Comments on: Optima Battery: Red or Yellow Top?

By: pikesan

pikesan — Mon, 05 Dec 2011 01:33:33 +0000

Court, Once you choose red top or yellow top, sounds like you'll get the red top, then all you have to do is get one that fits. There's a few sizes to choose from, with either 720-1000 cold cranking amps (CCA) depending on the temperature. The details, including the sizes are here: Optima Red Top Specs

By: Court

Court — Thu, 01 Dec 2011 20:48:37 +0000

I’m not sure which red one to purchase, How do you know which one?

By: pikesan

pikesan — Sun, 06 Nov 2011 22:53:36 +0000

Busted! Becky’s a strong girl, but not that strong!

By: esfdafds

esfdafds — Fri, 04 Nov 2011 00:59:55 +0000

Wow she is holding those batteries like they weigh 5 pounds. Are those display batteries or something O_o

By: Tyson

Tyson — Thu, 07 Apr 2011 08:09:17 +0000

Jesse, recharging of a battery is controled by the voltage regulator. A battery has no say when its charged or not, just happens when it gets below x amount of volts.

By: GN

GN — Fri, 24 Dec 2010 18:11:08 +0000

” … So what’s up with the blue top? Marine Battery? …”

Yes, all Marine applications should use the Blue Top, which is a combo (start/deep discharge) type like the Yellow Top, but also incorporates the Marine terminals (stud with wing nut) as well as the SAE type (automotive posts). It is the only Optima with Marine terminals.

The easiest way to choose the correct unit is to remember that Optima batteries with grey cases are combination start/deep discharge while those with black cases are start only.

All marine applications require deep discharge capability due to the usual accessories such as radios, trolling motors, sonars, etc fitted in boats. So, for Marine applications you would choose Blue Top with Grey case, which gives you Marine terminals plus deep discharge ability.

You could use a Yellow top for Marine use because functionally it’s similar to Blue Top, but you would usually have to modify the cables to accept SAE terminals. The Blue, similarly, would work in automotive applications because it has both Marine and SAE terminals, but you would need to take care you don’t have any issues with terminals shorting against metal in installation.

By: eric

eric — Thu, 04 Feb 2010 06:32:23 +0000

How much for the girl? :-)

By: Swanee

Swanee — Mon, 23 Nov 2009 04:12:24 +0000

So what’s up with the blue top? Marine Battery?

By: pikesan

pikesan — Wed, 18 Nov 2009 19:52:14 +0000

I already heard from the Optima Guys…
The weight difference from red to yellow differs from group size to group size. If you look at a group 34 for instance, the red top weighs in at about 38 pounds, the yellow top weighs in at about 43 pounds. Typically a deep cycle battery would weigh more than a starting battery if the 2 are of similar ratings (CCA/RC). One of the characteristics of a deep cycle battery is thicker grids and heavier paste. In an Optima battery the same holds true.

In a typical charging system the battery is always being somewhat charged while the alternator is also powering other electrical needs. If you have a lot of electrical needs on your car you may be placing to high a demand on the electrical system and eventually a regular (not deep cycle) battery might go dead. Extra demand on the system and charge/discharge cycling requires a battery that can handle it.

One example of why the charge is always happening is to think of the battery as your checkbook, starting the car like writing a check and charging the battery like making a deposit back to your bank account. If the battery demands exceed the vehicle’s ability to “deposit more power” you will eventually be overdrawn! If you then look at the extra stuff on the car and add them as “check writers” you’ll need more money in your account.

By: Jesse

Jesse — Wed, 18 Nov 2009 07:39:21 +0000

I’m curious as to what the weight differences for equivalent cold-cranking batteries would be when comparing red-top to yellow-tops. I’ve heard a lot of good things about the weight savings of Optima batteries in general, but I haven’t heard a lot of discussion about the differences between them.

It sounds like yellow tops have the capacity to be more efficient, and will drain engine power less consistently than red tops. Do they only recharge after the battery has been discharged, or is it in a constant recharge state, always pulling from the alternator?