Batteries???

[BuddyP]

so many choices, what's the differences between the yellow, red, blue optima's? Would prefer a dry cell battery. What other choices do I have? best cost?

68 camaro, LS motor, minimal accessories.

[rob07002]

I'm on my 2nd red top in 5 years. I hear the yellow tops are better, but would stay away from optima all together. Heard nothing but good things about Odyssey and Braille, but don't think Braille is dry cell. I'll be ordering an Odyssey this week.

[castine917]

in my experience with red top and yellow top optima. 1 yellow top lasted over seven years and the red tops were not of any luck to me. kept going out to dead batteries in camaro and mustang every weekend that would not recharge for me. kept getting them replaced under warranty that was longer than most other batteries but, what an inconvenience. afterwards i found out that there is a special charge method to save them from that demise.

[ARAD RS]

I did some research recently pertaining to automotive batteries, There are many factors to address before you decide which way to go.
Such as, A high compression engine will need more CCA (cold cranking amperage) vs a low compression engine. fuel injection and electric pumps play a part in the decision. Additional electronics, High wattage car audio systems play a factor, Weather conditions and temperature play a factor, and of course the condition of the electrical connectivity are factors as well.
Basically, your standard Led Acid car batteries intended purpose is to " Start your engine with minimal additional electronic drain.
If there are non stockish additional loads one might consider an additional AGM (Absorbed Glass Matt) mounted in the trunk area or so. These type of batteries do not need to be vented like lead acid batteries and can be mounted in any angle due to construction type.
There is a optima battery presentation video on you tube and if I remember correctly the stated that one could use either the red top or the yellow top for your basic starting needs.
With the additional battery, you will need an automotive battery isolator. There are some available that have a emergency “Jump Start” mode, allowing a temporary isolator override to Jump starting your car’s engine if needed.
Attached are a couple of good available via the internet informative reads which will help with your decision making as to what is right for you.
http://www.windsun.com/Batteries/Bat...attery%20Types
http://www.majestictrust.org/top-ben...-isolator.html

[6spdcamaro]

My experience with optima's has been hit and miss. I got a braille 3121 and so far it works great. It's 21 lbs instead of the optimas 40, and it's made in the usa. The mount i got with it is also very nice.

[TheJDMan]

Do a Google search on AGM batteries. These are the latest in battery technology. In a nutshell there are three types of lead acid batteries. 1. The conventional flooded plate batteries where the sulfuric acid is liquid and free to slosh around in the cell. 2. The Gell Cell where the acid is mixed with additives to turn it into a gell. The plates are then submerged in the gell much like the flooded cell. 3. AGM or Absorbed Glass Mat, these have a special fiberglass mat saturated with acid sandwiched in between each plate. The plates and mats are stacked in each cell then compressed to fit in the cell. The result is that the plates are extremely stable and supported against vibration and if the case is punctured the acid will not leak out.

AGM batteries are used in highly critical applications such as aircraft, marine and computer UPS (uninterruptable power supplies) systems just to name a few. I have been doing a fair amount of research becasue I need to replace the OEM batteries in my Duramax and I want the best I can buy. There are a couple of themes that kept poping up when I was researching. 1. optima has a lot of people complaining about the optima quality on a lot of forums. 2. The Odyssey AGM batteries keep being mentioned as the battery to buy. Interestingly Sears DieHard Platinum is an AGM battery which is made by Odyssey for Sears and rates as high as the Odyssey battery for about $50 less.

Here is a Wikipedia article which explains AGM batteries:
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/VRLA_battery

A link to Odyssey's web site:
http://www.odysseyfactory.com/index.html

Sears DieHard Platinum page:
http://www.sears.com/shc/s/p_10153_1...9&blockType=G9

[shep]

The odyssey batteries are made by Enersys in the USA. If you can find someone that works there you can get blems for almost nothing. I have bought 4 or 5 pc680 motorcycle batteries for $7 each. My budding is currently using one to start his truck.

[Ash]

Excellent info Steve. Never knew about AGM technology

[TheJDMan]

I would also add that if you buy any AGM battery, pay particular attention to the charging requirements. These batteries have very specific charging instructions and can be destroyed if over charged at too high a rate. In some cases specific types of chargers are recommended.

http://www.odysseyfactory.com/docume...s_SEPT2011.pdf

[ModedCB2]

another point worth mentioning about most of the "performance" batteries is down time. If the car is not a daily driver you WILL have problems with them, especially optima's. Optima's do NOt like to be left connected but not used. Every Optima that has failed me has been in a car that was not used daily.

