yellow top optimas in a cummins

[Bigramguy]

Good points HC



My interstate supply rep recommends not using deep cycle batteries in an automotive application as most voltage regulators can't figure out how to charge them properly. He said the deep cycles will make the alt charge higher,and boil them dry. I mentioned the Optimas,and he said,same thing happens,only not as severe as they not acid filled.



He also mentioned that grid heaters,stereos,and high accessory loads will not fully discharge a battery under normal use,so a deep cycle is not neccesary. You only need them if your going to run them almost completly dead everytime,and then recharge them. A higher reserve capacity is what you really need,so when you are drawing a lot out of the battery they do not get fully discharged,or deep cycled.



I know a lot of people have had no problems with the deep cycle,just passing along what I was told by interstate,which manufactures the optimas.



If you want big reserve capacities,go Group 31,they will fit the stock trays with minor mods. I have 2 Group 31 Interstates,and LOTS of high load items on board the truck,but they are not deep cycle. They hold up just fine.

 

[HC]

Thanks Chris.

I forgot to mention that the specific battery I'm looking at is a deep cycle, Marine "starting" battery. If I understand how the industry is using these terms, then the "marine" battery typically is better designed for vibration resistance than most auto batteries. Also, the Marine batteries seem to be sub-divided into true, full "deep cycle" and others that are for "deep cycle and starting" applications. I'm hoping that what your Interstate dealer was saying applies mostly to the "pure" deep cycle designs, and that the Marine Starting battery will act more like an automotive battery, but just won't be killed if I accidentally drain it once or twice. If you see your contact, quiz him some more and report back!

 

[Loren]

I'll second the comment on the good points you made, HC.



I just wanted to post some feedback on my 1997 yellow-top in the Toyota. That truck sat in the employee lot near Cincinnati, OH, for 20 days (parked on 26 December). It has not gotten above freezing for several days.



It was 20 degrees (F) this evening when I tried to start the truck. It didn't fire right up as I had hoped it would. It needed some pumping on the gas pedal -- more than it usually does after it has sat a while. It cranked and cranked and finally started. The battery never indicated that it was about to give up on me.



I did have my wife standing by with jumper cables, but they weren't needed. I'd call that good performance for a 5+ year old battery, especially considering that one of the factory batteries in my 1995 truck went bad in 1997, prompting the Optima purchase.



Loren

 

[Big_Daddy_T]

Recommended alternator limits 13. 8-15v unlimmited amperage.

recommended charging rate 13. 8-15v 10 amps max 8 hours.

you can float charge em at 13. 2 to 13. 8v with one amp indefinitely. From the website

Since they are parralleled wouldnt a 2 amp charge be equivalent to a one amp float. I took basic electric but my memory has since failed me.

I have yellow tops. I have a 160 amp stereo. I have a 400 amp BatCap for instant draw.



Connecting Batteries Together in Parallel

If your battery application requires more starting power or reserve capacity you can install multiple batteries together in parallel by connecting the like terminals together (positive to positive / negative to negative). Each time you add a battery in parallel you increase the CCA and Reserve Capacity, the voltage remains at 12 volts. For example, two OPTIMA 34/78's in parallel will provide 1600 CCA and 208 minutes reserve. Three in parallel provides 2400 CCA and 312 minutes of reserve. If you have any questions about multiple battery installations, contact an appropriate automotive service center. so i have a 240 minute reserve at 25 amps? Starting applications in high-accessory vehicles/High Cycling Applications. Vehicles with computers, extra radios, electronic components, lights, winches, etc. will create excessive amperage drain that can damage a starting battery. Recommend the OPTIMA Yellow Top to provide fast recharging and longer life due to its' ability to cycle over 300 times. I think grid heaters qualify





All info taken from the optima site.

 

[illflem]

For what it's worth, a member who hasn't posted here for awhile and works for Interstate Battery said that there were ten times more failures of yellow tops vs. the reds.

