Optima: Yellow vs. Red

[TurdFergueson2 5,000+ posts]

you guys think ill have a problem if i run my red top up front and kinetik in the trunk with out an isolator?

That is my setup as well. Red Top up front, HC-800 in the rear. It worked up until it got cold. I haven't had time to look my setup over, but my voltage drops more than I feel it should. I'm in the high 12s, low 13s while driving when it used to be 14.2 or better. I might switch it out to an HC 2000 up front and in the rear.

 

[99grandprixGT 5,000+ posts]

That is my setup as well. Red Top up front, HC-800 in the rear. It worked up until it got cold. I haven't had time to look my setup over, but my voltage drops more than I feel it should. I'm in the high 12s, low 13s while driving when it used to be 14.2 or better. I might switch it out to an HC 2000 up front and in the rear.

damn i got an hc 1800 so hopefully ill be good. but you have not had problem with the red top dyeing like someone said above? how long have you had it set up like that? thanks.

 

[loopkiller 10+ year member]

damn i got an hc 1800 so hopefully ill be good. but you have not had problem with the red top dyeing like someone said above? how long have you had it set up like that? thanks.

There are plenty of ppl that run the same setup you have. It is not 100% the best way to run it, but it will work. You will have shortened battery life due to mismatched batteries.

If you want to know the 100% right way to run multiple batts without an isolator, they all have to be the exact same batt and the exact same age. You should buy them all at the same time and make sure they all have the same date code.

Now how often does that happen? Not often. For you, you could install an isolator, but you could lose some voltage depending on the type you buy. Some people simply increase their charge voltage at the alt to compensate.

Hope that clears it up...

 

[ngsm13 5,000+ posts]

I'd never use a red top for anything having to do with car audio, even if it's under the hood.

nG

 

[loopkiller 10+ year member]

I'd never use a red top for anything having to do with car audio, even if it's under the hood.
nG

Even with an isolator? Why not? They are decent cranking batteries. Just don't leave your headlights on.

 

[ngsm13 5,000+ posts]

Maybe with an isolator, that would be the only case I would consider it.

But, if I was purchasing new batteries at this present time, I would get powermasters for all of my needs. Unless I got an insane deal on the Optima's (got my D31's for $110)

nG

 

[99grandprixGT 5,000+ posts]

There are plenty of ppl that run the same setup you have. It is not 100% the best way to run it, but it will work. You will have shortened battery life due to mismatched batteries.
If you want to know the 100% right way to run multiple batts without an isolator, they all have to be the exact same batt and the exact same age. You should buy them all at the same time and make sure they all have the same date code.

Now how often does that happen? Not often. For you, you could install an isolator, but you could lose some voltage depending on the type you buy. Some people simply increase their charge voltage at the alt to compensate.

Hope that clears it up...

alright thanks. the only reason i bought the red top was cuz i got it for 140 bucks new with 3 year replacement warranty so if anything goes wrong i can always replace it with a new one.so ill probably try it out see what happens. if the red top dies ill see if i can put it towards a yellow top.

 

[audiolife 5,000+ posts]

if you have it directly connected to an audio system they can void your warranty ..if you got it at wal mart i think you are save..if you got it at a battery shop they may question it

 

[99grandprixGT 5,000+ posts]

if you have it directly connected to an audio system they can void your warranty ..if you got it at wal mart i think you are save..if you got it at a battery shop they may question it

i got it at sams club. so i don't think they will say anything.

 

[loopkiller 10+ year member]

i got it at sams club. so i don't think they will say anything.

Well you already have it and are using it, so no reason to turn back now. Just don't blame Optima when it dies since you are using it outside of it's intended use. That always pisses me off when people give a product a bad rap when it was them using it wrong. I remember one guy saying that a certain brand of fuse sucked because they kept blowing on him. LOL.

 

[99grandprixGT 5,000+ posts]

Well you already have it and are using it, so no reason to turn back now. Just don't blame Optima when it dies since you are using it outside of it's intended use. That always pisses me off when people give a product a bad rap when it was them using it wrong. I remember one guy saying that a certain brand of fuse sucked because they kept blowing on him. LOL.

nah i would not do that. i understand what you are saying though. if it dies on me ill take it as a lesson learned and try to help out others by informing them not talk shit about the product. but if it dies die ill just put my store credit towards the yellow top.

 

[loopkiller 10+ year member]

nah i would not do that. i understand what you are saying though. if it dies on me ill take it as a lesson learned and try to help out others by informing them not talk shit about the product. but if it dies die ill just put my store credit towards the yellow top.

Cool. I would get the Yellow, sell it, and take the proceeds and buy a thicker plate battery that can be deep cycled more than 10 times. All of the good brands out there fall into that list, Kinetik/PM/Deka/NSB/etc...

 

[99grandprixGT 5,000+ posts]

Cool. I would get the Yellow, sell it, and take the proceeds and buy a thicker plate battery that can be deep cycled more than 10 times. All of the good brands out there fall into that list, Kinetik/PM/Deka/NSB/etc...

ya what sucks is i have side post, most of those i see are top post, i could lay it on his side but i dont have allot of room. and my batter tray is in a dumb spot on an angle so it would be hard to get something other then side post to work well. the optima works out good with the top and side post gives a little more options for wiring.

 

[audiolife 5,000+ posts]

most of the time the people who sell them will tell you anything to sell it then do anything they can to not have to warranty it. My situation I asked what is the best battery you have (this is the summer of 1997) and he says optima and it should work great few months go by it died they replaced it, then few months later samething happens then they say NO. LOL yellow top was NEVER discussed nor talked about LOL

 

[loopkiller 10+ year member]

ya what sucks is i have side post, most of those i see are top post, i could lay it on his side but i dont have allot of room. and my batter tray is in a dumb spot on an angle so it would be hard to get something other then side post to work well. the optima works out good with the top and side post gives a little more options for wiring.

Kinetik makes a Side Post Adapter that adds side posts to their top post batts. MSRP is like $20.