Best battery

[nedflanders]

Sorry if this has been flogged but search won't work on my phone! After 8 years faithful service it's time to renew the battery on my 90 td5. Although I winch I don't think I need dual battery's as I don't run anything like fridges, lights etc, I've got a decent set of battery's in the camper trailer for that. So best battery for a single set up with the odd winch duty. :)

[Eevo]

optima yellowtop for me

[djam1]

Optima blue top for me

[n plus one]

Largest capacity Odyssey that fits.

[Greyfox]

What is the differences between blue and yellow top,
Is it just the cold crank amps?

[andy_d110]

Energizer

[DiscoMick]

I recently bought a 100ah Repco wet cell for $150, which I thought was pretty good as it was about half the cost of an AGM of similar size. I just couldn't justify spending the extra money on a battery.

[Eevo]

What is the differences between blue and yellow top,


the colour.

between blue and yellow, the blue has extra terminals.

[nedflanders]

I recently bought a 100ah Repco wet cell for $150, which I thought was pretty good as it was about the cost of an AGM of similar size. I just couldn't justify spending the extra money on a battery.

Always used to say on breakdowns in the UK that a vehicles battery is the hardest working component in a vehicle, constantly charging/discharging in a range of temperatures and conditions and expected to turn an engine over and run a range of accessories, I always try and buy the best battery I possibly can. :)

[Nomad9]

Eevo,
Agree completely, the blue top makes things so much easier for connecting accessories, saves having heaps of connections on the terminals.

The blue Optima is made for marine applications well that is what I was told, slightly different build same capacity as the yellow top.

[n plus one]

Terminals (and marketing) are the only differences between blue and yellow Optimas. Reds are different - higher cca for starting purposes.

[clubagreenie]

Reds are starters.
Blues are pure deep cycles.
Yellows are combos.

[Leroy_Riding]

Reds are starters.
Blues are pure deep cycles.
Yellows are combos.

are you sure? (legitimte question)

I always thought blue was just a yellow with extra terminals? (same price as a yellow so why not go blue for the convenience? if there is a difference I will re-think purchasing a blue to go parallel with my yellow and gran a second yellow.

but all the same another vote here fro the Optima Yellowtop, though don't look past an Amaron if you have no need fro deep cycle, my Amaron has been discharged to 1.5v when I lent my old 4wd to a friend (he left the lights on for a week without using the car!) that was 2 years ago, the battery wont fit in my defender (too big) but it sits on trickle charge in the garage and is used to jump start the mower and finds itself in the back of my fathers wagon to run his fridge for a week without charging, coem back gets put on trickle charge, keeps going, and the other week I had to shoe horn it into the odl commodore (my defender was at/still is at the dealer) and used fro cranking duties for a few days and help up fine, load test it and tests 100% and at half the price of an optima for more capacity (its 900CCA) worth while taking a look at, it is AGM also.

Leroy

[manchild21000]

1 more for the odyssey PC1400.I ran it for years and it will put up with the winch no worries.

[djam1]

Reds are starters.
Blues are pure deep cycles.
Yellows are combos.

I think you will find
Reds are starters
Blues are combos
Yellows are pure deep cycles

[Psimpson7]

I run a Century 86zmf as my main battery.

It has 950cca and I think 120ish AH

Also pretty cheap and easliy available from Battery World.

[clubagreenie]

I know I've seen yellows with the extra terminals (the female threads for a bolt in).

To clarify, from the Optima PDF's

Bluetops; Type 34m, starting only. D27m, D31m & D34m Starting and deep cycle.
Yellowtops; All types warranted for starting & deep cycle and vehicles with large accessory loads.
Redtops; All types warranted for starting applications only.

[patclan]

Maybe off topic, but I have a yellow top as a second battery in a dual battery setup with a sidewinder dual battery system and I find it rubbish.

I only use it for the fridge and I can drive all day (7am to 5pm) the led flicks on when my oem varta is charged about 20mins after driving so the yellow top should be getting charged and by 9am in the morning the fridge alarm is on and the battery monitor is at 11.5v.

Maybe there is something wrong with my system but I think the $350 I spent on the yellow top could have been better spent.

