Optima Batteries

[EMDDIESEL]

Anybody know a good place to get Red Tops Cheap??. Also, will the terminals correspond, or do i have to extend wires?

 

[illflem]

There are places to get Red Tops cheaper but the ones from Interstate Batteries have the best warranty. No problem with the cables, if anything you will have extra since the redtop is smaller than a stock battery.

 

[24V-DSL]

EMD... .



I just put Red Tops in. Paid $89. 95 ea. , in Oregon. I have seen them on sale in a couple of other stores for about the same price (not national chain that would be in your area), altho, suggested retail is in the $125-135 range, and a lot of sources in this area stay pretty close to that. I doubt mail order would be viable with shipping.



they are smaller than stock, and the passenger side had to be scooted toward the very front of the battery case... toward the radiator, for the cable to reach, which it did with no other adjustments.

 

[Bad340fish]

Optimas

The Warranties are all the same now. Interstate Bought Optima in may of this year. So they cut the warranty down so its the same no matter where you get it. An Interstate Dealer or warehouse will be your best bet for the freshest batteries. From going off of your profile this one is closest to you IBS of Western CT. . Or you can go to the Optima website for a dealer Locator. There is also a Dealer Locator at Interstate Batteries .



When you buy them check the dates. Its easy, although there are two different ways the dates are melted in since IBS bought Optima.



First Style, 4#s in a row

First#=Year 9=1999 0=2000 and so on

Second#=Day of year



Second Style, 1 letter 1 #

Letter=Month A=jan B=Feb you got it

#=year

two following numbers and letters=??? does not apply to producion date.



You don't want anything more than 6 months old, always voltmeter before you buy. Anything over 12. 2 is fine although 12. 65 is 100% charge.



Let me know if you have anymore Battery Questions.



Clark

IBS of Tulsa

 

[EMDDIESEL]

Since Interstate bought Optima, are they going to change the name of them or the apperaence?.

 

[Bad340fish]

Not that I know of. They have purchased several other small battery companies over the last few years and have not changed the name. The Optima name says to much to change IMO. They have been around for along time now. And due to thier design the appearance can't really be changed to much. The Spiral Cells also make it difficult to have a large variety of sizes.

Clark

 

[icarus33]

Costco has had the red tops available most of this year. Going for $99 the last time I checked. .



icarus

 

[EFielding]

Icarus33



Ever see the Optima yellow (marine) at Costco?

 

[icarus33]

Ed,



No Yellow tops yet. I'd jump on one of those now for the camper or trolling motor and keep my other as a backup.



I've had a Red top in an FJ-40 for about 6 years and still turns over the same as it was when new. A battery well worth the $.



icarus

 

[EMDDIESEL]

My local parts ource told me the Yellow tops were deep cycle and therefore should not be used in your truck unless you are in fact going to be cycling the batteries frequently. Any truth to this?

 

[EFielding]

Icarus33



Thanks for the info. I'll take a look at my local Costco.



EMDIESEL,



I'm not too sure about that. I think I recalla conversation with Wrangler Power Products, (www.wranglerpowerproducts.com) he indicated that I could use this type of battery instead. If not, I'll save myself some money and go with the red tops.



Let me know.

 

[DieselB59]

Check out www.summitracing.com They are also pretty good with the prices. I got mine from the local speed shop. illflem is right though, the best warranty is with the ones from Interstate.

 

[Bad340fish]

I run a route for Interstate, I sell 3 red tops to every yellow top. But I bet I warranty 2 yellows for every red. I do not know what the deal is really. But I do see ALOT more yellow top warranties than i do reds. The Air National Gaurd uses Reds in all of there stuff(here at least) I sold them 12 the other day and picked up 12 cores. Some of the cores were over 8 years old!!



The Optima Design in General pretty much makes them a Deep Cycle no matter how you look at it. Because of the fiberglass mat between the plates they do not shed lead off under discharge. Which in turn increases cycle life.



BTW Since Interstate Bought Optima the warranty is not any better anymore.

