Red, Yellow or Blue top Optima?

HR9121 · 01-19-2017, 09:57 PM

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?

Jeff Stout · 01-19-2017, 11:35 PM

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.

Maverick · 01-20-2017, 12:30 AM

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

Mark Ugrich · 01-20-2017, 12:51 AM

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.

bigfoot584 · 01-20-2017, 01:01 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by HR9121

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?

This should help with your selection.

HR9121 · 01-20-2017, 08:02 PM

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.

Steve Stasko · 01-20-2017, 08:15 PM

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.

340Cuda · 01-20-2017, 11:47 PM

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

Rory McNeil · 01-21-2017, 02:54 AM

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,

SGSST109E · 01-21-2017, 08:37 AM

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.

01-19-2017, 09:57 PM	#1
HR9121 Live Reporter Join Date: Jan 2011 Location: New Bern, NC Posts: 3,466 Likes: 146 Liked 3,355 Times in 730 Posts	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? __________________ James Williamson W200 J/SA. SS/JA

01-19-2017, 11:35 PM	#2
Jeff Stout VIP Member Join Date: Dec 2001 Location: phoenix Posts: 1,481 Likes: 63 Liked 701 Times in 279 Posts	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. Last edited by Jeff Stout; 01-19-2017 at 11:36 PM. Reason: more

01-20-2017, 12:30 AM	#3
Maverick Member Join Date: Dec 2010 Posts: 297 Likes: 2 Liked 33 Times in 24 Posts	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

01-20-2017, 12:51 AM	#4
Mark Ugrich Member Join Date: May 2011 Location: Auburndale,Florida Posts: 220 Likes: 27 Liked 71 Times in 38 Posts	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.

01-20-2017, 08:02 PM	#6
HR9121 Live Reporter Join Date: Jan 2011 Location: New Bern, NC Posts: 3,466 Likes: 146 Liked 3,355 Times in 730 Posts	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. __________________ James Williamson W200 J/SA. SS/JA

01-20-2017, 08:15 PM	#7
Steve Stasko Member Join Date: Jul 2011 Location: Western PA Posts: 448 Likes: 12 Liked 270 Times in 140 Posts	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.

01-20-2017, 11:47 PM	#8
340Cuda VIP Member Join Date: Apr 2003 Location: Tulsa, Oklahoma Posts: 1,649 Likes: 3,755 Liked 752 Times in 325 Posts	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

01-21-2017, 02:54 AM	#9
Rory McNeil VIP Member Join Date: Jun 2007 Location: from Vancouver BC Canada, now in Nova Scotia Posts: 1,291 Likes: 292 Liked 1,052 Times in 287 Posts	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, __________________ NHRA 6390 STK M/S 85 Mustang

01-21-2017, 08:37 AM	#10
SGSST109E Member Join Date: Jun 2007 Location: NJ Posts: 350 Likes: 62 Liked 126 Times in 61 Posts	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.