I was told that the red top batteries don't last if thay sit in a rig for months with now use? Is this true? The guy said that the red top battery is made to be charged constantly. He recoumened that I buy a yellow top because thay are made to take a charge then be used or sit and die. once it die's it will accept a charge again unlike the red top. The reason this has been brought up is because my jeep sits most of the winter without being used and I had one of those cheap sealed batteries in my jeep and it is junk now(won't hold a charge).It is only 3 years old:mad: Now I have to buy a new battery and was wondering if anyone else has had this problem or runs a yellow top :D


Thanks for the help;)

do you have a winch ? if so run a yellow

reds are nice for short high amp pulls as where the yellow is better for long amp pulls like a winch

I run a blue top. Got a great deal from these guys.http://optimabatterystore.com/index.htm/promotions Double check on this link as its kinda old.

Been running a yellow for two years now, and no problems.

Yellow would be my choice. I run the ProComp version cause it's the same thing only $10 cheaper.
As for you getting three years out of your last battery, that's actually not too bad.

deep cycle[yellow top] are not made for winching. thery are not made for high amp rapid withdraw, do a lil research. Do people usde them to weinch, yup, is it right, nope:D

I've had the same two Red top Optimas for 8.5 years in my weekend rig. Even cooked one for a week with a bad voltage regulator.

Had a single red top for over 5 years. My Jeep can sit in the garage all winter and it will turn over no problem after sitting.

Now that I said that it's not going to start after sitting since Sunday

Originally posted by SeaBass44
deep cycle[yellow top] are not made for winching. thery are not made for high amp rapid withdraw, do a lil research. Do people usde them to weinch, yup, is it right, nope:D

Yup...If you're winching you want a RED top. The Yellows aren't made for winching.

I ran two yellow tops for two years with extensive winching and welding with a ready welder. Tore the truck down. Sat the batteries on the concrete floor for another year or so grabbed them last week and tought a friend how to weld with the ready welder, ran at least 2 ft of beads on 1/4 plate. After wards checked the volts testing some of the new lights I got for the chassis, and under a load still had over 12 volts.


Buy the yellow or blue and do what ever you want without fear.

Good luck, Dan

i have a yellow and i have a winch and some fog lights and it works very well with all that.

Originally posted by SeaBass44
deep cycle[yellow top] are not made for winching. thery are not made for high amp rapid withdraw, do a lil research. Do people usde them to weinch, yup, is it right, nope:D

You do a little research - from optimas site:

The OPTIMA Yellow Top™ Deep Cycle Battery should be used in the following cases:

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.


Starting applications with low amperage draws. If your customer has a vehicle that sits unused for long periods of time, either OPTIMA will provide longer life due to reduced corrosion and sulfation. However, if the vehicle has an alarm, computer, or other low amperage drain, the Yellow Top will guard against deep cycling damage that can occur over long periods of time.


To increase Reserve Capacity or Run Time. You must first identify how long the customer needs to use the battery to run a vehicle, accessory, or motor before without recharging. Each OPTIMA Yellow Top Deep Cycle Battery is rated at 120 minutes of Reserve Capacity at a 25 Amp draw. If your customer is planning on using their OTPIMA in a trolling motor that pulls 50 Amps, they will only get 60 minutes of run time. If they require more run time you need to install multiple batteries in parallel. It is important to understand what the customer expects in order to provide them with the correct OPTIMA solution.

i have run a single red top in my rig for several years now with no issues.

Originally posted by oldjeep


You do a little research - from optimas site:

The OPTIMA Yellow Top™ Deep Cycle Battery should be used in the following cases:

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.


Starting applications with low amperage draws. If your customer has a vehicle that sits unused for long periods of time, either OPTIMA will provide longer life due to reduced corrosion and sulfation. However, if the vehicle has an alarm, computer, or other low amperage drain, the Yellow Top will guard against deep cycling damage that can occur over long periods of time.


