I'm using the Yellow Tops and they have more punch than any other battery I have ever used. No noticable drop in Ampers even in -10* weather. Now 1.5 years old.
My truck has Optimas in it(the red top ones, if that makes a difference) It came with them, so I don't know what they are, let me check sometime this weekend and I will get back to you.
Get yellow tops if you get them. They are made to use and a starting battery and a deep cycle battery. The red tops don't like to be deep cycled so if you run them dead they don't like to last longer after that. The yellow tops you can run dead several times and it won't hurt them. For more punch they make a larger version. I think it is a series 31 or something like that if I recall correctly. I've been considering running just one of them.
Not too long ago i bought two of the largest yellow tops they make. Those things ROCK! They're expensive as hell, but you can't kill them. The large yellow ones like i got come with a two year warranty instead of a one year like the smaller yellow ones. The main reason i got them was that's the only other battery other than the stock motorcraft battery that will fit in the van. They are actually not as wide as normal batteries because they offset the spiralcells, but they are alot longer.
Kinda funny story and a testament to them. Not too long ago i replaced my injector return caps and i had to crank for a while to get her started, the batteries were not too old, and i cranked for a while, and decided, hey why stress out my new batteries, may as well hook the jumper cables off the Ram and then crank her, so i get the ram going and hook up the cables and when i hooked them up the ram lights got brighter from my batteries giving the Ram Juice, [img]/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/eek.gif[/img], even after they'd been cranking for a bit. Pretty mega.
I have had the red tops for 4 years now with no problems. If I bought again would probably buy yellow tops.
Chris
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97 F-350 cc srw 4x4,White,cab hi Leer,E4OD,4.10's,Hypermax H2E,Banks intercooler,BDP stage 1 injectors and fuel system,BTS tranny,BTS twin hpop,4 postion chip programmed by Cale,Skyjacker 4" system,35" BFG's W/Welds,Rear air bags,Hayden 26,000 trans cooler,4" exhaust,Tymar intake&hx mod,Amsoil dual bypass filter w/Amsoil syn. oil, and diff. lube, Ford aic, Joe Servo idm.
353 HP 677 TQ on BTS's dyno at 0 correction
I've been running Optima red tops for 4 yrs. in my PSD with no problems, and also have been running them in some of our farm equipment(3 tractors and 1 4WD Chev/454 pick-up)for close to 10 yrs., if you buy a pair for your truck you wont be disappointed.
I agree with the statement about the durability of the yellows versus the reds. I have a couple of red tops that were punished down to far and will not come back to life. They will work fine, but will not hold a charge for a significant time now. But man the red tops aren't afraid to let some amperage go. They will produce more cranking amperage than the yellows, but the yellows will last longer on a durated load, and they will take a beating better. As far as running one into the ground, the yellow will usually come back for more, but the red tops can throw their hands up if you run em to far down for to long. Lets not forget about the marine blue tops. Talk about a battery that just will not die. They will run forever.
I have 2 reds in the Bronco, 1 in the Miata, 1 in the XJ and 2 Stingers in the Truck. All of them work great. Stingers are smaller, but more $$. I would echo what host have said about the yellows. I have killed reds, but they were ABUSED!
To me, there is no good reason to buy a reular battery.
I even put an optima in my moms Saturn.
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'95 F250 PSD, Bean 170's, AFE intake, HPC'd 3" downpipe and 3 1/2" cat delete, Magna flow 4" exhaust, DP/Bean 6 pos flip chip with TWildman burns, 6" lift, 35's, 4.10's, ARB frt/rear, custom pre-runner bumper, and some stereo stuff. Daily driven.
'73 Bronco buggy
'06 Jeep Liberty CRD (stock for now)
'90 Miata go-cart
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So, how does one distinguish a "small" yellow top Optima from a "big" one?
Vic
Redlands, CA.
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You know how they have 6 cells? The big ones have either 7 or nine. You can't mistake them.
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That would make it a 14 volt or an 18 volt which I don't think is the case. They are 2 volts per cell. That is the way pretty much all batteries are. I just ordered a series 31 for mine after I've had enough with the NAPA batteries going dead on me all the time. I guess I'll see how it works shortly. Supposed to have it today! [img]/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/biggrin.gif[/img]
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