Red, Yellow or Blue top Optima?
 

Need to replace my batteries and currently use the blue top but I've noticed in the past most run the red and yellow. What's your preference and why?

Re: Red, Yellow or Blue top Optima?
 

Don't know about yellow but I thought blue was for boats, charge it once and let it run down until it runs out of power. If charged before nearly drained than it will have a shortened life. Not good for race car. Red top is for cars with charging systems that can charge battery after start up or for cars without alternator to be charged back up during a run. Hope I didn't confuse anyone, just going by what I have heard in the pits.

Re: Red, Yellow or Blue top Optima?
 

I run one of the big yellow one and a normal blue one. Last time the batteries lasted till in the 11 th year, and then I replaced them with new ones

Re: Red, Yellow or Blue top Optima?
 

I used a yellow top for years with no changing system. One of the best batteries I ever owned, although a bit heavy. As far as I know the yellow top is a deep cycle battery, red top is to be used with a charging system.Im not sure about the blue top, but marine use would make sense.

Re: Red, Yellow or Blue top Optima?
 

This should help with your selection.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=FaM7exZmzKY

Re: Red, Yellow or Blue top Optima?
 

Thank you for all the input, yes the blue top are really for marine use so not really sure why I thought it was such a great idea. Jeff this is problem I have is short life only got a couple seasons out of these. I run an altenator ofcourse so I think I will try the red top. Thanks again.

Re: Red, Yellow or Blue top Optima?
 

I had a small red-top in my street/strip car for 7 years. I got it from a friend that used to work at New Castle Battery (Turbo-Start), he had it in his race car for around 3-4 years before that. When it finally went bad, I bought the 1000 CCA red-top. Excellent batteries, I'm very satisfied with them.

Re: Red, Yellow or Blue top Optima?
 

My understanding is that a blue top is the same as a yellow top (deep cycle) except they have the dual terminals. I run a red top for ignition and a yellow top for everything else.
Bill

Re: Red, Yellow or Blue top Optima?
 

When I bought my used Wells Cargo trailer, it came with an optima blue top battery. As mentioned, the blue top has 2 pairs of terminals, 2 regular terminals, and 2 smaller threaded studs. On my trailer the 2 large terminals went to the inside winch, and the smaller studs were for various 12 volt accessories, like radio, 12 volt lighting, tongue jack, alarm, etc. I replaced the Optima with a conventional deep cycle wet cell battery, because I could never get the Optima to take a full charge. Optima says that you need a special battery charger, I tried an alternate charging method, using a 2nd regular battery and booster cables, with a regular battery charger, but it never seemed as strong as I thought it should have been. The wet cell battery pulls the car into the trailer with the winch much stronger than the Optima ever did,

Re: Red, Yellow or Blue top Optima?
 

As a retired employee of Johnson Controls, that owns Optima I can tell you the facts. Yellow and blue are the same except for the terminals. You should use a Battery Tender charger or the one marketed by Optima, both are very good. The danger in using any other charger is over voltage. The batteries can take any current but the killer is a standard charger going over 15 volts. When I take a battery out of the race car in goes to trailer duty. Usually in the car 6 to 10 years.