Optima Red Top VS Yellow Top

[SC74]

Time to buy a battery for the bruggy project. I've got a yellow top in my wife's rig and have never had any trouble, but I usually see more red tops on the trail. I can't find any huge difference on the Optima website - if anything the yellow has a deeper cycle (a + for winching).

What are you running?

 

[Mark]

Has Optima overcome their recent quality issues?

Mine are old school yellow tops (both rigs) that I bought in 2003, no probs at all, both still going strong. I know soon after 2004, Optima's quality went downhill and other battery's became elite.

 

[Broncobowsher]

red top is a starting battery
yellow top is a dep cycle battery (slowly out, slowly in. Lots of up and downs)

Personally after my last few Optimas (have 3 dead ones that are fairly new and just out of warranty) I quit buying them. My old ones are still fine. Figure that. The battery bought as a replacment died before the replacment did. Yep, there quality sucks. Well documented on this site, other as well I am sure.

From what I can tell, Odessey is the current top of the line.
Deka Intimidator is also very good and a bit more affordable. Better pricing then Optimas as well

Now if you are real hard on batteries, don't mind warrantying them all the time then maybe an optima would be good. That is if you don't mind actually having to change them out fairly often. In that case I would do red tops. They handle the high amp draws better then the yellow tops.

 

[johnmlebel]

I have a red top that has followed me through a few vehicles and now resides in my cobra that sits most of this winter and i can go out there after a month and turn the key at 0' and it still starts right up no problems. The eb has an exide orbital in it because it was a deal.

 

[GraficO]

which one is a Marine battery... I heard someone say to buy an Optima Marine battery because it holds a charge longer and is better if you run a lot of lights, stereo equip. etc.... don't know if it's a yellow, red or ?

I'm going to have to get one soon... so I guess I better figure this one out beforehand

Maybe RRRRaaaaayyy would have some insight on this one...?

 

[Broncobowsher]

Blue top, marine
Yellow top, deep cycle
Red top, starting battery
Orange top, red top with reversed posts.

 

[Nobody]

Only the red top has a decent warranty. All the others are only one year. I've owned several red tops, always had good luck. :shrug:

The thing with wenching is, most people only need a short bump and they are on the way. Winding the cable back shouldn't really draw down a battery if the charging system is up to par. So really a starting battery is perfectly acceptable.

 

[broncotom]

I've had a red top for 6 years or so. still going strong.

 

[iwlbcnu]

After this weekend I am done with Optimas. Both my EB and Stang were dead due to 5 degrees temps, I had just driven the EB the night before, and charged the stang for 1.5 days at 2 amps during x-mas break, it wouldn't even turn on the dome light.

 

[johnpaulgolf]

Blue 34M

Blue top ... blue top ... blue top ... the 34 marine starting optima ... had an "old" guy tell me and thus is a guy like "ef hutton" rarely speeks but when he does everyones listens ... and take his word to the bank ... I run a blue top in my EB and a yellow top in the RV and a red top in my red DD toyota ... no problems with any of them really but the blue top marine starting is made to hold up to the elements in a boat and has a great deep cycle for winching and running excessories .... these guys are great please give them your business ... http://www.1st-optima-batteries.com/blue_top_battery.asp

 

[SC74]

After this weekend I am done with Optimas. Both my EB and Stang were dead due to 5 degrees temps, I had just driven the EB the night before, and charged the stang for 1.5 days at 2 amps during x-mas break, it wouldn't even turn on the dome light.

Were both of these newer batteries?

 

[BIGED]

If i was gonna buy it would be the red top. But i have a napa battery that wont die!

 

[Buldozer]

I have several older red tops that are still going strong, and one newer red top that is ok so far.....I choose mine based on the cranking amps rather than reserve hours since it must hold up to my winch which really pulls hard but normally for a short duration.

 

[73stallion]

my red top has a weak cell and is still starting my truck at just over 11 volts. it's been that way for a little over a year now. i just don't have the cash to pony up for a new one. every once in a while i have to give it a charge if i don't drive it.

 

[Broncobowsher]

All my Optimas less then 5 yeas old are dead.
My one old one, made 10 years ago, still works. Not sure how good it really is, but it worked last summer. I will play it safe and retire it by this summer.

 

[KyleQ]

Yellow is for continuous draw - like a big stereo or a winch. In my terrain, if you are winching, you are REALLY stuck.

 

[texashcane]

I'm running dual Optimas in emily's rig, one yellow and one blue. Both are 5+ years old and no issues. I had a red one in my 95 bronco that went dead after a couple of years and I only drive it about 5 times a month at most. I also donated a Red Top for the OCBR raffle a few years back and the guy that won it had some trouble with it. There has been a lot of discission of Optima's quality not being what it used to be. I'd do some research to see what else might be out there. Good Luck.

 

[77BroncoWag]

Platinum from Sears

 

[Landho]

DieHard Platinum... cheaper or relatively same price. No bling factor, just pure functionality.

 

[slyjki]

Have had no luck with red tops had several.since changed to yellowtop no problems.