Difference between Red Top, Yellow Top and Blue Top Optima Batteries

[proaudiohd]

I got one of these and it starts my big V8 WAY faster than the stock battery! Also runs my audio amps for hours. I have not been able to kill it yet! A+

[arturo12789]

So this type of batterys can be sideways it doesn't matter

[SpeedwayMotorsInc]

@arturo12789 Correct, Optima batteries are sealed AGM type batteries so they're completely spill-proof and mountable in any position - sideways or even upside down. 

[bubber25]

50 pound batterys big heavy and clunky. yet they make mini batterys to power a computer. why has car battery technology basicly not changed for a hundred years?

[HBKilluminati7]

@bubber25 u dont make sense get a job

[Nostechno9099x]

Why buy the Yellow top 770 cca. when redtop is obviously better. 1000 cca. If your having trouble making a decision, choose the obvious one lol. Dont go with what they tell you. "Yellow tops are made for electronics" Yea that may be true, but it does not make it a better battery. I chose the red top, and from what I hear, its better to get the redtop. Doesnt matter what you use it for. More juice is more juice

[ScottMr420]

@Nostechno9099x The red top battery is not a deep cycle battery. Through experience, I have learned if you continuously pull any non-deep cycle battery down, it will ruin it. Use the yellow top for situations you need a deep cycle battery and you'll save money in the long run.

[Nostechno9099x]

@ScottMr420 they are all deep cycle batteries man lol.

[redbulladdiict]

i cant hear you lol

[dabambz]

I heard optimas were great back then in the early 2000's when they were owned by the swedes. Then Johnson Controls took over and started using cheap materials, cut back on quality control and increase the price of the battery to increase profit margins. Now a days I've been hearing dealers saying for every 10 optimas they sell they get 9 of them back.

[slowpoke96Z28]

@dabambz wow. it sucks to hear about companies that start out building good stuff, and then for whatever reason, rest on their laurels or even worse, go cheap...i hope that isnt true for optima.

[jrnbris]

Do I need to charge a new optima yellow top before installing ??? Thanks

[SpeedwayMotorsInc]

@jrnbris All Optima batteries are shipped from the factory with a full charge. Optima batteries can usually sit for 8 to 12 months and start most vehicles You can check to see how long the battery has been sitting by looking at the date code on the side of the battery. Every manufacturer has it on the side. If for example, it says H1 it would mean the 8th month (August) of 2011. However if your new battery does not produce at least 12.4 volts, go ahead and charge it before installation.

[a7mido]

i have a wrangler jk 2010 and im planning on inserting alot of accesories which consume from the battery wats the best combination? factory battery + yellow optima or 2 yellow optima or red and yellow optima ? wat would suite me perfect? by the way im inserting : 4 lights + winch + it already have a navigation and ill insert 2 other electronics... plZ need a answer

[SpeedwayMotorsInc]

@a7mido For your application, where you are running a lot of additional accessories, we recommend the Optima Deep Cycle "Yellow Top" battery if you choose to go the Optima route. Deep cycle batteries perform well in situations where they are completely drained and then recharged repeatedly. Running dual batteries is usually a good idea when using a winch, but be sure to follow your winch manufacturer's guidelines on which battery to use.

[187MA187]

Does any one know where I can buy Kinetik battery ..?

[ExtremePeppers]

Use Kinetik Batteries and forget about colors.

[MrBeatahalic]

@ExtremePeppers XS Power FTMFW!

[ExtremePeppers]

@MrBeatahalic I suppose they are good batteries as well. Optima is a joke. You know its a joke if its sold at WalMart,Advance Auto,and AutoZone.

[MrBeatahalic]

@ExtremePeppers yeah just like people think that they are guna get loud with walmart systems you gotta go to stuff thats not sold in stores to get loud

[shadowfoxx65]

I have a 2000 Dodge Neon and I am looming to buy a new battery I asked my local auto parts store if I should get a yellow top since I have a high powered audio system and he said that I would ruin the stock alternator if I bought the yellow top because it's not made to work with it and I would be better off with a red top so I just need some clarification about this now thanks

[BDubXOne]

@shadowfoxx65

If its really high powered you should go for a good high output alternator before replacing the battery. If you stress the alternator too much it'll blow anyways regardless how great of a battery.

[shadowfoxx65]

@BDubXOne well by high powered i just meant i have a system not like 5k watts or anything just under 1k watts so its good enough but is it true that the alternator would suffer from buying a deep cycle battery as the main car battery?

[BDubXOne]

@shadowfoxx65

Deep cycle batteries just hold more of a charge and are designed to be regularly drained with no effect on its lifespan (used in RVs & boats to use electrical equipment without engine on). With the usual batteries if its being discharged regularly by high powered devices then its sure to fail pretty quickly. As far as the alternator suffering..of coarse its going to suffer to an extent if the load is too high for it to handle. What charges the battery?..The alternator.

[rustcity2]

Deep cycle batteries are designed to run down to 25% of their capacity repeatedly, with a typical life of 150 to 250 such cycles. If run down to 75% of capacity and that is deemed one cycle, life will be extended far more than 3 times. Recharging sooner rather than later will reduce sulfation, extending life.

Deep cycle batteries generally hold less charge than an equiv wt starting battery and less surge Amperage.

Extreme audio-- a deep cycle, not a starting, battery is definitely preferred.

[BDubXOne]

@shadowfoxx65

Put a voltmeter on your battery and you should get about 12v. Turn the car on with it still connected to your battery & you should get about 14v. Leave the voltmeter still connected to the battery & see how much stress your electronics are putting on the available current. If theres a big draw your going to eventually end up replacing your alternator anyways.

You could start by doing the "Big 3".

[BDubXOne]

@BDubXOne

Do you see your lights dimming?

Personally, Ive ran 4000w (though mostly only a third to half I used regularly) on a 15 year old 120A factory alternator & regular battery and it worked out great..I don't drive that car anymore so I can't say how long it would have lasted after those 2 years, but my lights didn't dim & battery stayed charged. Voltmeter tested ok. If you only have 1000w you may be able to get by without any upgrades. But still check it out.

[marstedt]

How do these compare to an equivalent battery from Hawker / Odyssey? Both are the AGM type of battery, correct?

[SpeedwayMotorsInc]

@marstedt Yes, both the Odyssey and Optima brand batteries we sell are sealed AGM type batteries. The differences lie in size, weight, price and features.