What are the differences between the optima red top and yellow top. I have a infinity basslink with a 4 channel amp. I dont know if this matters.

Thanks

http://www.optimabatteries.com/optima_products/

If you are replacing your factory battery then you use the red top. The yellow top is a deep cycle battery, it is not intended to be used as a main battery for a car.

The other difference is the CCA(Cold Cranking Amps). I've got the Blue top marine Optima and love it!

The blue top is the same as a red top, but with reversed terminals for marine applications. There is no need to put a blue top in a car. Red top is best for most car applications. It has higher CCA's. The yellow top is good for applications that may include deep cycling or extreme current draw, like winching or keeping high current lights on without the engine running. (this will still kill your battery rather quickly, but with very little long term effect on the battery, since it is designed for deep cycling)

So essentially, when I had a Yellow Top in my Civic as my main starting battery and it had to be replaced twice, this was a wrong decision on my part? I should have gone with the Red Top?

The blue top is the same as a red top, but with reversed terminals for marine applications. There is no need to put a blue top in a car. Red top is best for most car applications. It has higher CCA's. The yellow top is good for applications that may include deep cycling or extreme current draw, like winching or keeping high current lights on without the engine running. (this will still kill your battery rather quickly, but with very little long term effect on the battery, since it is designed for deep cycling)


The Blue Top has 2 extra terminals for accesories like my grounding kit and HID retros. Here's a pic. All of the wires and terminals look closer than they really are by the way.

http://i21.photobucket.com/albums/b253/sunshine800/Bat3.jpg

Your incorrect in assuming the blue top is the same as a red top with just extra terminals. In fact (after talking about the subject with an optima rep) - the blue top is a combination of the red and yellow's, deep cycle with CCA's as good as the red top, PLUS accessory posts.

For the extra money ($200 MSRP i believe) - the blue is a better buy...unless your running a completely stock car and just want a better replacement.

:thumbsup:

Anybody know if these optima batteries hold up better to heat than the standard batteries? I am replacing mine every 1.5 years or so...

Your incorrect in assuming the blue top is the same as a red top with just extra terminals. In fact (after talking about the subject with an optima rep) - the blue top is a combination of the red and yellow's, deep cycle with CCA's as good as the red top, PLUS accessory posts.

For the extra money ($200 MSRP i believe) - the blue is a better buy...unless your running a completely stock car and just want a better replacement.

:thumbsup:

Exactly, and I got mine for $160 from Batteries Plus in VA

The Blue Top has 2 extra terminals for accesories like my grounding kit and HID retros. Here's a pic. All of the wires and terminals look closer than they really are by the way.

http://i21.photobucket.com/albums/b253/sunshine800/Bat3.jpg

so does the yellow top if you get the right one...

http://www.diversifiedbattery.com/media/graphics/D34-78.jpg

I've been using a red top for about 4 years now, proved itself very worthy. Left dome lights on over a 20hr period and it still turned over...No dimming of lights with the system at full blast, but I did increase my alternator from 80 amp to a oem 150amp NOS (New Old Stock) alternator meant for duty in SL600's and S600's. (the mount and wiring is the same, made by Bosch)

I have a yellow top d34/78, the one with the GM terminals on the front. I have no complaints, I had to remove all the plastic from the orig. battery tray & also cut a lot of the metal underneath that to make this one fit, don't think it would fit with the stock airbox though, but I have no clue

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v76/jeremykan/W7001.jpg

^ Good god bro! What the heck are you running? What is all that?

That doesn't run all the time does it?

^ Good god bro! What the heck are you running? What is all that?

http://www.tsunamionline.com/product.php?id=300

tsunami battery topper, basically it's just fancy fused ring termainals w.a built in volt-meter that sits on top of battery, I never liked to look of ring terminals on the battery, so I shelled out an extra $100 to have this since it looks clean, has the voltmeter & indicator light(that battery is still goode), accepts 0 - 8 gauge. running one JL10W7, JL 500/1, tsunami 10 farad cap. wire out of top left on 60A is sub power, top right is ground, bottom right wire goes from fuse box to battery, white wire is starter (got lazy & didn't rewire that one), and that section of wire you see on top left corner of pic is from alternator to fuse box, used all monster 4 gauge in shrink wrap.

That doesn't run all the time does it?

as of right now, that is my only battery, and until I get a new alternator then more batteries & bass will go on, but that's down the line a little.

I would not call that the "right battery"....either way they come with the extra terminals, but the posts on the blue top are easier to use and you dont have to buy posts..and they hold more. Its a superior battery as far as CCA and can be found for the same price as the yellow top a few places

I did not mean that that particular battery was 'the right one' I meant that if you get that particular one, it does in fact have two sets of posts. Sorry, I should have worded it differently. The posts on the blue top are easier to use, but IMO look terrible, and are too close to the battery tie down in most cars for my liking. I would not want to short out the battery while driving. In a marine application you do not have to worry about a battery tie down contacting one of the terminals, since the boat does not have a chassis ground like a car does. The Batteries that have the GM posts work well too. If you go to a local stereo shop and buy a couple of GM battery posts that are made for adding a stereo, they have a nut or bolt depending on the brand that allows you to use ring terminals. It looks much cleaner, and less of a fluster cluck than the blue tops, but to each his own. Use what works best for you!