Yellow top... or .. red top Optima ?

[dickfoster]

quite right. If you are putting in LED work lights, fuses might not be necessary but are always a good idea. For the sander, you bet I would want a fused power supply!

Always fuse added wiring. The fuse is there to protect the wire from burning whatever you're putting the new circuit in from burning from shorted wiring. Size the fuse to the wire and size the wire to the load.

 

[dickfoster]

I have an Optima in my WRX because they are light.

In my wife's minivan we use the Odyssey AGM, which is big and heavy but has unmatched capacity. A Yellow Top for the Outback weighs 36.4 lbs and has 620 CCA. The same-size Odyssey Extreme AGM weighs 50 lbs and has 850 CCA.

Lighter means cheaper, less lead and less stored charge. Heavy for its size is a good thing when it comes to AGM batteries.

 

[apriordan]

Thanks for this chatter guys. I'm now between an AGM and Optima but at least I've narrowed my batteries haha

 

[Garandman]

I wouldn't recommend any Optima. They've been selling the label instead of product for the last few years and they are now made in Mexico. You might want to look at a Odyssey which is still made in the US and also to my mind has better technology which packs more charge density in the same or less volume. One Odyssey does it all so you need not worry about what color to get as they are all orange. I think all that color top hooey was mostly just a marketing gimmick anyway.

Back that truck up!

Johnson Controls (who OEMs many, many battery brands) bought Optima in 2000. They started transitioning production to Mexico and had some start up quality problems between 2005-2010. They are now well past that. I have one Red Top purchased in 2012 (and knew about Mexico) and another in 2013 and they are both going strong. Many batteries are now made in Mexico because labor is cheap and environmentalists don't matter.

Odyssey is also an AGM battery and at one point provided Sears DieHard Platinum.From post #11: "A Yellow Top for the Outback weighs 36.4 lbs and has 620 CCA. A Red Top weighs 31.7 lbs and has 720 CCA."

They change the chemistry for more endurance and need more to gain sufficient starting power. Selling someone a battery with 5lbs more costly "stuff" while rating it lower for CCA would be the opposite of "marketing gimmick" as higher price and lower CCA is worse for most buyers: unless you are a ham operator or a stereo fanatic in which case the extra reserve is a godsend you are happy to pay for.

"The same-size Odyssey Extreme AGM weighs 50 lbs and has 850 CCA."

On my wife's minivan, which has power doors and tail gate, a 650w radio with powered subwoofer, and runs the gps with the radio, we would definitely have gone Yellow Top. But we bought an Odyssey because weight doesn't matter and it has more everything.

In my WRX,, the RT is a cheap way to get 15 lbs out of the nose and now people are using 5lb LiFeP04 motorcycle batteries for the summer - 3-5 lbs.

Tractor, where Weight Is Good, Odyssey would also be first choice.

 

[John_Mc]

In my tractor, the choice between Optima and Odyssey was made by figuring out who had the battery that would fit in the existing space without modification. I ended up with an Optima yellow top D51. None of the Odyssey options were a good fit. As long as I had at least as high a CCA rating, I didn't care about density or Optima's supposed wast of space. It's a tractor, it fits, it has more CCAs than the battery I replaced, and it will stand up to vibration.

Also, for longest life, Odyssey batteries require a slightly different charging float voltage. Not many chargers out there are set up for this. A standard charger designed for a flooded lead-acid battery will charge an Odyssey, but it's not the optimum solution. An Optima is quite happy with the standard flooded lead acid charging profile.

 

[apriordan]

In my tractor, the choice between Optima and Odyssey was made by figuring out who had the battery that would fit in the existing space without modification. I ended up with an Optima yellow top D51. None of the Odyssey options were a good fit. As long as I had at least as high a CCA rating, I didn't care about density or Optima's supposed wast of space. It's a tractor, it fits, it has more CCAs than the battery I replaced, and it will stand up to vibration.

Also, for longest life, Odyssey batteries require a slightly different charging float voltage. Not many chargers out there are set up for this. A standard charger designed for a flooded lead-acid battery will charge an Odyssey, but it's not the optimum solution. An Optima is quite happy with the standard flooded lead acid charging profile.

Good call, measured the top of the battery compartment and although I'd have to remove the air cleaner is like you said this limiting factor influences the battery I can install. Also measured the front without the grill so these will definitely impact my decision.

 

[Gary Fowler]

My one experience with Optima red top was not good. It lasted only 1.5 years and then went completely dead overnight and wouldn't take a charge. Only Optima dealer around me was a NAPA store and they didn't stock them (would order me one to be in in a couple of days) and when I found the price was over $200 I decided on a NAPA Gold battery for about half the price. It has been on my Kubota RTV 900 now for over 5 years with no problems. The RTV rarely runs more than 2-3 minutes between cranking times and it has never needed a charge. I just could never justify the cost of an AGM battery for my uses on tractors. I finally had to replace my 2010 LS tractor battery this year (bought in 2009) and I got my replacement from NAPA also mainly because they had the size that I needed but it turned out to be cheapest place in town also. My 2009 lead acid original Kubota B26 battery is still cranking fine for now, sure hope talking about it doesn't cause me to have to buy a new one for it.