If the car is parked except on weekends or occasional cruises/events, follow Optima's instructions for a trickle charger or simply undo BOTH battery cables.

the Optima red top in my daily driver (subaru WRX) was in my Wife's Mercury Mountaineer for 3.5 years, and now has been in the WRX for another 3. And before going into the Mountaineer, it sat on a shelf for 1-2 years unused.



Red vs Yellow vs Blue... you really need to read Optima's site. Its kinda confusing. Red is called a "starting" battery, Yellow's supposedly give up a lil CCA for deep dis-charge capability, Blue's I know nothing about.

C-tek is the new "rage" in home maintenance chargers. There is the long standing Battery tender (which I use). but like I said follow the battery manufacturer's
recommendations.

Rob

[MonzaRacer]

optima are AGM and as stated need different charge methods, my blue top blem I got in like 03/04 and used it till 08 and it even sat on ground out in snow for one winter before I put it in my truck.
I honestly have had better luck by installing the blue tops over reds and most people Iknow have liked yellows more. Iam gonna look at Braile and others for my next battery purchase (need 3, truck, Monza and Caprice).

[killer67]

My experience with optima's has been hit and miss. I got a braille 3121 and so far it works great. It's 21 lbs instead of the optimas 40, and it's made in the usa. The mount i got with it is also very nice.

I have had braille and have had no issues - great battery (better than optima easily)

[DriverzInc]

We have odysseys in 3 cars here at the shop. Cold Cranking Amps are high, they are dry cell, and they have NEVER let us down.... like some others have.

[vintageracer]

Why not use a regular battery from Sam's Club, Costco or whoever you prefer? A regular battery of sufficient cold cranking amps will start your car properly, last 4-6 years and cost HALF as much money. Ya they weigh a few pound more. Big deal!

Car batteries "appear" to one area where new and fancy is not any better than tried and true!

[TheJDMan]

Why not use a regular battery from Sam's Club, Costco or whoever you prefer? A regular battery of sufficient cold cranking amps will start your car properly, last 4-6 years and cost HALF as much money. Ya they weigh a few pound more. Big deal!

Car batteries "appear" to one area where new and fancy is not any better than tried and true!

It is a big deal if your cheap lead acid battery leaks acid all over your car! The AGM batteries cannot leak even if they are inverted. Yes the cheap battery will start your car, it will also vent while charging and cause corrosion. I don't know about you, but I have way too much time and money in my car to use anything but an AGM battery.

[rob07002]

optima's are junk, sorry. I just bought a digital battery/charging system tester and when I ran the test on the Optima (2+ years old, trickle-charged when needed and according to instructions) it only tested 334 CCA!!! That's on a red top rated at 720 CCA. Just bought a Diehard Platinum rated at 880 CCA and ran the same test, 1228 CCA! Guess which battery I'll never buy again.

Props to the JDMan for finding the info on Odyssey making the Diehard Platinums! Did a seperate verification and is true. I think it even says it on the Sears or Odyssey website. Saved over $70! Thanks man!

[ssx]

I agree with this. I've had red tops last for years in my daily drivers. Red tops in my hotrods not so well...My Nova currently has two Blue tops and the car was parked for a while, not one of them will not fully charge...Bummer for a $200+ battery.

another point worth mentioning about most of the "performance" batteries is down time. If the car is not a daily driver you WILL have problems with them, especially optima's. Optima's do NOt like to be left connected but not used. Every Optima that has failed me has been in a car that was not used daily.

If the car is parked except on weekends or occasional cruises/events, follow Optima's instructions for a trickle charger or simply undo BOTH battery cables.

the Optima red top in my daily driver (subaru WRX) was in my Wife's Mercury Mountaineer for 3.5 years, and now has been in the WRX for another 3. And before going into the Mountaineer, it sat on a shelf for 1-2 years unused.

Red vs Yellow vs Blue... you really need to read Optima's site. Its kinda confusing. Red is called a "starting" battery, Yellow's supposedly give up a lil CCA for deep dis-charge capability, Blue's I know nothing about.

C-tek is the new "rage" in home maintenance chargers. There is the long standing Battery tender (which I use). but like I said follow the battery manufacturer's
recommendations.

Rob

[Carlos c]

I've had problems with optima also especially the redtop.
I'm running XSPower in my car and works great.

[Shallow]

Yello is much better than the other color.