gdeal
Southern California
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What are the major differences between the Optima Blue Top and the Optima Yellow Top? I would like to get the yellow top but the blue top has the dual terminal posts that allows you to hook up those small circular trailer leads. And the blue is only about 15 dollars less than the yellow. Note: I am not even talking about the red top. I know that is just for starting and is NOT deep cycle.
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stacaz822
Phoenix, Arizona
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From reading their site, none of them appears to be a true deep cycle design. They are all described as a combination of "starting" and something else. This tells me they aren't designed with the thicker lead plates needed for true deep cycle use. They're also very low capacity, like 50 to 75 amp hours across the model lines.
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smkettner
Southern California
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It is the case you need to watch. Dark grey is starting, light grey is starting/deep cycle you need the light grey case. Red is only dark grey case, Blue has either case depending on model, and Yellow is always light grey. Otherwise get whatever terminals work best. I had two D31T that worked great but at $210 for 75 amp hours they are a bit low on power to $$$. In contrast you can get a wet cell 115 amp hrs for about $75.
If you really want AGM consider Lifeline brand.
http://www.lifelinebatteries.com/
http://www.bestconverter.com/Lifeline-AGM-Batteries_c_58.html
Check around for better pricing.
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stacaz822
Phoenix, Arizona
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Sorry, I was thinking something else. Optima's are AGM batteries, which *are* true deep cycle technology. But they are very low capacity for their price, not really practical for RV use.
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NPD MECHANIC
Hooksett, NH
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i wouldnt waste your money you can get a good interstate for much less.
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gdeal
Southern California
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NPD Mechanic wrote:i wouldnt waste your money you can get a good interstate for much less.
I think I can get a lot of different brands of batteries for a lot less. But I am looking for maintenance free and most deep cycle batteries I've seen have those caps on top which leads me to believe they need to be pry'ed off from time to time and checked for fluid level and filled with distilled water. Tell me of another Maintenance Free Deep Cycle Battery under 200 dollars and I'll buy it.
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stacaz822
Phoenix, Arizona
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No battery is actually "maintenance free." That's purely marketing terminology. There are sealed, and not-sealed types. For the much more cost effective non-sealed types (with caps), you can get these, and if you store in a moderate climate should only have to look at water levels once a year or less. Way cheaper and 99% maintenance free...
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mike4947
N. Syracuse, NY
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That's why you need to follow that Lifeline link. Same AGM technology as the Optimas, but since they use conventional straight plates rather than the curved plates of the Optima's you get a lot more lead per battery size which means more amperage. And besides the Optimas cost about 50% more than the Lifelines.
So you loss both ways buying Optimas for anything other than off road racing or off shore boat racing where their vibration resistance is neccessary.
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gdeal
Southern California
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Is a 55 Amp Hour battery good enough for a small folding camper that has a 3 way fridge and an automatic sink pump?
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stacaz822
Phoenix, Arizona
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Well, that depends on lots of things. Do you camp where they have electrical hookups? How many days do you need to have power without hookups. Will you use the furnace? Lights?
When I camp for a couple days with wife and two kids, we need 220 amp-hours of capacity to make it through without having to recharge (at 50% total drain).
You'll need to answer those questions first in order to determine to amp-hour capacity you need.
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