 

[ovrszd]

My one experience with Optima red top was not good. It lasted only 1.5 years and then went completely dead overnight and wouldn't take a charge. Only Optima dealer around me was a NAPA store and they didn't stock them (would order me one to be in in a couple of days) and when I found the price was over $200 I decided on a NAPA Gold battery for about half the price. It has been on my Kubota RTV 900 now for over 5 years with no problems. The RTV rarely runs more than 2-3 minutes between cranking times and it has never needed a charge. I just could never justify the cost of an AGM battery for my uses on tractors. I finally had to replace my 2010 LS tractor battery this year (bought in 2009) and I got my replacement from NAPA also mainly because they had the size that I needed but it turned out to be cheapest place in town also. My 2009 lead acid original Kubota B26 battery is still cranking fine for now, sure hope talking about it doesn't cause me to have to buy a new one for it.

Might as well get one ordered.....

 

[John_Mc]

Good call, measured the top of the battery compartment and although I'd have to remove the air cleaner is like you said this limiting factor influences the battery I can install. Also measured the front without the grill so these will definitely impact my decision.

If I recall, the Optima height dimension is to the top of the battery post, not the top flat surface of the battery. Also, remember you can lay one down, or stand it on its side. AGM batteries don't care.

 

[ovrszd]

If I recall, the Optima height dimension is to the top of the battery post, not the top flat surface of the battery. Also, remember you can lay one down, or stand it on its side. AGM batteries don't care.

Used a pair of Optimas few years ago on a Jeep project. Had to build a battery rack to fit double batteries under the hood. That was a bonus to using AGM batteries. Laid both of them on their sides, stacked one on top of the other.

 

[VictorD]

Used a pair of Optimas few years ago on a Jeep project. Had to build a battery rack to fit double batteries under the hood. That was a bonus to using AGM batteries. Laid both of them on their sides, stacked one on top of the other.

Just wanted to share that I installed a red top in October 2009 on my JD 990 and it just died today. Eleven years of use in Pennsylvania. I think I値l just opt to replace it with another red top. Not bad in my opinion.

 

[ovrszd]

Just wanted to share that I installed a red top in October 2009 on my JD 990 and it just died today. Eleven years of use in Pennsylvania. I think I値l just opt to replace it with another red top. Not bad in my opinion.

Very good!!!! Thanks for the post.

 

[rScotty]

Just wanted to share that I installed a red top in October 2009 on my JD 990 and it just died today. Eleven years of use in Pennsylvania. I think I値l just opt to replace it with another red top. Not bad in my opinion.

Be careful.... get a good description of the Optima return policy. I've had to use their warranty three times now in two years.

I agree that the Red Tops used to be a really great battery. In fact, all the Optima batteries using that round cell technology were the best. We ran Red Tops in cars, PU, & small tractors for years - as well as their Yellow Tops (2 in parallel) in our commercial JD310 tractor and their Optima Blue Tops in the sailboat.

But apparently the original round cell design by Johnson Controls has been repeatedly sold to a series of lesser manufacturers in other countries. The Optima Red Tops I've bought in the last five or so years are NOT reliable. In fact just today I realized I am now replacing the fourth one we have bought since 2019. A couple of those those four lasted less than three months. None lasted a year.

The Optima warranty process is convoluted & requires a special 24 hr. test with a printout. That test isn't common or easily available. Not all dealers will do the test. So keep your receipt and the original packaging. You might want to check into local availability of that test before ordering a new red top.

The whole thing is a shame. At one time they made the best battery I've ever used. I guess I keep hoping someone who cares for quality will end up buying the Optima manufacturing technology and building them as good as we know they can be. So far, no luck.
rScotty

 

[RjCorazza]

(2) Optima Yellow Tops failed within a week off each other in my ZD326 (5 years on battery), and ZD331 (3 years on battery). That's a pretty short life for batteries that were not abused. I even run the mowers once or twice over the off season.

What bothered me most was that they both were cranking the engine fine, then immediately went totally dead (2 volts). This was some type of catastrophic failure, and certainly not expected from a supposed quality battery.

 

[oosik]

When I wanted to replace the OEM battery in the Kubota - went to the local dealer that sold Optima. One salesman said definitely - Red. While he was out in the warehouse the other salesman whispered to me - get the yellow, its better and will last longer.

I bought a group 31 Odyssey. It's got a black top and is a MUCH heavier battery with more CCA.

Why should salesmen that sell batteries be any smarter than those that sell refrigerators.

 

[not2old]

I've gotten 12 years out of two Opima's and currently more than that on one more.

 

[rScotty]

I've gotten 12 years out of two Optima's and currently more than that on one more.

The old RTs could be remarkable. I got more than that too. It was in our 2 cylinder JD and was an old Red Top made about 1998. But the Optima company has been sold several times in the 20+ years since then. Their red tops aren't so reliable now, and the warranty is difficult. I wish I could say different. It's taken me a lot of years to lose faith in Optimas. Shucks, being more optimistic than prudent, I bought a new Red Top online from the factory in April of 2020 for use in my daily driver.... It just died last week. RIP=8 mo.

Oosik writes, "Why should salesmen that sell batteries be any smarter than those that sell refrigerators."?

Are they? Darned if I know why they would be or even if they are. But then I still marvel at the fridge in the RV that cools by burning propane.

rScotty