Optima Batteries Any Good?
Thread Starter
TECH Enthusiast
Joined: Aug 2006
Posts: 623
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From: In your sisters panties
Optima Batteries Any Good? This my 3rd battery in 5 yrs. My car has a +/- 800W sound system w/ a 1.2 Farad Cap. The origional battery lasted 3 yrs, the one i just put in last yr (BOSCH) lasted only 1 yr. 
If i leave my car sit for a week, the battery normally dies. It is my Cap that is draining my battery, this i know b/c when i disconnect the Cap, the battery stays charged. Hell i have to disconnect the Cap in order for my Trickle Charger to work, as the Cap draws too much for the charger to compinsate for. Incase anyones asks about my setup, one "port" on my Cap is fed driectly from the battery, one "port" from the Cap is grounded to the chasis, and the last "port" on the Cap feeds my amp; like it should.
I need a battery that can handle a sound system. I suspect I'm putting to much stress on the battery and it is failing. When i use the liquid tester, 3 cells were at "recharge", 2 were "fair", and 1 cell didn't even move the needle. I also noticed i needed to add water, which i did, recharged the battery, retested, and got the previous results.
The only other things i have are my SLP fan switch (that is only used while the car is running), and my alarm system which draws practically nothing
How do the Optima batteries hold up? Red top or Yellow?
If i leave my car sit for a week, the battery normally dies. It is my Cap that is draining my battery, this i know b/c when i disconnect the Cap, the battery stays charged. Hell i have to disconnect the Cap in order for my Trickle Charger to work, as the Cap draws too much for the charger to compinsate for. Incase anyones asks about my setup, one "port" on my Cap is fed driectly from the battery, one "port" from the Cap is grounded to the chasis, and the last "port" on the Cap feeds my amp; like it should.
I need a battery that can handle a sound system. I suspect I'm putting to much stress on the battery and it is failing. When i use the liquid tester, 3 cells were at "recharge", 2 were "fair", and 1 cell didn't even move the needle. I also noticed i needed to add water, which i did, recharged the battery, retested, and got the previous results.
The only other things i have are my SLP fan switch (that is only used while the car is running), and my alarm system which draws practically nothing
How do the Optima batteries hold up? Red top or Yellow?
TECH Resident
Joined: Jun 2009
Posts: 856
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From: Elizabeth City NC
I ran a red top in my 94 Silverado for about 2yrs, with 3000watts yankin on it thru a 2farad cap... I then transfered the battery to my 86 Monte SS when I got rid of the truck and it lasted another 2yrs in that car before I sold it with the battery in it with the same 3000watts and 2 Farad cap hangin on it. I like them, altho I have heard storys of them lasting a year sometimes and dying out of nowhere.. Ive never experianced it tho
I just replaced my AC Delco battery with a Red Top. The positive terminal was so corroded on the Delco that part of the terminal on the battery came off with the screw and I had to get a whole new screw. So far the Red Top has not disappointed me..it cranks up immediately every time. I also have a Stinger Powercell in the rear powering my subs/speakers.
FYI the cheapest place I found for the 75/25 size was Amazon.com, I got mine for $137 with free super saver shipping.
FYI the cheapest place I found for the 75/25 size was Amazon.com, I got mine for $137 with free super saver shipping.
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TECH Enthusiast
Joined: Aug 2006
Posts: 623
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From: In your sisters panties
Thread Starter
TECH Enthusiast
Joined: Aug 2006
Posts: 623
Likes: 0
From: In your sisters panties
I ran a red top in my 94 Silverado for about 2yrs, with 3000watts yankin on it thru a 2farad cap... I then transfered the battery to my 86 Monte SS when I got rid of the truck and it lasted another 2yrs in that car before I sold it with the battery in it with the same 3000watts and 2 Farad cap hangin on it. I like them, altho I have heard storys of them lasting a year sometimes and dying out of nowhere.. Ive never experianced it tho
Everytime I use one and sits two weeks it's reservess go down. Eventuly frying battery. Oil cell I have 2 bad optimas in garage or do a marine. I had a guy tell me he had a optima in the car. I told him to keep it . I would buy another new battery, because he was acting like he wanted more Money because of it.
Teching In
Joined: Apr 2008
Posts: 40
Likes: 0
From: Iowa
I have 2 red tops. One has been in my mustang for 4 years, it has been started on fire once and still works great 
The other one is about 3 years old and is currently in its second vehicle. I was running a 600W amp off the second one of them with no problems. Real happy with both.
The other one is about 3 years old and is currently in its second vehicle. I was running a 600W amp off the second one of them with no problems. Real happy with both. 
Used to have a yellow top on my truck several years ago and could leave lighting, stereo, etc on for hours and it would fire right up. It lasted several years and went through 2 vehicles and finally died with an old alternator. I put a red top in my Z and it lasted only around a month and kicked the bucket from the load from my cap. I ended up taking it back to my buddy a week ago and got a new one. I only drive my car once every month or two so I just hooked up a disconnect switch and connect the battery only when I am about to drive the car so the cap doesn't have any time to drain the battery. I was thinking of hooking up some sort of relay to the amp wire to only connect it when the car is in accessory mode so that the cap isn't pulling amps while the car is sitting. It would have to be a pretty heavy duty relay though.
http://www.stingerelectronics.com/pr...=12&ParentID=1
Id go with a yellow top personally.
I used this to isolate a primary and secondary battery. Uses an ignition signal to activate. Worked perfect.
http://www.stingerelectronics.com/pr...=12&ParentID=1
http://www.stingerelectronics.com/pr...=12&ParentID=1