Optima Batteries

[BK]

While that maybe true (it's been a while since I've looked at the specs), the deepcycle wet batteries don't tend to hold up so well. The common life around here is 2 years and there's no capacity left. You may enjoy a year or two of decent life from the wet cells, but if you didn't notice the reduction in capacity the 2nd year, you will the third.



The absorbed or gell cells are much more tolerant to the cycle life and to storage or standby use. So while the yellow tops may not have as much AH or RC as the best wet cell, check it out in two years.



Reading this thread, was the 1st time I learned that there were problems with the yellow tops. So all is being said with the notion that you get a good set.

 

[SteveH]

Hey Bad340Fish

Do you know which (the orange top or the red top) will fit up to a 97 without having to lengthen any of my current wiring? One other thing, I don't think anyone in Montana has ever heard of the Optima red top, any idea where they are available up here?

Thanks. Good post and I appreciate the info.

 

[QRTRHRS]

Steve,



The redtops went into my 97' no problem. Do a search on Otima batteries and look for local distributers. I just did that to get a picture for a friend to see what I was talking about. I noticed quite a few sites on Optima's.

 

[illflem]

Steve, the U-Haul dealer in Hamilton is an Interstate dealer who sells Optimas, along with used cars and horses! What I'm saying is most Interstate dealers I've run into are in hole in the wall locations. Check the yellow pages or just go to the Interstate website to find one close to you, it may be just around the corner. Where bouts in MT are you?

 

[Bad340fish]

FYI an Optima is not a gell cell. They are what is called an AGM Battery... Absorbed Glass Mat. The lead plates are Spiraled up and seperated with a fiberglass mat. I you ever tear one open(which is VERY hard to do) it looks like wet toilet paper. They are much like a gel cell but alot more heavy duty. Gell sells are very sensitive to overcharging(which an alternator does quite well). When a battery is cycled(discharged) lead actualy comes off of the plates. With the AGM style battery lead loss is ALOT less. Deep cycle batteries are heavier in wieght because they have more lead to allow more cycles.



Steve H, I don't do installs(thank god lol) so I really don't know. I know Larry Quinn put some reds in his truck and they fit great. I haven't needed them in my truck yet.



Don't get me wrong ALL of the Optimas are good Batteries. But the yellows have a horrible warranty and I have not seen them hold up that well myself. But the reds sell like MAD and have few comebacks. Optimas are the only true maintence free lead acid battery out there, they cannot be beat IMHO. I have a Blue top in my car and I let it sit for over a year without use(normal battery death) and Volted it before I started the car. It had 12. 71 volts which is FULLY charged. I was impressed.



Clark

 

[Power Wagon]

I put a new Optima in the PW 2 years ago, when I got the truck running for the first time. Last winter, I left the lights on at school, and they were STILL on at 5PM. They were on from 8:20 to 5, without the engine running. It would not start, but it had enough power to light things up so I could see to jump the truck.



I did the same thing again a few months later. This time, I had no power left at noon.



I have not noticed any change in the ability to crank the engine, or carry a load, just apparently less overall capacity.



The one I put in the wife's van also seems to have the same strange behavior. If someone leaves a door open in the afternoon, it will be dead the next day. And by dead, I mean flat... nada.



However, I love the power they have, and thier ability to crank the engine even in very cold weather without any apparent loss of power.



Not corroding the terminals is nice, too

 

[raw]

Please E-mail me for the best prices on Optima Batteries, either Red or Yellow tops.

I have both in stock. I need to move the inventory.....

Thanks... ... ... ... ... raw!

 

[SteveH]

Originally posted by illflem

Steve, the U-Haul dealer in Hamilton is an Interstate dealer who sells Optimas, along with used cars and horses! What I'm saying is most Interstate dealers I've run into are in hole in the wall locations. Check the yellow pages or just go to the Interstate website to find one close to you, it may be just around the corner. Where bouts in MT are you?

About 15 miles west of Billings, MT.

 

[Ragin Ram]

Bad340Fish.

I would guess the reason for warranty problems on the yellow tops is because they are being used solely as deep cycle batteries more often. That does not make them worse for our truck applications. I know my local Interstate distributor recommended the yellow tops for my trolling motor on my boat. I felt like I had to twist their arm to order me the blue top deep cycle batteries. Beware, there is a blue top marine cranking battery and a blue top deep cycle battery, (at least at the time I bought them). At the time, (which was two years ago) the people at Interstate weren't very helpful or cooperative in selecting the proper batteries. Maybe because my company doesn't order over ten batteries a year... I don't know. Hopefully my distributor is a little more knowledgeable about the Optima batteries by now. I am convinced they are the best battery available for all the applications I use them for.



Thanks.

 

[JFitzgerald]

Yellow Tops

I have a yellow top in my Jeep for starting the 454 Chevy and winching with the Warn 8274. It has been well worth the money since I put it in about three years back. The yellow is the only one Optima will warranty in a winch application, from what I understand. It does seem like the yellow would be the right choice for a Cummins, considering the heating grid load.



I typically see them going for about $179 in the 4WD magazines. The local Farm & Fleet store has them now for $149. These prices seem high compared to those posted here. So, where is the best place to buy??

 

[Bad340fish]

I have the marine cranking blue top in my car. I would bet money its just a red top with different terminals. But my car is Blue so it looked better lol. Same goes for the deep cycle blue and the yellow top. . just different posts. Mine has held up great. I didn't charge it for nearly a year that the car sat with no motor. It still had 12. 71 volts when i went to fire it up again.



Optima doesn't have to know what you were using that battery for lol

Clark

 

[John]

Clark, the original Optima Blue Top is really a Yellow Top (deep cycle) battery with the threaded, top mounted terminals in addition to the normal top mounted terminals (no side terminals on this one). However, I'll bet you are correct, the cranking Optima Blue Top (dark gray body instead of the white/light gray body) is probably a Red Top with the marine terminals.

 

[John]

Originally posted by BK

..... picked up 3 yellow tops for his 5th wheel and paid about 135 each (plus tax).

The owner of my local 4x4 store sold me 2 Optima Yellow Tops for $129. each + tax (that was the major motivator to go with the Yellow Tops as opposed to the Red Tops... price + correct product choice for the application).