Optima Batt's

[NVRSTUKXJ]

don't know if this is a good deal or not......

http://phoenix.craigslist.org/pts/253981305.html

[Keith Haw]

I thought you needed yellow or blue top's to replace the factory batteries.

[mingoglia]

Red is designed to be a starting battery. Yellow or blue is recommended if you're planning on using it for winching. However, there are some that winch with their red top and it serves them well. The red top will have more cold cranking amps for greater winch power... but this greater "power" will fade much faster since it's not a deep cycle battery.

As for price the reds aren't as expensive as the yellow or blue. I believe the going price is usually in the $99 range. So yeah, that appears to be a good deal. However if it was me I'd drop the $99 over at 4 Wheelers or another local shop before I'd spend $80 from some guy selling them out of his trunk (ie 'free delivery').

[danno]

Yep thats a good deal... Like was previously mentioned, the Yellow/Blue are deep cycle batts, which means that you can run them down to nearly nothing and then recharge them lots of times. Standard batteries and Red Tops don't last as long when you treat them like this...

However, ALL optimas provide the benefit of being very vibration resistant which is a significant benefit, extra battery vibration is a reality when you go offroad. Think of all the washboard roads that you travel on to get to the trails that we routinely run. In addition, ALL optimas are fully sealed which means that they do not spew acid like standard batteries and they can be mounted in any direction, even upside down. I have seen a way to run dual batteries in a TJ by stacking two optimas one on top of another laying on their sides. 160 bucks plus cables for a dual battery setup with two optima red tops ain't a half bad deal.

[Bohunter]

If I wanted to do a dual battery setup can I run a red-top and a yellow-top together? Or do they both need to be the same battery?

Reason I ask is I have a red-top now and am considering adding a second battery to help with lights and winch...:rolleyes:

[mingoglia]

The only way you could really run them together would be if you had an isolator and did not run them in parallel. To run batteries in parallel you need identical batteries of similiar age or else the "better" battery is going to always try to charge the other battery and if the discharge rate is greater on one you're going to discharge the other battery too much and kill it.

Deep cycle batteries tend to also have a slightly lower voltage than a general starting battery. I haven't checked the voltage on the optimas to see if this is true with them as standard deep cycles. If it is the case with Optimas the starter battery would always try to overcharge the deep cycle.

Mike

[Bohunter]

Thanks Mike.:) So if I want to run two Optima's in the heep, would you recommend the red or yellow tops? If I remember correctly the blue-tops are marine batteries...

[mingoglia]

The blue tops and the yellow tops are pretty much the same battery. The exception is the blue tops have the marine/RV style smaller connector on them (I believe the side connectors are still the same as the yellow/red though). I know Don Pryor runs a blue Optima as well as a few others.

Unless you're the trail leader winching those without winches up an obstacle (perfect example is the big waterfall on the Draw in Payson) I wouldn't worry about running a second battery. I may add a second yellow top to mine but only because I'm planning on adding a onboard welder in the next couple months.

With regards to yellow vs red the vast majority will run a yellow. There are some that swear red is the way to go but they're definitely in the minority. It's also my understanding that Optima will not warranty a red top used for winching duty (I haven't personally verified this).

Mike

[SavageSun4x4]

Thanks Mike.:) So if I want to run two Optima's in the heep, would you recommend the red or yellow tops? If I remember correctly the blue-tops are marine batteries...
Sorta, kinda, depends.
I run a Blue top because I like the dual posts on top of the battery. That said if you are running dual batteries, there may be no need to run a dual post battery since you are already distributing the load among two batteries.

Depends on you wish to set it up.

[dirtgrip]

$80 is a good deal for a Redtop but why only 1yr replacement.Optima's website says 3yrs replacement & pro rated after that.http://www.optimabatteries.com/publish/optima/americas0/en/config/product_info/automotive/starter/warranty_info.html
I had a red that lasted 5yrs but have switched to yellow for winching ability.

[Bohunter]

Thanks Gents!;) I have to admit I used the winch quite a bit this last weekend clearing downed trees from the trail we were on as well as yanking my butt out of a mud hole that didn't really look like a mud hole :rolleyes: and I didn't have any problems, nor did I notice any amperage drop. Of course I kept the heep running the whole time...

Lesson learned - just because frozen mud will support your weight on foot doesn't mean the heep gets across so easily...:o

[fatbob]

I called the guy and it's the old bait and switch routine.
His buddy , who is out of town , has a shop and these batteries were replaced but all that was wrong was the car had a bad alternator.:rolleyes:
The batteries are just like new, and are still under warrantee, but I can't get the location of his buddies shop from him.
So it seems he will sell you a used battery and even deliver it to you, but good luck on finding him for any warrantee. i bethe'll be too busy to get back to you.
I think someone posted awhile back that costco had 'em for $95. But I don'. it have a costco membership to verify that price. It may have been on sale.
Anyone know of any current prices?

[Jeepnut]

Re: where to buy...I think it was already mentioned to go to 4-Wheelers...support them over Costco or some guy selling them out of his trunk.

Re: Red vs Yellow vs Blue: They're all great batteries...if you are planning to run a winch or lot's of accessories, or like me you use start in gear on the trail often, go with yellow or blue. Yellow and blue are the same, It was mentioned that blue has dual posts....so does yellow. Yellow has top posts and side (GM style) posts. Blue has top posts and another set of top studs typically used in marine applications.

I'm running yellow: I have my winch hooked up to the top posts, and everything else hooked up to the side posts.

[mingoglia]

Re: where to buy...I think it was already mentioned to go to 4-Wheelers...support them over Costco or some guy selling them out of his trunk.

Re: Red vs Yellow vs Blue: They're all great batteries...if you are planning to run a winch or lot's of accessories, or like me you use start in gear on the trail often, go with yellow or blue. Yellow and blue are the same, It was mentioned that blue has dual posts....so does yellow. Yellow has top posts and side (GM style) posts. Blue has top posts and another set of top studs typically used in marine applications.

I'm running yellow: I have my winch hooked up to the top posts, and everything else hooked up to the side posts.

Just to further what he said... you always want to make sure the winch is hooked up to the top posts and NOT the side posts. If you hook a winch up to the side posts you risk damaging the battery. The side terminals are not meant for large amp draws. The 400+ amps your winch can pull during a hard pull definitely falls into this category. :o Running your starter and just about everything else is OK though (starter is high amps but for very short periods of time).

Mike

[DsrtJeeper]

Keep in mind that you get what you pay for. Costco sells the cheaper model red top with less CCA's and such. 4 Wheelers sells the most powerful red top.
Here are the specs:
http://www.optimabatteries.com/publish/optima/americas0/en/config/product_info/automotive/starter/spec_sheets.html

[mingoglia]

Keep in mind that you get what you pay for. Costco sells the cheaper model red top with less CCA's and such. 4 Wheelers sells the most powerful red top.
Here are the specs:
http://www.optimabatteries.com/publish/optima/americas0/en/config/product_info/automotive/starter/spec_sheets.html

Interesting. I've walked by them at Costco but didn't look at what group battery they were... you're sure of this? Interesting.

[DsrtJeeper]

Interesting. I've walked by them at Costco but didn't look at what group battery they were... you're sure of this? Interesting.

Yup. That's why I just purchased one at 4 Wheelers. :)

[Capt-Kirk]

Nappa sells a brand of batteries just like the optima but lower price and a better warrenty.

Anyone tried them yet?