Battery

[negro3030]

Hey guys sorry to start a thread about this but I need a new car battery, I started it here because I know this is where everyone reads and I need one now, I have a Duralast but it is not charging well anymore, I was going to go with Optima, but I don´t know which one to get, the BLUE, YELLOW, or RED, please let me know so I can change it ASAP, thank you.

[MSS]

sounds like a shop post to me.....

[negro3030]

hey MSS, thanks for all the help

[MSS]

hey MSS, thanks for all the help

but if i were you i would probably get a CAT battery or an Optima Red Top.

[negro3030]

thank you, I will now try to erase this thread, I just needed to know which color top.

[JGunn]

but if i were you i would probably get a CAT battery or an Optima Red Top.


Matt said Red now put one in!

[negro3030]

what is the difference between the 3 color tops for Optima?

I remember I could leave my radio and stereo on my truck for about 3 hours without the battery failing when my Duralast was new, yesterday after 15 minutes I had to jump start it...

[movindirt]

Yeah this is a shop post. But if it is just a DD then I would go with the red. You might want to also look at the Orbital batts at Kragen as they carry a full warranty just like all the batteries they sell and I think it may be cheaper. I have the Orbital and they replaced one no questions asked. It was my fault it went bad, left my truck sitting to long without starting it up to charge the batt. I now use a 2 amp charger to keep it charged when my prerunner is just sitting. I am not sure what kind of warranty Optima has. Hope that helps.

Next time don't be scared to post in the Shop forum. There are plenty of use that will help you out.:)

[movindirt]

See look at that it has already been moved to the right forum. Thanks RDC Admin...

[klaus]

I run an optima yellow top. Its a deep cycle, so draining it wont hurt it. Car cranks over 100% of the time. There are no borderline issues when I leave the headlights on without running engine and then have to refire. But then my charging system is healthy and system voltage is always in the 13.x-14.x range when driving. Even at idle.

This is in a street car. For offroad vibration is a factor and effects the plates inside a batteries.

Do a search here and find more detailed answers as I have seen similar threads in the past.

[ZTFab]

Jorge-

Red Top Optimas are "starting" batteries only and would work great for your truck but don't provide the ability to discharge and recharge excessively without potential damage to the battery....

Yellow Tops are "starting" and "deep Cycle" so they can be discharged and recharged without damage to the battery....

Blue Tops are marine batteries and can be either "starting" or "starting/deep cycle" but offer the ability to recharge faster for short trips on boats.

and as always....any optima is spillproof, can be mounted in any position, and can sit for up to one year (with a full charge) and still start a car.....

another tip about optimas........no matter what the color of the top.....if the bottom is light gray, it's a deep cycle......... if it's dark gray, it's a "starting" battery only

[gwm]

I'd go red top. If you think you'll be doing anything that will drain the batteries down while the vehicle isn't running, then add a second battery with either the blue or yellow top and seperate the systems electronically. I use a blue top for the second battery because it's set up with a solenoid as a switched jump battery just in case I inadvertantly drain the red top. I'd also look at getting it from Costco due to the no hassle return policy.

Also, just to answer the original question:
Red top - starting battery, best cranking amps
Blue top - Marine battery, starting battery but able to deep cycle
Yellow top - for deep cycle uses (motorhome house battery, golf cart, low-rider hydrolics battery, etc.)

[la2baja]

I run the blue top in my truck. Starts well all the time. Hours at a time with race radio on, 12vlt spots for night race repairs, lots of different ways to drain the batt and never failed to start, make a quick run (short recharge) and do it all over again. Great battery.

[negro3030]

oh uh, now I´m confused all over again, better still let me tell you what I do, I have a race radio, sometimes charge my cell phones, 4 hella 500s (55w), pre-run, spectate and sometimes chase with radio and stereo on, and when I wash my car I like to leave the stereo on for about 2-3 hours, based on this what would be the best battery for me, thanks once again.

[ZTFab]

Either the yellow top or the blue top will do well for you Jorge.......

they both offer plenty of CCA's and provide deep cycle protection for hours of use without the engine running........

either way you go, just make sure whatever battery you get it's a deep cycle and you should be ok.




Paul

[gwm]

One thing's for sure from this thread, you can't go wrong with Optima. (LOL) I think you can conclude from this that there are bright people supporting any of the Optima choices, and each with good supporting logic. (But I agree with Matt.)

[negro3030]

One thing's for sure from this thread, you can't go wrong with Optima. (LOL) I think you can conclude from this that there are bright people supporting any of the Optima choices, and each with good supporting logic. (But I agree with Matt.)

Why, why red top and not a deep cycle one, I really need to buy one but I dont want to spend about $150 and not get the best one for me.

I need it for races to have the radio on for hours at a time and when I wash my car I want to be able to leave the stereo on without any problem starting, when people read this they suggest a yellow top deep cycle, is there any reason why I shouldn´t get a deep cycle?

[movindirt]

Jorge,

If you want to run stuff for long periods of time with your motor off then the yellow top or blue top would work well. Check out the optima website and I think you will find all the info you need to make an informed decision.

Optima site: http://www.optimabatteries.com/publish/optima/americas0/en/config/product_info.html

[negro3030]

thank you guys for all the help, I am going to buy a yellow top deep cycle, thanks for all the help.

[Boston Mangler]

Just An FYI, I have seen Red Top Optimas at my local Costcos for $79-89. Not sure what size group they were, but they have had them on a few occasions for that price.

Also, costco has a great return policy! :D

[gwm]

Why, why red top and not a deep cycle one, I really need to buy one but I dont want to spend about $150 and not get the best one for me.

I need it for races to have the radio on for hours at a time and when I wash my car I want to be able to leave the stereo on without any problem starting, when people read this they suggest a yellow top deep cycle, is there any reason why I shouldn´t get a deep cycle?

I don't necessarily disagree with the other guys, it's just not right for me. My philosophy probably comes from years of going south before there were so many people there. The first thing for me has always been 'make sure the truck starts.' I was in baja a lot in the days before sat phones and sometimes you were out there a hundred miles from anyone with no radio contact. That's why, for me, I get the best starting battery I can and run everything else off an isolated auxillary battery. My race radio is wired directly to the aux. blue top.

George.