To increase Reserve Capacity or Run Time. You must first identify how long the customer needs to use the battery to run a vehicle, accessory, or motor before without recharging. Each OPTIMA Yellow Top Deep Cycle Battery is rated at 120 minutes of Reserve Capacity at a 25 Amp draw. If your customer is planning on using their OTPIMA in a trolling motor that pulls 50 Amps, they will only get 60 minutes of run time. If they require more run time you need to install multiple batteries in parallel. It is important to understand what the customer expects in order to provide them with the correct OPTIMA solution.

don't realy care what there site says, do some research on how batterys work. facts are, deep cycle batterys are made to be disscharged slkowly over time, a winch draws a lot of amprage very fast creating heat, witch can make a deep cycle battery hot enough to explode. itr's fact, I don't make shit up to hear myself talk ya know;) If optima says use theres for winching, then they are either giving out bad advice, or there battery isn't a true DEEP CYCLE. either way, I don't care what you use. I see more crap used wrong and since people doing things that are 1/2 ass "ain't hurt yet" "it's been working" ect, they will keep on doing them. How many of you have seen shit ass welds on rigs and can't belive they have not broke? since they have not, does that make them good, get the idea? See the ricers with 12" wide rims and 4" wide tires? they work, must be trhe right way to do things hu:flipoff2:

or you could run dual red tops. one for the Jeep, one for lights, and a winch.

Originally posted by Jeepmangled87
or you could run dual red tops. one for the Jeep, one for lights, and a winch.

YUP:) I run 2 Exide gell cells, 7 year warrenty, 2 year full replacement 1000 CA $80 each NEW NOT RECOed:)

Beaten to death....search.

Red, red, red













Did I mention RED?

Originally posted by NoJoke
Beaten to death....search.

Red, red, red













Did I mention RED?

yes but have you seen all the replies to go deepcycle:D:eek: Hello, yes is this Miss. Information, yes I'll hold:D..lol..BaHaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaa

Walmart yellow top off brands ROCK from what I here. I have an Optima yellow top and I am happy, but after 3 years of hard abuse it is starting to weaken some.

Originally posted by SeaBass44


yes but have you seen all the replies to go deepcycle:D:eek: Hello, yes is this Miss. Information, yes I'll hold:D..lol..BaHaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaa

Yes, I'll be sure to ignore what the manufacturer says about their product and go with your opinion:rolleyes:

My 8274 loves my Optima Yellow top.

Originally posted by SeaBass44


yes but have you seen all the replies to go deepcycle:D:eek: Hello, yes is this Miss. Information, yes I'll hold:D..lol..BaHaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaa

Yeah, most posts on yellow are buying based on name envy ("deep cycle" must mean its .....well, DEEP dude)

Buy your yellow....go for it. Then read up on what you bought and the number of cycles you can drain the battery etc etc and regret it later....your choice.

HELLLO anybody home...anybody there? Lights on....but...

Originally posted by NoJoke


Yeah, most posts on yellow are buying based on name envy ("deep cycle" must mean its .....well, DEEP dude)

Buy your yellow....go for it. Then read up on what you bought and the number of cycles you can drain the battery etc etc and regret it later....your choice.

HELLLO anybody home...anybody there? Lights on....but...

See that guy still thinks it's "MY OPINION"it's not my opinion that deep cycles are not for winching, it's a fact. not an opinion.

Originally posted by NoJoke


Yeah, most posts on yellow are buying based on name envy ("deep cycle" must mean its .....well, DEEP dude)

Buy your yellow....go for it. Then read up on what you bought and the number of cycles you can drain the battery etc etc and regret it later....your choice.

