Optima battery selection

PWR_RYD93 · 01-09-2004, 12:36 PM

I have a 130A 3G alternator and the following electrical loads:

- Weldon 2025A fuel pump ~25 amps
- Lincoln Mark 8 fan ~35 amps
- MSD 6AL ~20 amps
- Low impedance injector driver ~15 amps
- misc. (headlights, brake lights, ect.) ~?? amps

Which Optima battery should I run? The red top or the yellow top (deep cycle)? The car is a weekend cruiser/racer only. Thanks.

420nitro · 01-09-2004, 02:57 PM

I was thinking about the same thing myself. I am going with the red top this year. I was told by Summit a while back that the yellow top was not intended for race cars w/ alternators. So I guess the red top is the way to go.

Part # 34/78----Red top

Hope this helps.

PWR_RYD93 · 01-09-2004, 03:31 PM

Yeah, I've always thought that deep cycle batteries were intended for trolling motors on boats and cars with high power stereos or hydraulics. But Optima's website implied that cars with high accessory loads would benefit from them as well.

BTW - the red tops are a lot cheaper than the yellow tops

Anyone on here running an Optima battery???

andy669 · 01-09-2004, 04:01 PM

I have an Optima yellow top. I abuse the hell out of it and it still works fine. A few friends have had the red top and they have had problems with them.

I got my yellow top here locally for around $140.

Andy

mustangII460 · 01-09-2004, 04:05 PM

Yeah Red Top is the way to go.

I have seen them as low as $79.00 but mostly $90 or so. Dont pay any more than that.

They work great, no vent needed, no mess. Especially good for sitting for long periods of time. I think they have full replacement for 3 years. I have used one racing over about 5 years. I will mount it in the Cobra when I get the billit mount.

PWR_RYD93 · 01-09-2004, 04:09 PM

What kind of problems have they had with them?

andy669 · 01-09-2004, 04:10 PM

They didnt last very long.

Andy

Hozer 88GTConv · 01-09-2004, 11:13 PM

I've had a Red Optima for over a year with a Powermaster 140 amp alternator with no probs.
750 rpm idle with fogs and air on turning the supercharger and a .2 amp overvoltage on the ammeter!

jonnyk · 01-10-2004, 12:38 PM

Yellow tops are designed to go long periods of time with usage and NO charging i.e. deep cycling. I would not use it in a situation where you are constantly charging it. Red top gets my vote.

USMC302 · 01-10-2004, 05:08 PM

I planned on going red top with the new 331 setup.

88GT 5pt0 · 01-11-2004, 05:42 AM

I have a red top and the stock tie down doesnt hold it in place, does anyone make an aftermarket one that fits an optima?

Ackbar00 · 01-11-2004, 09:07 AM

Red top here, no problems so far.

My brother just replaced his red top. It had been in the car almost 10 years

LxMustangRacer · 01-12-2004, 01:09 PM

I've hard the yellow top for 3 years now and have never had a dead battery even after blaring the stereo for 2-3 hours w/o the car running. Simply a great battery.

01-09-2004, 12:36 PM	#1
PWR_RYD93 Registered Member Join Date: Sep 1998 Location: IL Posts: 1,155	Optima battery selection I have a 130A 3G alternator and the following electrical loads: - Weldon 2025A fuel pump ~25 amps - Lincoln Mark 8 fan ~35 amps - MSD 6AL ~20 amps - Low impedance injector driver ~15 amps - misc. (headlights, brake lights, ect.) ~?? amps Which Optima battery should I run? The red top or the yellow top (deep cycle)? The car is a weekend cruiser/racer only. Thanks. __________________ Craig Supercharged 93 GT "I drive way too fast to worry about cholesterol!" Then I went to the doctor.... whoa 312! Hello Lipitor

01-09-2004, 03:31 PM	#3
PWR_RYD93 Registered Member Join Date: Sep 1998 Location: IL Posts: 1,155	Yeah, I've always thought that deep cycle batteries were intended for trolling motors on boats and cars with high power stereos or hydraulics. But Optima's website implied that cars with high accessory loads would benefit from them as well. BTW - the red tops are a lot cheaper than the yellow tops Anyone on here running an Optima battery??? __________________ Craig Supercharged 93 GT "I drive way too fast to worry about cholesterol!" Then I went to the doctor.... whoa 312! Hello Lipitor

