Added Optima Yellow Top
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From: Oxford, CT
Added Optima Yellow Top
My OEM battery, almost 2 years old, does a pretty good job powering all my accessories- back up sensors, back up camera, LED bar, fog lights, Garmin navigation, Edge, radar, moderate audio system. But now, with this yellow top, I consistently hit 14.2-14.3 according to Edge (while driving) and 14.4 with a meter while its idle. Great great battery and I recommend it to all off roaders since its a dry cell battey and you can mount it upside down, sideways, upways, whatever way you want and shake and shake them up.
Only downside is that it cost me $200 after taxes....I guess its not that bad because you get better performance than any other batteries in the industry as well as they last twice as long as liquid batteries.
Only downside is that it cost me $200 after taxes....I guess its not that bad because you get better performance than any other batteries in the industry as well as they last twice as long as liquid batteries.
Post Fiend
Joined: Mar 2005
Posts: 8,542
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From: Louisiana
Just currious, what are the specs on the yellow top? CCA? ect...
I was looking at either a odyssey or a optima for my Bronco's soon to have winch, and both are around the same price range.
I was looking at either a odyssey or a optima for my Bronco's soon to have winch, and both are around the same price range.
Last edited by MBBFord; Mar 25, 2007 at 02:07 PM.
Fleet Mechanic
Joined: Nov 2000
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From: In my House
Cool deal. The only really downside of the optima batteries are they have a limited range, which means they have a lower reserve capacity. Did they give you a warranty with it? B&B Performance seems to have the best pricing I have seen.
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Joined: May 2003
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From: Sunny tourist infested FL
Your OEM battery should have been fine...
I would have opted for a high output alternator.
The 14.4 and the other reading you are seeing with the truck run is the votage the alternator is outputting...
You can account for part of those number because your battery is new.
I would have opted for a high output alternator.
The 14.4 and the other reading you are seeing with the truck run is the votage the alternator is outputting...
You can account for part of those number because your battery is new.
New User
Joined: Mar 2007
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Good luck on that one. I've dealt with many of these batteries, and they don't last very well. The yellow tops generally some with a one year warranty, and a large percentage of them need it.
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From: Oxford, CT
Originally Posted by 96f150
Cool deal. The only really downside of the optima batteries are they have a limited range, which means they have a lower reserve capacity. Did they give you a warranty with it? B&B Performance seems to have the best pricing I have seen.
I am not too fond with B&B and AutoZone actually had the YellowTops in stock. The prices were the same so it was no brainer for me. Plus, B&B is very far from where I live
.These batteries DO last. My buddy has a serious sound system: Pioneer Z1 head unit, Alpine Type R components all around, 2- 12"Alpine Type R subs, and all the door/subs are powered by amplifiers (4amps), and he has 2 capacitators to help him out. He has in there one yellow top in the rear where the spare tires used to be, and a red top under the hood. His battery has never failed
Super Moderator
Joined: Aug 2003
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From: Isanti, MN
But....that has nothing to do with the battery!
If you are drawing more power than the alternator can supply, it will drain the battery. Then, when you shut your stuff off, it'll be recharged by the alternator.
If you are getting 14.x volts constantly, then it is NOT draining the battery at all, meaning your expensive Optima is sitting there fat and happy, not giving out any juice. The ALTERNATOR is still pushing all your electronics. The only time the battery ever supplies power is either
1. when starting the truck
2. when aftermarket accessories exceed the alternator's capacity
And if the aftermarket accessories exceed the alternator's capacity for too long, regardless of the battery used, it WILL discharge, your truck WILL stall, and you WILL need to be jump started.
IMO a high capacity alternator is a better choice if you are trying to push a big sound system or lots of accesssories.
If you are drawing more power than the alternator can supply, it will drain the battery. Then, when you shut your stuff off, it'll be recharged by the alternator.
If you are getting 14.x volts constantly, then it is NOT draining the battery at all, meaning your expensive Optima is sitting there fat and happy, not giving out any juice. The ALTERNATOR is still pushing all your electronics. The only time the battery ever supplies power is either
1. when starting the truck
2. when aftermarket accessories exceed the alternator's capacity
And if the aftermarket accessories exceed the alternator's capacity for too long, regardless of the battery used, it WILL discharge, your truck WILL stall, and you WILL need to be jump started.
IMO a high capacity alternator is a better choice if you are trying to push a big sound system or lots of accesssories.
Posting Guru
Joined: Feb 2001
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From: Maple Grove, PA
Originally Posted by Crazy001
But....that has nothing to do with the battery!
If you are drawing more power than the alternator can supply, it will drain the battery. Then, when you shut your stuff off, it'll be recharged by the alternator.
If you are getting 14.x volts constantly, then it is NOT draining the battery at all, meaning your expensive Optima is sitting there fat and happy, not giving out any juice. The ALTERNATOR is still pushing all your electronics. The only time the battery ever supplies power is either
1. when starting the truck
2. when aftermarket accessories exceed the alternator's capacity
And if the aftermarket accessories exceed the alternator's capacity for too long, regardless of the battery used, it WILL discharge, your truck WILL stall, and you WILL need to be jump started.
IMO a high capacity alternator is a better choice if you are trying to push a big sound system or lots of accesssories.
If you are drawing more power than the alternator can supply, it will drain the battery. Then, when you shut your stuff off, it'll be recharged by the alternator.
If you are getting 14.x volts constantly, then it is NOT draining the battery at all, meaning your expensive Optima is sitting there fat and happy, not giving out any juice. The ALTERNATOR is still pushing all your electronics. The only time the battery ever supplies power is either
1. when starting the truck
2. when aftermarket accessories exceed the alternator's capacity
And if the aftermarket accessories exceed the alternator's capacity for too long, regardless of the battery used, it WILL discharge, your truck WILL stall, and you WILL need to be jump started.
IMO a high capacity alternator is a better choice if you are trying to push a big sound system or lots of accesssories.
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From: nevada
In this part of the the world, if you get 3 yrs out of a battery, consider yourself lucky. In my 28 yrs in the desert, the majority of the batteries I have had to replace didnt make it past the second summer. Especially the "sealed" batteries. No way to get any water in them. I have a used Red Top Optima in my 390 '72 that hasnt given me any probs for 2 yrs, so we'll see. I have had it run down a couple of times for different reasons, but I like the fact that it recharges so quickly. The '05 still has the OEM in it, but have been considering changing it out before I get stranded. (Or maybe I'll just carry my spare Everstart in the back when I take a trip.) When you get back in the mountains all by yourself, you never know. Murphy's law and all.
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From: Oxford, CT
yea...I mean yea as far as starting goes, it starts MINT. The "old" battery, even though it may have been good, it did hesistate at times and especially if I left it on ACC for about 10min playing the radio. I love my battery