HELLLO anybody home...anybody there? Lights on....but...

ok so maybe your right. maybee the yellow tops arent true "deep cycles" then. I dont give a fawk one way or the other. If the manufacturer recomends using the yellow for winching then that is the one to be used. ESPECIALLY if the red top is recomended AGAINST using for winching dutys.



scenario.

hood up, winching, red top blows up, blinds kid = YOUR PROBLEM. nothing you can do towards the manuf. even if the battery was defective. You were using it against their instructions.

same scenario, yellow top blows up = defective battery being used in a recomended manner = mauf. is fawked.


dood, until you totally dissasemble (or what ever you have to do) the battery to figure out 100% how it works and why they recomend the yellow for winching you are just spouting bullshit about what YOU THINK is right. PROVE to me that the yellow is not the right one and I'll listen. But for now its heresay.

Fawwwk...

Your right. Posting off memory and as I recall a multi purpose use battery (start and winch) should be red. A yellow would be used as a dedicated winch only....had something to do with the number of times a battery could be drained vs amps. As I recall the amp rating was more important for winching....but it seems optima either has changed the yellow or I was smoking some funny stuff. A warn 9.5 can pull something like 425 amps.

So, like I said,

Yellow, yellow...yellow.







Did I mention to forget red? :flipoff2: :rolleyes:

2 yellows in place of one regular battery, all fits nice and neat in the original spot.

I have had my Yellow top for 6 or 7 years now. That thing is amazing.

Drove my tow rig with a bad alt. from St. Anthony sand dunes in Idaho to 5 miles from Bozeman Mt (home) at night last year. At the pace we were going it was about 2hr with the lights & radio going. (towed rig was left running for a while so we had another charged bat when the Optema gave out).

I have fully drained it wenching many times with my 8274.

The thing still works very well. I'd buy another one!

I got the yellow top and when I bought it, I was SURE that's what I wanted. The guy selling it to me did NOT want to sell me the yellow top, he wanted me to buy the red top. I insisted.

Everything I've read since then says that the red top should have been the correct choice but the yellow top has been working flawlessly for 3 + years now. :p

I haven't read about batteries for a long time, since before I bought my Red Tops. I thought the Yellows had a higher CCA than the Reds, slightly but by 50 CCAs or so, which means they can put out more amps. But charging a deep cycle is a different story. Deep cycles don't like quick charges, trickle only, which also means using jumper cables to a low deep cycle will not work unless you leave it connected for a long time. This is about all I remember if it is at all correct.
I do know after 9 years with these Red Tops I'm expecting them to go south soon, don't know why I've had the receipts so long, infact one place I bought one from has been out of business for 5 years.
Costco has Red Tops for $90, the other tops too but I don't know the price.

Actually, if you go to the optima site they say the yellow can be charged in an hour?!?!? Things have changed. Actually, I've read that some of the deep cycle batteries aren't true deep cycle and a blend of standard and deep cycle....whatever???

Anyway my thinking back when I got the red tops was this; the biggest diff between red and yellow (back then) was the number of times the battery could be completely drained. A red is 50 times and a yellow is 350 times. The CCA of the red is higher than yellow. So, if you are in a winching situation where you drain the battery (and probably why its recommended by optima) the yellow is the way to go. My thing is this, I don't winch so much that I kill the battery; in fact I have never killed the battery winching....I goose the throttle, so number of times the battery is killed isn't relevant to me. I want as much CCA as I can get...which is red top.

BUT, after reading the optima info....it seems there isn't a huge difference in the numbers between the two....except for the total drain is much better with the yellow.

Truthfully, you'll probably be okay either way.

The only number that matters between the red top and the yellow top is the warranty number - red top 3 years full replacement - 3 years prorated - Yellow top 18 months and it sucks to be you if it dies:) after that. I found this out the hard way after my yellow top died at the tender age of 20 months - I have to admit that I made a scene in the shop because I was sure that the manager was trying to screw me over - called Optima from his sales floor and apoligized when I got off the phone. Go red.

Jackie

I didn't understand that part either; 3 different Optimas
Red Top
Yellow Top
Blue Top
What's the diff between yellow and blue? Is one a true deep cycle and the other a half breed?

