easier than the yellow, and provide greater instant demand power.

 

The blue top is classified as a marine battery. Think of it as the yellow top on crack. The take to a charge like a tornado to a trailer park, and have a stupidly large amount of reserve power. They just don't....stop....cranking! (While diagnosing a problem on my MerCruiser motor, my blue top cranked the motor at full speed (on/off in a 10 second burst, repeat), for well over 2 hours. We gave up when it got dark, not when the battery died. Keep in mind the motor never ran, battery was never getting a charge. 2 hours. Stupidly large amount of reserve.) I chose to use the blue top for my dually's stereo system, because of it's great deep cycling abilities, it's quick recharge rate, and because its got the nice little marine style wing-nut threaded posts (easy connection for amps / extra devices).

 

 

A red top rocked my 1989 K1500, a red and a blue are in my 1988 Dually, a blue is in my boat and my 1983 camaro, and a blue and red will be in 03 SS. Oh yeah, and a nautilus 1200 is in my 1975 suburban (want to talk about cranking power... holy crap).

 

 

Feel free to ask any questions, I've been through a LOT of batteries.

 

Ok. I'm done for now.

[smoke03]

So if im running a sound system with a 1 farad cap, a kicker ZX 750.1 amp and a directed 400 watt amp will a red one be ok?

[Rausche]

Note: Optima Batteries are not a competitor in the AUDIO BATTERY game, there are companies out there like Kinetic and Stinger that make AUDIO BATTERIES that are designed for subs. Optimas cannot compete with those. That being said:

 

A decently powerful sound system qualifies as a pretty decent electrical load. That being said I would recommend the yellow, or if you've got the money, the blue top. However: The capacitor is doing you nothing. Ditch it, and spend the money on a dual battery (run in parallel) setup. Buy a blue and red, and you'll be all set! Do a quick search, you'll find the part numbers for the other battery tray, along with some more conversations about capacitors and audio setups.

 

 

Good Luck!

[Champion201]

In my boat I have 2 Deep Cycle Marine Blue tops for the trolling motor and accessories and 1 Starting Red top Optimas. I love em!

[dawgbone]

I've had my yellow top for over 2 years now as well as my boats blue top(bought same time)!!! Can't say a bad thing about Optimas...I will say that GM alternators blows....especially the underpowered 105 amp stocker.

 

I have FAL e-fans and 1000w US Acoustics D-class powering 2 OG JL 12w6v1's wired 1.5 ohms with no cap.....

 

 

as for cranking amps....I installed an Odyssey in my car....and wholy shittles!!! I thought my starter was about to rip the engine from it's mounts...I've only had it for about 8 months, so I have no idea what their life expectancy is....Supposedly it's 10x better than Optima...

 

http://www.odysseybatteries.com/

[Holty]

I'm using a optima yellow top. its been discharged fully atleast 5 times and 90% discharged atleast 30 times and still works like new. I have no complaints. Whatever you do, don't buy a Stinger battery... http://s80.photobucket.com/albums/j188/dew...rbatteryfix.flv

 

[kude]

I personally am not a huge fan of the yellow tops. In my dually, I used a red top and blue top. Reasoning below:

 

The yellow top is a deep cycle battery (deep cycle is really a style of discharge, moreso than actual battery construction; most batteries could be considered "deep cycle" if it were determined by construction alone). The yellow is meant to have a huge load applied to it for a long(er than usual) period of time. This is NOT how cranking our trucks over is defined. That kind of power is meant for things like winches or lots and lots of lights. Our trucks do not draw/load (read: crank) for more than 10 seconds, which is the period of time where necessary for a deep cycle battery to overtake a standard discharge style battery (performance-wise).

 

Now don't get me wrong, I'm not saying that the yellow top is a bad battery, or not to use it, just that its purpose isn't to start our trucks. Buy it for your old diesel or tractor.

 

The red top is a starting battery. It provides the maximum amount of power it can for the first 10 seconds of draw/load, which would be when you crank your truck over. (NOTE: The falloff of power is only slight gradual decline after 10 seconds, it doesn't just die, lol) For 80% of applications where a yellow top is used, a red top would work just dandily in its place. They also recharge easier than the yellow, and provide greater instant demand power.