 

[John]

I remember that illflem. However, subsequent to my initial reading of that very post I contacted several vendors who sell quite a few Optima batteries. I believe what he found to be true in the region in which he lives wasn't quite the story here in the Northwest. Remember, the failure rate of the original Optima Red Tops was such that it almost bankrupted the company. Since then they have come a long, long way.



In all fairness though, a majority of the Red Top failures were due to misapplication... i. e. , they SHOULD HAVE been using the Yellow Top battery(ies) instead.

 

[RADdodge]

Originally posted by Bigramguy

Good points HC



My interstate supply rep recommends not using deep cycle batteries in an automotive application as most voltage regulators can't figure out how to charge them properly. He said the deep cycles will make the alt charge higher,and boil them dry. I mentioned the Optimas,and he said,same thing happens,only not as severe as they not acid filled... .

... If you want big reserve capacities,go Group 31,they will fit the stock trays with minor mods. I have 2 Group 31 Interstates,and LOTS of high load items on board the truck,but they are not deep cycle. They hold up just fine.

One minor point, what the interstate supply rep. said and the Optima Web Site don’t seem to jive. The Web site specifies Yellow Tops for the following:



Car Audio

Commercial Vehicles

Fire and Police Vehicles



And also for other applications that would drain a battery, like storage. In specifying a type of battery to use, it gives an example of "if the customer stores the vehicle for a long period of time with the alarm system engaged, you should recommend the OPTIMA Yellow Top, since the amperage drain over several weeks would damage a Red Top and reduce its life. " -Quote from Optima Batteries Web Site.



What I really want to know is who has installed the Optima Group 31 Yellow Tops? Anyone? Bigramguy says that it will require some slight modification to the battery trays. What kind of modifications? I thought it was almost a crime to put the Yellow Tops in with all that wasted space in the battery tray. And I wish my Lance camper had a lot more space for a battery (or rather – batteries). Are the Group 31’s oversized?

 

[Bigramguy]

The Group 31's are not oversized,they are just bigger than the stock OEM battery size. Biggest thing you get with the jump to group 31,is the large increase in reserve capacity. The stockers have under a 100 min reserve capacity,most group 31's have almost double that,each. With that much reserve capacity on board,I never really pull my batteries down much,and therefore I am not deep cycling,and do not require one. I use just regular interstate group 31's. I have had nothing but problems trying to use deep cycles in automotive or truck applications.



I have many high draw items on my truck,like an electric plow,electric winches,grid heaters,stereo,alarm and remote start,numerous lights totalling over a 1000 watts,and have even left stuff on all weekend,and never had a problem in 3 years. In the winter it is not uncommon for the truck to sit for weeks in freezing temp before it gets used again. I use and abuse my truck,and want the best there is,at whatever cost. I have found this setup works best. Leave the deep cycles for applications where you need them,like boats,or for use as your camper battery,which will most likely see some deep cycling.



The group 31's will fit by removing the battery tray,and trimming the plastic on each end,to allow for the extra length. The extra width requires widening the stock battery holddown. I just cut mine and welded a piece of small tube in between to the right width. These are not hard mods,and look pretty much factory if done cleanly. You could also look at mounting them in a battery box and habg it off the frame rail,to reduce the front axle weight,and get rid of some of the nose heavy feel these trucks tend to have.

 

[Chipstien]

Bigamguy, as a side note my 01 stockers have 150 min of reserve. I figure there has to be a reason that the stock batteries come with this much reserve so I sure wouldn't run less.

 

[RADdodge]

Bigramguy - Thanks! (1000 watts of lighting, )

 

[Bigramguy]

Originally posted by RADdodge

Bigramguy - Thanks! (1000 watts of lighting, )

Yep,she's migthy bright. 400 watts of it is pointing backwards. I constantly forget to turn them off after plowing with them on,and can't seem to figure out why no one will drive behind me on the road.

 

[Big_Daddy_T]

I got pulled over by a very angry officer once due to forgetting to turn my backup lights off. He asked why the excessive lights. I said I drive alot at night and my 80% tinted windows make it difficult to see out the back window. Some nights I turn em all on and dont shut em off( not too many folks on the road).