Originally posted by JeepinDoug
I didn't understand that part either; 3 different Optimas
Red Top
Yellow Top
Blue Top
What's the diff between yellow and blue? Is one a true deep cycle and the other a half breed?

sounds that way, they also make an ORANGE top, it is being disscontuined though.

Originally posted by SeaBass44


sounds that way, they also make an ORANGE top, it is being disscontuined though.

They even make a 6 volt too, or atleast used to. Exide bought them out didn't they.

Originally posted by JeepinDoug
They even make a 6 volt too, or atleast used to. Exide bought them out didn't they.

No. Optima is owned by Johnson Controls.

I built a battlebot for my senior project and I used a 12V BlueTop in series with a 6V Yellow top. I was very impressed by both batterys. The were serveraly abused, and 2 years later I am still using the 12V in my heap. I have stored through an entire winter, then pulled it out and hooked it to a Warn 8000i winch and it pulled like I had just charged it.

Oh and the reason I went with optima in the first place was because at that time BB rules called for a gelcell, simply for the fact that they are much safer then a standard lead-acid battery. I don't think they will explode at all, and they can be operated in any position, including upside down (I guess it would be safer if you do a lot of winching on your topside :D).

I once seen a guy go to the 4 Wheel parts counter and ask for an Optima. The counter guy said we're all out except for this one and shows him one that was broken when off loading from the truck. The parts guys taped up a crack that ran half way around the bottom of it. They put a meter on it, got 13.2 volts and the guy bought it for half price. Don't know whatever happen later but I was pretty surprised the guy bought it. This was when they first came out.

What about this battery
Optima Large Blue (http://batteriesareus.com/shop/product_info.php?cPath=21_23&products_id=41)

??

Originally posted by 94YJGuy
What about this battery
Optima Large Blue (http://batteriesareus.com/shop/product_info.php?cPath=21_23&products_id=41)

??
another one;)
Troll Fury optima


Can be wired in either 12 Volt or 24 Volt configuration.Cold Cranking Amps @ 0° F : 1100
Marine Cranking Amps @ 32° F 1740
Reserve Capacity Minutes : 240
Amp Hour (20 Hour Rate) : 110

That's a dual battery config.. :D

I have a Red Top in my truck and it has been very awsome. I have left my lights on ( 8 hours ) and radio ( 5 hours ) then turned it on without any trouble. I wouldn't trade it for the world. I recommend them. Just about all of my friends that have systems use them also because of their power output.

I say Red Top - Chris - VA

my optima must be bad because on my jeep (red top was no more than 2 months old and my charging system worked perfect becuase i could disco the positive cable and it would stay running) i left the after market cheapo blazer fog lights from walmast on for about 6 hrs and battery went completely dead and i had to pay 40$ for a tow truck to jump me


and the keys wernt on either, two little fog lights in 6hrs or less


when i buy another optima its gonna be yellow

I have a red top in my CJ, been there for 8 years. Jeep sees the trails maybe twice a year (busy job) and gets driven to the grocery store every so often, and that battery still spins my high compression 401 over just like it was new. I don't ever put the battery on a charger. I do have a Premier Power Welder, so that may make a difference, but I am VERY HAPPY with the red top Optima. Best battery I ever bought, and never have to fit with corroded connections! I love it. If and when this battery dies, I will replace it with the same type. 8 years of battery service is awesome, especially in a vehicle that sees long term storage, and then taken to trails to get the wee-wee beat out of it with heavy winching (terrible driver) and the battery just continues to work just fine. This same battery used to spin my old 360 before I upgraded to the 401.

Originally posted by rock-rod
........ before I upgraded to the 401.

\you call that an upgrade:confused: :flipoff2:

Originally posted by Keith Strong
Walmart yellow top off brands ROCK from what I here. I have an Optima yellow top and I am happy, but after 3 years of hard abuse it is starting to weaken some.

Course....soon as I said that......went to install a dual battery set up last night and the top of my yellow top is warped and disfigured :mad:

http://www.1st-optima-batteries.com/

Good Comparisons.

