Optima Battery

dito...mean either...never had issues at all...love my optima red top 35 series...

 

Engine compartments are just not good storage places for a lead acid based batteries.

Starting battery technology hasn't changed much in 50 years. Deep cycle batteries have thicker plates that resist sulfate crystals from forming (AKA, killing a battery). They can't "dump" amperage as fast which starter motors need. Starting batteries have thin plates that can "dump" amperage fast but sulfate easily. So-called marine batteries have medium thickness plates and are a compromise.

A lead acid battery sulfates when it is not fully charged. Deep cycle shouldn't get below 50% of their rated amp-hours and starting batteries 10%. If you drain them more than that you start to damage the battery. Therefore if you leave your lights on until the battery is drained you probably lessened the total life of your battery.

Heat is hard on a battery and cold reduces the amperage available. That's why we have to replace batteries every few years in a vehicle.

Also the charging of deep-cycles and starting batteries are different. Vehicle chargers are designed for starting batteries and don't do long conditioning gassing charges that deep cycles need.

I have a deep cycle Trojan trolling motor battery that I keep trickle-charged and never let the electrolyte go down past the plates. I keep in in my basement when not in use and it's 11 years old. It has nearly the same amp-hours it did when new.

Bottom line IMO you are not going to get your money's worth out of an Optima, whether red, yellow, or blue. The color just means it's either starting, deep-cycle, or marine. Maybe it looks cooler but someday it will die also. The best setup would be to have a starting battery for the starter motor only and a second deep-cycle for all the other accessories. This would require 2 different charging systems though.

 

Thanks. I think you just saved me some $. I have a truck so I need a starting battery. Why should I spend the extra $ for a Red Top if it isn't going to do anything for me. That was a great tutorial.

 

I just got a D34/78 Red Top Optima Battery from a local shop...I would check online for the lowest price then see if a local dealer would price match it. If you buy it local it is a lot easier and less hassle to have it replaced under warranty.

I was originally going to get the Yellow Top because it's a deep cycle but thru my "buddy" discount all he could get me was the Red Top which is fine for what I need it for.

I installed it using the plastic spacer it came with and I am also using the factory tie-down. It's holds well but I recently purchased a battery mount but I have yet to install it. The new battery mount was the cheapest I could find and looks just as good or even better than the more expensive one's I have seen on Ebay or other custom mounts.



This is the battery I have (D34/78). It has the side posts so I can run the factory wiring to it and I use the top posts for my amp and pretty battery clamps.




This is the battery box mount from Ruff Stuff. The owner of the company is a really stand-up guy and most of the stuff he builds is geared towards Toyota.
The mount is solid and well built, I just need to have it Powder Coated or Line-X'd before I install it.

 

I have an 06 tacoma with the towing package and I have a red top optima and ive never had a problem. If your wondering about the height adapter I just used the plastic top that comes with the battery its perfert and I haven't had one problem.

 

No problem. Look, I don't want to talk you out of something that you really want. If the grain elevator look in your engine bay is worth the extra $$$ to you then go for it. People just need to know that it is impossible to "optimally" (pun intended) treat a battery perfect in a vehicle engine bay. The environment is bad on a battery.

That is one piece of equipment in your Taco that doesn't pay to get the best. The best ones don't last that much longer then the worst ones. Here is the best link to lead acid batteries, IMO. http://www.batteryfaq.org/

And remember, everyone is entitled to my opinion

 

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From other truck forums (bigger trucks) ... I have read that Odyssey batteries were liked the best --> http://www.odysseybatteries.com/.

And Optima Batteries were a close second --> http://shop.optimabatteries.com/home/index/1737.0.

A lot of the guys on those forums did not like their OEM batteries .... I am not a battery expert.

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I had a Duralast in my old '89 XtraCab. It lasted 5 months. They did give me a new one but I sold the truck not long after that.

 

If you're gonna get an Optima, get the YELLOW TOP.

 

this thread makes me sad , had a 6 month old yellow top when i traded in my ranger , and they wouldn't let me swap i at the dealer because the towing package battery wouldn't fit in the ranger

 

I want to believe me but I have a hard time with that @$200 price. I might have to forego the Bilstien 5100s for the front for a bit.

I had an Orange Top in my WRX when I traded it in. I was in a hurry and forgot to swap it out.

 

I had a Yellow top for years. It ran my $3500 dvd/stereo system, all my lighting...u name it! Strong as hell battery. Got it on EBAY for $80 brand new. Not sure what they go for now.

 

Just curious, googled yellow top, said deep cycle, red top starting battery. Don't we need a starting battery for our truck ? Isn't deep cycle for marine use ? Curious George.

 

^^^ Nice set up Coupe!

Couple questions...

How did you install the billet tray? I purchased a battery box made specifically for an Optima battery and I had a hard time installing it because there was no way to get under the tray to hold the nut as I tightened the bolt from the top.

Also is that a custom top for your Optima battery?

 

The Optima deep cycles are dual purpose, starting & deep cycle.

http://www.optimabatteries.com/optima_products/yellowtop/specs.php
http://www.optimabatteries.com/optima_products/redtop/specs.php

I had a yellow top in my jeep for years (like 8 years). The jeep wasn't my daily driver so it sat in the garage a lot, it never failed me. It's a better battery if you have lots of current draw (stereo equipment, winching, lots of lighting, etc). I did drain the battery once because I left my lights on.....but we hooked it up to a charger and it never missed a beat after that. Very durable.

We put a red top in our Grand Cherokee, sold that vehicle to my father-in-law and he said the battery failed him a couple years after he had the car (battery was 4 years old?). I honestly don't know what happened or whether it could've been charged and resurrected....or not?

 

Thanks for reply Janster ! I thinks 4 or 5 years is about it for most starting batteries so nothing special there so no reason to spend the extra $$ but 8 year is excellent and outstanding.

 

I drilled and tapped the sheetmetal of the truck and loctited the screws in.

What you are seeing is the top of the battery with labels removed.

 

I agree every year or so mine goes blank can't keep a charge nothing but i do get a free replacement with the free 5 year no hassle warranty though