Clark

 

[John]

Actually the superior Optima choice for OUR application (remember the grid heaters????) is the Optima Yellow Top. The Optima website also reflects this (if you look deeply enough into all the data provided). Although the Optima Yellow Top is a deep cycle battery it is by no means the same as all other deep cycle batteries on the market. The Yellow Top works just as good or better than their Red Top for starting duties however, they should last longer in OUR application as they will better power the grid heaters... remember, the batteries are unassisted when drawing the 120 amps required for them. **[the 120 amp value was taken from a previous article in the TDR]** It's kind of like having your cake and eating it too... the Yellow Tops will start every bit as good as the Red Tops (some members have said the Yellow Tops will actually start better) with the added bonus of longevity in OUR unique application. The above in no way takes into consideration the added cost of the Yellow Tops over the Red Tops... this decision you will have to make for yourself. As you might have guessed, I purchased the Yellow Tops.

 

[Bad340fish]

I will say it again I warranty ALOT of Yellow tops ALOT more than I do reds. The reds just hold up better accross the board. The Yellow tops will run you about $60 more total and they have half the warranty. Most of the Yellows I warranty no longer accept a charge and are around 18-20 months old. Even under warranty a 20 month old yellow top costs over $100 to prorate. A red would still be under FREE warranty. So for MY truck I am going with Reds. In TRUE deep cycle applications a yellow would be better. As in taking the grid heaters ALL the time with NO alternator to help out IMHO



LOL They Do make an Orange Top... . best of Both Worlds? lol

Actualy its the same as a red with No side posts and reversed top posts.

Clark

 

[John]

..... however, a subsequent call to Optima describing my specific situation (Dodge Ram with the Cummins TD and the grid heaters factored in) and they recommended their Yellow Top(s).



Yes Clark, I did see where you stated you warranted a higher percentage of Yellow Tops in your previous post however, I DO KNOW that the first Red Tops on the market almost bankrupted Optima as almost everyone sold was defective... a high number due to misapplication the remainder to a genuine defect. In fact, I had a dead Red Top that was warranted (BTW, it was used in a starting application ONLY... in other words, not misused).



I have been using Optima batteries since they were released for sale on the market in one vehicle or another. In addition, my wife and I also use a Blue Top (marine deep cycle) for use with one of our electric fence chargers that is also used to power my 12v sprayer that I carry on my Polaris 6x6. We have used and abused this battery since new and it's still going strong after 4 years now. A friend of mine that works at NAPA told me he hasn't seen any Optimas of any kind come back in quite some time... good luck, fluke or better product? Whatever, sounds good to me.



BTW, I was also aware of the reduction in warranty period with the Yellow Tops however, like my Ram, I don't really care about my warranty too much... if I did I wouldn't have modified almost every system on it until I reached 100k and was out of my extended warranty. I figure I would have become WAAAY TOO BORED with it and sold it if I hadn't modified it to suit my specific needs.



Heck, maybe I should sell it and purchase a Duramax powered GMC... that way I could set my sights on a new challenge.

 

[icarus33]

I too wrote Optima 12+ months ago when the thread started on the DiRT mailing list. The response from the rep. who responded was that the Red top was sufficient, grid heater draw and starter current following.



Now, include a massive electric winch, or a 2 kilowatt sound system with woofers filling your bed and the Yellow top would be the undisputed battery of choice.



icarus

 

[LI Camper]

Just purchased red tops yesterday from my local Interstate dealer, $123 plus tax, here on Long Island. The local Costco's don't carry them and Pep Boys didn't want to order them. They really turn the engine over quick. Install was smooth.



Barry

 

[BK]

Barry,



One of my friends went to ATV on Sunrise hwy in Bayshore, picked up 3 yellow tops for his 5th wheel and paid about 135 each (plus tax).



They commented that since he was buying an armfull, they gave him a deeper discount.



I too will soon be needing new batteries for my trailer... . and I'm eyeing those yellow tops and figuring how many I can get into my trailer.



Bob

 

[Bad340fish]

When using them for a Trailer or Motorhome consider the fact that NONE of the Optimas have a Reserve Capacity to match a standard Lead Acid Marine/RV battery. I am not really sure why either. The Reds have a 120 Minute Reserve Capacity(RC) and the yellows and Blues have a 124RC. Where as the Most Popular Trolling motor From Interstate has a 160RC. I don't understand it really. Just thought you should know

Clark