01-09-2004, 04:01 PM	#4
andy669 Registered Member Join Date: Jan 2001 Location: Moline Il Posts: 901	I have an Optima yellow top. I abuse the hell out of it and it still works fine. A few friends have had the red top and they have had problems with them. I got my yellow top here locally for around $140. Andy __________________ 88 coupe 91 LX NMRA Pure Street 5120

01-09-2004, 04:09 PM	#6
PWR_RYD93 Registered Member Join Date: Sep 1998 Location: IL Posts: 1,155	What kind of problems have they had with them? __________________ Craig Supercharged 93 GT "I drive way too fast to worry about cholesterol!" Then I went to the doctor.... whoa 312! Hello Lipitor

01-09-2004, 04:10 PM	#7
andy669 Registered Member Join Date: Jan 2001 Location: Moline Il Posts: 901	They didnt last very long. Andy __________________ 88 coupe 91 LX NMRA Pure Street 5120

01-09-2004, 02:57 PM	#2
420nitro Registered Member Join Date: Nov 2003 Location: Rockford Posts: 596	I was thinking about the same thing myself. I am going with the red top this year. I was told by Summit a while back that the yellow top was not intended for race cars w/ alternators. So I guess the red top is the way to go. Part # 34/78----Red top Hope this helps.

01-09-2004, 04:05 PM	#5
mustangII460 Factoy Five Roadster Join Date: May 2000 Location: Sevier Co,Tennessee Posts: 1,681	Yeah Red Top is the way to go. I have seen them as low as $79.00 but mostly $90 or so. Dont pay any more than that. They work great, no vent needed, no mess. Especially good for sitting for long periods of time. I think they have full replacement for 3 years. I have used one racing over about 5 years. I will mount it in the Cobra when I get the billit mount.

01-09-2004, 11:13 PM	#8
Hozer 88GTConv Registered Member Join Date: Feb 2002 Location: Jacksonville, FL Posts: 706	Red Optima I've had a Red Optima for over a year with a Powermaster 140 amp alternator with no probs. 750 rpm idle with fogs and air on turning the supercharger and a .2 amp overvoltage on the ammeter! __________________ 1988 GT Convertible 331 10:1 TW heads, GT-40 intake, MSD, TRW flattops, B Cam w/ 1.7's, MAC exhaust, 24's, 70 TB, 76 MAF, 3.73's, Pro 5.0, Koni's, Anderson PMS, Wideband 02, yatta, yatta... One week with new motor, two speeding tickets...joy

01-10-2004, 12:38 PM	#9
jonnyk Being stroked is great Join Date: Oct 1998 Location: Alberta, Canada Posts: 772	Yellow tops are designed to go long periods of time with usage and NO charging i.e. deep cycling. I would not use it in a situation where you are constantly charging it. Red top gets my vote. __________________ Novi 2000 now spinning off the snout of the 331... Mods Pics

01-10-2004, 05:08 PM	#10
USMC302 Registered Member Join Date: Apr 2001 Location: Gallatin, Tn Posts: 1,326	I planned on going red top with the new 331 setup. __________________

01-11-2004, 05:42 AM	#11
88GT 5pt0 Registered Member Join Date: Jun 2003 Location: Chicago Posts: 73	I have a red top and the stock tie down doesnt hold it in place, does anyone make an aftermarket one that fits an optima? __________________ My Cardomain Website

01-11-2004, 09:07 AM	#12
Ackbar00 Rebel Fleet Commander Join Date: Oct 2001 Location: Huber Heights, OH Posts: 1,003	Red top here, no problems so far. My brother just replaced his red top. It had been in the car almost 10 years __________________ 1993 Mustang GT, PTK w/ T-64 - My Cardomain Webpage 11.25@123.5 on only 8 psi. 10.84@121 on only 1 headgasket "The Truth is, Your the Weak, and I am the Tyranny of Evil Men!"

01-12-2004, 01:09 PM	#13
LxMustangRacer Registered Member Join Date: Mar 2002 Location: Allendale, Mi Posts: 137	I've hard the yellow top for 3 years now and have never had a dead battery even after blaring the stereo for 2-3 hours w/o the car running. Simply a great battery. __________________ 1994 Mustang GT Convertible

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