So I would not buy another unless I find something else is wrong other than the battery.

[clubagreenie]

I think that it could be an issue with the charging system/method. Tim (Drivesafe on here) may have some suggestions.

[Cracka]

Look what a quick Google search showed up :D Optima Batteries (http://www.optima-batteries.com.au/?gclid=CMr-z6qejrkCFcEypAodOhYAww)

Clubagreenie was right.

Watch the video, it explains all.......

[clubagreenie]

Thanks, but I was just regurging the info from their PDF's.

In relation to charging;


Contrary to what many people think, charging Optima battery (http://www.optima-batteries.com.au/index.html) is very easy. In this article, we would like to share with you some tips to help you charge your batteries with ease.

Ensure connection. The first thing to remember is to plug your battery into your charger. If you’re using a smart charger, you will get a range of options on the menu. Simply press the battery type that you wish to charge and connect. It is important that you choose the right type of battery because the mode will affect the kind of charging that your charger will deliver. Charging Optima battery is very easy. Just make sure that you follow the instructions in the manual carefully.

Clean before you charge. Your battery, while spanking new, is bound to encounter less trouble but in the long run, you’ll have to do your own share of maintenance. Don’t worry, this is the “only maintenance” that Optima batteries require and you will need to comply if you want to make sure that you get the best out of your Optima. Cleaning is very easy. In fact, you don’t need a commercial cleaner to do it. You can use a solution of baking soda and water. Using a steel brush, scrub off the tops carefully before you charge. The corrosion can cause slow and mediocre charging.

Know when to replace. Optima batteries may be among the best in the market but you’ll also have to accept the fact they have a shelf life. On the average, they last for more than five years, that is, if you have been properly charging Optima battery all your life.

Charging Optima battery is quick and easy. Simply follow this guide and make the most out of your battery. If you need some advice, you can always seek help from your mechanic.

[wally]

And Optima batteries are good why? They don't seem like good value for money to me.

[patclan]

I think that it could be an issue with the charging system/method. Tim (Drivesafe on here) may have some suggestions.

I hope it is something to do with my charging system, I read a lot of reviews before buying my yellow top, my other concern is I bought it from Repco, no idea how long they had it on the shelf, not even sure if that would matter.

[Eevo]

And Optima batteries are good why? They don't seem like good value for money to me.

solid, reliable, long lasting, can recover from deep drains (like 4 volts)

[ericvv]

As to OP question about what is the best battery for single set up, you might want to read what defender2.net user tatra805 has to say in below thread. Quite educational and rational I think.
Defender2 - View topic - Varta AGM G14 or Optima Yellow Top battery? (http://www.defender2.net/forum/topic16605-15.html)

[newhue]

Maybe off topic, but I have a yellow top as a second battery in a dual battery setup with a sidewinder dual battery system and I find it rubbish.

I only use it for the fridge and I can drive all day (7am to 5pm) the led flicks on when my oem varta is charged about 20mins after driving so the yellow top should be getting charged and by 9am in the morning the fridge alarm is on and the battery monitor is at 11.5v.

Maybe there is something wrong with my system but I think the $350 I spent on the yellow top could have been better spent.

So I would not buy another unless I find something else is wrong other than the battery.

Pat if the system is new there is definitely something wrong there. DO NOT drain your battery to 11.5v again if possible or you will be up for another well before it's due. Check with Sidewinder about the set up. One wire in the wrong spot can be all it takes. It could be an earth issue as well. Of course, the battery may well be faulty as well. It may have come supplied broken. Probably not likely but can happen.

[n plus one]

Agree that there seems to be a charging issue, but 80% DOD is not going to hurt a deep cycle Optima (though it will certainly give non-deep cycle bats something to think about) - it's one of the things they're designed for.

[Dorian]

And Optima batteries are good why? They don't seem like good value for money to me.

I have had a blue top in my tinny for about 2 years now and it gets a real pounding especially in a small chop, have drained it down to about 10V more than a few times. So far seems to be coping fine, 2 years is on the long side for a battery in my boat, so I am more than happy with the Optima.