For my needs im going with a D31M Blue Top.

Originally posted by 94YJGuy
http://www.1st-optima-batteries.com/

Good Comparisons.

For my needs im going with a D31M Blue Top.

Here is a direct quote form the site posted above that seems to answer this thread pretty good.

"Optima offers two basic battery types: Optima starter type batteries, and Optima dual-purpose deep cycle/starter batteries. The Optima starter type batteries are superior replacement units for your car, truck, boat, or other vehicle. Optima deep cycle/starter batteries serve dual purposes: They function very well as starter batteries, but they also are designed to withstand repeated deep discharging (down to a charge level of 10.5 volts) without having their life span shortened. This ability makes them especially useful when electrical loads exceed recharge rate (including times when the battery cannot be recharged at all, such as for marine trolling motors, or for running car audio equipment with your engine turned off.) Optima deep cycle batteries are very popular for marine trolling motors, winches, special lighting, portable power, and emergency backup systems of all types. If you need high performance power for car audio, the best battery for you is one or more of the largest Optima deep cycle/starter batteries you can fit in."

I don't think the high heat commonly associated with the rapid discharge of a conventional deep cylces are an issue with these batteries. These eliminate that problem due to their spiral design allowing for a much lower internal resistance. Just becuase it is a technically a deep cycle, does not mean it has the limitations of the "conventional" deep-cycle battery. Also, I believe Optima is the only manufacture that uses the spiralcell construction, so any knock-off brands will not have the same performance.

Originally posted by OverThrottle


.....

I don't think the high heat commonly associated with the rapid discharge of a conventional deep cylces are an issue.................................... Also, I believe Optima is the only manufacture that uses the spiralcell construction, so any knock-off brands will not have the same performance.

yes that sounds right, they are not true deep cycles, Exide gel cells are also sprial wound

The local Summit store has the red tops on sale. Only $84.95 or $88.95 if you wanted dual posts. I picked up two of the dual post version, now I need to build up the flat fender to have a vehicle for them.


I've been running a red top for years, winching and welding (Ready Welder) without a problem.

Ok, I did a little web research and found out a little more info.

The definition of a deep-cycle battery is any battery design that can repeatedly be discharged to less then 60-70% percent of its full charge voltage and recharged without a notable decrease in battery capacity. Thus, the optima deep-cycle is a true deep-cycle in every respect, and has all of the same benefits with more performance gains, just does not rely on the same technology as a conventional wet lead-acid deep-cycle.

Both the red and yellow top Optima batteries will easily outperform any equally rated traditional lead acid battery, in virtually every condition. They both should see a much larger life-span, especially in rough conditions such as off-road use (more on this later). However, the red top does have different chemical composition then the yellow top deep-cycles. The red top is not considered a deep-cycle because it will decrease in capacity if it is repeatedly discharged below a certain point. This is why Optima recommends the yellow top for off-road use, and any other application where there is commonly more load on the battery then the alternator can keep up with. The yellow top should also be used when the vehicle is frequently used with the radio or headlights on while the engine is not running (setting up camp with headlights, etc). In these conditions you will get a longer lifespan out of the yellow top.

One other important benefit to the spiral cell technology that has not been mentioned is resistance to vibration damage. A typical battery has plates that are suspended from the top in a bath of acid. These plates are literally just hanging, and damage to the battery results when they bump into each other. This is the number one cause of battery failure. In off-road use, the battery is subjected to far more vibrations and bumps, and this usually causes batteries to fail rapidly. With the spiral-wound technology, it is a single plate per cell, that is wound under pressure with a separating glass-mesh mat. This eliminates the problems caused by vibration.

Oh and I also found at that storing a battery on concrete will not damage it. This is a myth, but was true back when batteries used tar soaked wood shells (over 100 years ago).

Sorry for the book, just wanted to clear a couple things up.

Mark

So what are the price differences? Cuz if the difference is great, I'd go with the cheaper....the difference between yellow and red don't seem that great (functionally speaking). Especially if I don't run my lights w/out the engine, don't have a thumper radio and I don't use the winch a lot or for an extended period.