 

The blue top is classified as a marine battery. Think of it as the yellow top on crack. The take to a charge like a tornado to a trailer park, and have a stupidly large amount of reserve power. They just don't....stop....cranking! (While diagnosing a problem on my MerCruiser motor, my blue top cranked the motor at full speed (on/off in a 10 second burst, repeat), for well over 2 hours. We gave up when it got dark, not when the battery died. Keep in mind the motor never ran, battery was never getting a charge. 2 hours. Stupidly large amount of reserve.) I chose to use the blue top for my dually's stereo system, because of it's great deep cycling abilities, it's quick recharge rate, and because its got the nice little marine style wing-nut threaded posts (easy connection for amps / extra devices).

A red top rocked my 1989 K1500, a red and a blue are in my 1988 Dually, a blue is in my boat and my 1983 camaro, and a blue and red will be in 03 SS. Oh yeah, and a nautilus 1200 is in my 1975 suburban (want to talk about cranking power... holy crap).

Feel free to ask any questions, I've been through a LOT of batteries.

 

Ok. I'm done for now.

 

Okay, you said ask any questions, so here goes: I bought an Optima Red Top model 34-78 at Autoozone this morning. The zero weather here finally took a toll on the 4-5 year old AC-Delco stock battery. I had to change the battery in the cold. I used the GM clip provided by Optima, but it seemed not to lock down the battery. Does it lock down with this clip alone? Maybe I need to tighten it down some more, but because of the cold I just left it loose for now.

 

I just want to know if the clip alone does the job and I needed to tighen it further, or am I missing something?

 

BTW, online Autozone says the battery was one price and at the store it was 20 bucks more.

 

Thanks for any help.

[yttaf]

I've got a red top in my truck

[JF-03-SS]

Okay, you said ask any questions, so here goes: I bought an Optima Red Top model 34-78 at Autoozone this morning. The zero weather here finally took a toll on the 4-5 year old AC-Delco stock battery. I had to change the battery in the cold. I used the GM clip provided by Optima, but it seemed not to lock down the battery. Does it lock down with this clip alone? Maybe I need to tighten it down some more, but because of the cold I just left it loose for now.

 

I just want to know if the clip alone does the job and I needed to tighen it further, or am I missing something?

 

BTW, online Autozone says the battery was one price and at the store it was 20 bucks more.

 

Thanks for any help.

Did yours come w/ the top post cover? I left mine on and just reinstalled the metal bar back over the top(and though the battery handle)of that and that seems to hold it way better then just the clip.

[orion :: SS]

I have a Red Top...and it rocks.

 

Have had one in my track car (road course) for close to 9 years / 75,000 miles (yeah, it's heavy for this purpose)...but it still does great.

 

Not as good as when new, but amazing for a 9 year old battery. I run an underdrive pulley, so it underdrives the alternator...and the battery has been taking that abuse for it's whole life (supplementing the alt.).

 

Anyway, can't say enough good things about the Red Top for a normal 'starting' battery.

 

Spend $155-160 ONCE, or buy 2-3 batteries in that same time span. Your choice!

 

- Brian

Edited January 21, 2008 by orion :: SS (see edit history)

[kude]

Did yours come w/ the top post cover? I left mine on and just reinstalled the metal bar back over the top(and though the battery handle)of that and that seems to hold it way better then just the clip.

 

I'll have to see how the cover fits under the cross member with my particular battery. I wish the owners manual had said to move the cross member support out of the way to remove the battery. Found that out on the net. I was looking at the instructions, and almost think the Group 65 Wing Adapter should be used to get the battery to sit in the tray properly so that it fits snug with the Group 78 Puck Adapter. When it warms up I'll fiddle with it and see.

[1BAD2K]

I had a optima red top in my s10 and correct me if im wrong but i think the red top is for more starting power but anyway i had my s10 for about 1 1/2 years and i have accidentally left the interior lights on over night and go outside the next morning and see there on and shit here we go now im gonna have to be jumped so i get in the truck only expecting it to click or try to turn over but much to my surprise it started right up with absolutly no hesitation and i could see the charge according to the volt gauge was about halfway gone. once the batt goes bad in my truck its what im putting in mine. +1 for optima!

actually i think the reds are less starting power. i had a red one on the saleen and it was a bad bitch. i left my headlights on (which were hids) for like 3 or 4 hours one time on accident, and when i started the car again, it didnt even blink at it. i want t o put a yellow top in the SSS but im not gonna replace the perfect factory battery until it starts to eat shit.

[Fast2500Ak]

I got a red top with a few years on it in my truck, its been discharged many times. Thing doesn't stop cranking hard until colder than -40, alot of cars just can't find the amps to crank at those temperatures. Still if I leave lights on it drains pretty fast.

Edited January 26, 2008 by Fast2500Ak (see edit history)