The big Optima battery

[Joseph Donnelly]

From what I can recall and figure out, by reading the Optima literature, the red top is for starting and staying charged up. Yellow top is deep cycle, intended to be dragged down in applications like RVs. Blue is marine, can drag down, and also vibration resistant. I have blue in my Airstream, and red in my Ram. This new Optima is a yellow top so I don't know if it is the best type to use for starting--whether it will last as long as a red top would.



Maybe someone else knows more about these three types??

 

[John]

According to Optima techs. and their own website (if you read all the information available), their deep cycle batteries, (Yellow Top and Blue Top) are not like other deep cycle batteries. By that I mean, they do not suffer from high amperage starting duties. In fact, they are better suited for our specific application (powering the grid heaters without any assistance from the alternator) than their own Red Top starting batteries.



I have had Yellow Tops in my '98. 5 Ram for three years now without any problems. I also have a Blue Top we use around our little farm for a portable electric fence charger, powering a 25-gal. sprayer etc. It is at least 5 years old... more like 7 though. I also had a Red Top in my last 4x. As you can see, I'm very pleased with the performance of these batteries.

 

[Thomas]

The Optima website (lots to read as John has indicated) has a FAQ section as well as specs for their various batteries.

 

[Skydiver]

4D battery?

What company makes the best warranty for a " 4 D " .



My Ford 2810 uses this size and I probably should stop using auto batteries in it. But when all I can find cost $125. 00 and is only 18 months warranty. I only bought 2 4-D's and have been using 24 group auto batteries for the last year.



John E an 8 D? where you gonna put it.

Tim

 

[JohnE]

"... . an 8 D? where you gonna put it. "



That would in the pickup bed under my toolbox.

I just got a set of Sears Diehard group 27's last spring so when they go (. )(. ) up I will toy with the idea again.



I'm starting to think the PCM or something is wacko and overcharging the batteries. I had to mop battery juice off the driver side battery yesterday.



BTW, if you get Sears batteries make sure they are group 27's The premium (priced) LT/SUV battery is not as good and a group 78 (I think).

 

[stg2500]

Well, it's time for new batteries. I just stopped at Sears to get pricing on their batteries. They recommended their SUV/Truck battery with 850 CCA. They also had a Gold with 750 CCA. the salesman was pushing the SUV battery. I inquired about the Optimas and he said that he would not recommend them due to problems they have been having. Is this just their way of pushing the Diehards or is there really a problem?



I really want to go with the Optimas as long as they are reliable.



Will the Group 31 Optima fit the stock battery tray without surgery? The Optima is 3/4" longer than stock and an inch higher.



Any info would be appreciated since I am concerned about the longevity of the stock batteries. Already had to get jumped yesterday.

 

[Joseph Donnelly]

If you go back to the first post, it appears that the big Optima is not much stronger than the regular one. Two regular ones should be fine, and I don't know of any problems with Optimas. I have them in my '97 and wish the '04 had come with them.



AT SEMA, an Optima rep told me that the yellow and blue are really the same battery.

 

[Matt42]

Pushing Products

Originally posted by stg2500

Well, it's time for new batteries. I just stopped at Sears to get pricing on their batteries. They recommended their SUV/Truck battery with 850 CCA. They also had a Gold with 750 CCA. the salesman was pushing the SUV battery. I inquired about the Optimas and he said that he would not recommend them due to problems they have been having. Is this just their way of pushing the Diehards or is there really a problem?



I really want to go with the Optimas as long as they are reliable.

-snip-

Any info would be appreciated since I am concerned about the longevity of the stock batteries. Already had to get jumped yesterday.

Oh, arrgh. This sounds like a commission salesman pushing the product with the better "spiff" or commission. Even though the Optima probably retails for more, the profit, and especially the salesman's commission, will be higher on the house brand. That's all that most salespeople care about.



Optimas do better in Arizona and Alaska. I think you were being fed horse puck.



I encountered similar tactics 20+ years ago when working at an independent tire store. Even though the Michelin tires retailed for more money, there was more total Dollar profit per tire on the house branded Firestone 500s, which retailed for less. So the owner pushed the lower quality but made more money.



Buy the Optimas. Costco has `em cheaper, anyway.

 

[JohnE]

I've noticed most Sears people are catalog techs. They only know what the computer screen or catalog tells them.

The Sears Truck/SUV battery looks better up front UNTIL you read the fine print and see they are NOT a group 27 battery as the Gold series. OEM is a group 27 battery. A group 27 has slightly lower CCA, but the RC is around 50% higher. Remember, you are running 2 batteries so the effective CCA is much higher. This is the ticket if you live in colder weather and rely on the grid heaters plus your starter to crank a cold engine. I run an Espar and the Exide replacements (also with 850 CCA) equivalent to the Sears Truck/SUV could not handle running the Espar for 2 hours and then starting the truck in sub zero temps. They simply did not have the reserve.

I have not had any troubles with the Sears Golds in running the Espar and starting the Cummins. I still question the charging system and will dig into it after finishing other winterizing projects.



I would love to try Optimas in the RAM for all the advantages. However, I could not justify the cost for something that may work.



Luckily (I quess it's how you look at it) the mommy van needed a new battery. I picked up an Optima to try there.



The most important thing to battery longevity is to keep them fully charged. A discharged battery freezes pretty easy. Conventional batteries also oxidize the plates if left partially discharged for any length of time. Around here, lots of RV owners have to replace their deep cycles after leaving them outside all winter.



-John

 

[Jff24Gordn]

I have the red top 800ccas. I got them a few weeks ago and I have one in the truck now. I am working on a battery box under the bed and I will put the 2nd one if I need it to start in the mournings. So far, 25F* and one battery works fine w/o plugged in.