A battery is a battery isnt it? :flipoff2:

Originally posted by rebelcj7
A battery is a battery isnt it? :flipoff2:

I don't think your statement would be accurate.
I would say a DieHard is one of the best conventional batteries ever but I never had a DieHard last over 9 years. I've seen AmpKing batteries last little over a year. Also Optima batteries do not fume acid vapore like conventional. My terminals have been clean for that long.

Originally posted by rebelcj7
A battery is a battery isnt it? :flipoff2:

Sure. Just like a 4x4 is a 4x4, and an engine is an engine.

I think I'm going with the yellow top :Dthanks for all the input:eek:

My red top is over 8 years old and still going strong, knock on wood.:D If/when it dies I'll replace it w/ another red top.:)

I had a red top in my dune buggy that was 3 years old and one day the kids were playing on it and kicked the lights toggle switch on. I didn't find it for weeks and the red top was dead. Real dead. Wouldn't accept a 2 amp charge. I went and got an exide spiral gel battery to replace it. I then took the red top and put a cheap HFT maint. charger on it. After a few days the red top came back to life. Pretty impressive. Now why don't all auto manuf. use strictly gel cells? Why don't we just completely phase out lead acid ones altogether?

Originally posted by TheRealTankota
I had a red top in my dune buggy that was 3 years old and one day the kids were playing on it and kicked the lights toggle switch on. I didn't find it for weeks and the red top was dead. Real dead. Wouldn't accept a 2 amp charge. I went and got an exide spiral gel battery to replace it. I then took the red top and put a cheap HFT maint. charger on it. After a few days the red top came back to life. Pretty impressive. Now why don't all auto manuf. use strictly gel cells? Why don't we just completely phase out lead acid ones altogether?

2 words "Profit":flipoff2: they make $$$$$$$$ selling new acid batterys every year or 3;)

yellow or red or blue ...... they're all optima's :D

(yellow in my TJ and red in my ZJ)

:)

So what are the price differences? Cuz if the difference is great, I'd go with the cheaper....the difference between yellow and red don't seem that great (functionally speaking). Especially if I don't run my lights w/out the engine, don't have a thumper radio and I don't use the winch a lot or for an extended period.
Everywhere I looked the yellow tops are about$30 more give or take and the blue tops are $10-$15 more than that FYI

Originally posted by Keith Strong
Walmart yellow top off brands ROCK from what I here. I have an Optima yellow top and I am happy, but after 3 years of hard abuse it is starting to weaken some.

Those should be Exides. I bought one from a local auto parts stores that were supposedly Wal-Mart's and they didn't want them or something. No labels, "second" imprinted in case but obviousley Exide (and advertised as such). Good deal for $60 :)

Originally posted by Joe_W


Those should be Exides. I bought one from a local auto parts stores that were supposedly Wal-Mart's and they didn't want them or something. No labels, "second" imprinted in case but obviousley Exide (and advertised as such). Good deal for $60 :)


thats why I started this thread. the exide batteries are junk. after 2 summers the thing just wouldn't hold a charge anymore:mad:

Originally posted by TOY 2



thats why I started this thread. the exide batteries are junk. after 2 summers the thing just wouldn't hold a charge anymore:mad:

What the problem? mine have 7 year warrentys, 2 year FREE REPLACEMENT!! WTF go exchange the damn thing

I have a red top but its a DD my BIL also has a red in his Scout (not a DD) both hold up fine but if you can afford the yellow I'd go for it.

Buy like a yellow for your lights.
A red for your starter and coil.
A red for your winch.
And a yellow for everything else.

That sould do it.:flipoff2:

Just buy one....I like my red.

Thanks for the good thread. My heep is sounding like it wants a new battery. I know which one I'm getting now. I'm just not telling you fawkers. You argue too much.
http://home.att.net/~jeeper67/angry.gif