What is the difference between a Optima Red Top and Yellow Top?

[Smokintires]

I was on http://www.optimabatteries.com/optim...wtop/index.php
and i couldn't notice the difference between the both color top batteries. Both say they are "High Performance". So tell me the difference.

[alftinc]

Color.

[Txturbo]

Red Tops are higher Cold Cranking Amps and 3 year warranty, yellow tops are 1 year warranty and lower Cold Cranking Amps.

[kdoske]

I'm just curious because I honestly don't know, but why are people concerned with replacing the batteries in a brand new vehicle?

Is it for stereo modifications or something?

[ShnOmac]

Yellow top is also a deep cycle batt.... It is made to be drained down to lower levels without a charge and then charge back up. Good for Car or audio events where you would be using juice but not running the car.

[ShnOmac]

From optima site.....



RedTop: Use this for normal engine starting where an alternator immediately monitors the state of charge and provides energy to the battery whenever it is needed. This would describe most stock vehicles.
Automotive and RV under-hood starting
Heavy equipment where starting is the primary function
Diesel powered vehicles with no aftermarket electronics


YellowTop: Use this when electrical loads are higher than average, or when the discharge cycle is more than typical engine starting, such as vehicles without alternators. This also includes vehicles with significant electrical loads that may exceed the average alternator output (for example aftermarket audio system, GPS, chargers, winch, snowplow, inverters, drag cars). This can also include vehicles that have a lot of electronics from the factory, such as a minivan with power sliding doors and a DVD player, especially if the DVD player is used when the engine isn’t running.

Racing vehicles without a charging system (alternator or generator)
Dedicated drag racing vehicles
Diesel powered vehicles with aftermarket electronics
Car audio/video applications exceeding 250 watts over the OE system
Vehicles or heavy equipment with inverters, hydraulics, winches or other accessories
Electric vehicles

http://www.optimabatteries.com/product_support/faqs.php

[camaro5]

Originally Posted by shnomac77

Yellow top is also a deep cycle batt.... It is made to be drained down to lower levels without a charge and then charge back up. Good for Car or audio events where you would be using juice but not running the car.

Yep.

In everyday terms...The Yellow can come back from being completely dead.

The Red, and most other batteries, cannot. They are permanently damaged with even one full-discharge.

Oh, they may work, but not as well, and not as long.

Get the Yellow.

[Smokintires]

Originally Posted by camaro5

Yep.

In everyday terms...The Yellow can come back from being completely dead.

The Red, and most other batteries, cannot. They are permanently damaged with even one full-discharge.

Oh, they may work, but not as well, and not as long.

Get the Yellow.

Ok, So the yellow top battery is for car shows, and aftermarket electronics. It drains the battery fast, but you can recharge it and it will be fine. But I don't want to recharge the battery every year. Right?

AND the Red Top battery doesn't discharge so fast but after 1 recharge the battery is damaged. Right?

Im looking for a battery for a long lasting daily driver/ slightly modified camaro. So someone help me out.

[Bear]

Originally Posted by Smokintires

Im looking for a battery for a long lasting daily driver/ slightly modified camaro. So someone help me out.

Seriously?Its called a stocker. Now you have more money for useful mods.

[westvanGT]

You'd need to be running a lot of electronics to need to get the yellow top. What does the standard alternator puch in the Camaro, 130W? Thats plenty of juice unless you're putting in a huge system.

[Gentry78]

red top is a starting battery meaning it puts out a big punch for the the first 5 seconds to get the car started easily, and a yellow top is a mix between a staring battery and a deep cycle, so you get starting power and the benefits of a long lasting deep cycle that can be recharged from dead many times as well as low internal resistance to power electrical components easily and more efficiently.

[CWI]

Originally Posted by westvanGT

You'd need to be running a lot of electronics to need to get the yellow top. What does the standard alternator puch in the Camaro, 130W? Thats plenty of juice unless you're putting in a huge system.

Alternator output is measured in amperes at a given voltage, somewhere around 13.8 VDC. Watts are output power ratings on stereo amplifiers.

This is at least the second thread the OP has started on this subject. If he is just using his car as daily driver with minimal mods, The factory battery should last for years. No need to spend $100+ on a new battery just to have a "custom" battery. I will use mine till it dies, then consider a yellow or what may be on the market a couple years from now.

[Iroczlover]

Ok lets do it this way, I have a 72 buick skylark vert that is only ran during the summer months, so it sits in my garage every winter, it has a Yellow topped optima in it.

Sitting right next to it is a 71 RS/z28 camaro, which is ran about the same amount of time, that has a red top in it.


Guess which one I have less issues with?????

The yellow top one.
Both cars have similar Sound systems in them.

Thinking about going yellow all the way around.