red tops or yellow tops?

[Archive]

I've read alot of posts about battery types here and done my own research but I'm still clueless as to which optima battery to get. From what i've read the "red tops" are for starting and the yellow for high electrical loads. In my opinion, the grid heater would be considered a high electrical load. Which one would be best for our application?

 

[Archive]

If you use your block heater when it gets really cold your intake (grid) heaters won't come on = Red if you don't=Yellow. If you take short drives,especally in the winter,no time for battery recharge = Yellow,long drives=Red. I just replaced my '95 stock batteries with Redtops,I probibly would of gone with Yellows if I didn't need two = $.

------------------
95' 25004X4,AT,Driftwood,Banks,Warn fender flairs and running boards(Play truck)95 3500,5 speed,driftwood,Banks&phscotty,34,000 GCVW apple and tractor hauler(work truck)

 

[Archive]

If your looking for opinions, look at it like this - The stock batteries are not deep cycle style batteries so the only reason to upgrade to a deep cycle (Yellow Top) would be if you intended to run stero, lights or winch while the truck wasn't running, other wise I think the Reds are just fine. Besides you can buy 2 sets of Reds for the cost of the Yellows.

Just my $. 000002

BTW - shop around and you can pick up the red tops for under $100.

------------------
4-sale or Trade
'99, 3/4, QC, SLT, 4x4, ISB, 5sp, 3. 5xlsd, tow pac, HD tcase, tow mirrors, camper pac, White over driftwood, Mist gray interior. With less than 19,600 miles.

Martin Allen Bursell (posted per guidlines)
TDR# 25d286 (posted so they can cancel my subscription easier/faster)

[This message has been edited by BV (edited 10-31-2000). ]

 

[Archive]

JJP,

Interstate now sells the Optima batteries under their name. Less expensive and a longer warranty.

see this thread: https://www.turbodieselregister.com/ubb//Forum3/HTML/001677.html

 

[Archive]

I paid 116 per for my "redtops" from Interstate. I was getting quotes from the auto parts stores around 150. I was ready to go mail order until I found out that Interstate sells them and have a distributer close by.

 

[Archive]

I found RedTops at a chain store for $92,but they didn't have the longer warrenty that Interstate does,I paid $15 more for the "extended warranty".

 

[Archive]

Red Tops, Your intake heaters only run for ten minutes(not ten minutes straight but cycle on and off) if your under ten mph. Once over that speed they shut down. So deep cycle is not needed. Unless you got power eating ad-ons that drain battery.
If you buy at Interstate I believe warranty is 3 yrs free relacement, 3 years prorate (personal use).