Battery question, specifically optima yellow top

[Platypus]

So I've got an 05 WRX. The battery that came with it was a piece of shit and due to a combination of not driving it very often and it going through harsh Chicago winters outside, I replaced it with a Red Top a few years ago.

That battery is now dead, it's totally my fault and I know what not to do at this point. I need to get a trickle charger.

That said, I am looking for a replacement and it seems like the Yellow Top might work out better for me? Due to a fucked up engine compartment I had to mount the Red Top sideways to fit it. I need a battery that can handle this so I figured I'd look at Optima again... the thing is, I have after market stereo stuff thats wired in and it looks like this one might handle that better? I was always told that Red Top was the go-to battery for that kind of thing but I noticed just recently they updated their page to say that car audio stuff is no longer supported under warranty whereas before that caveat was never listed. The Yellow Top does NOT have that same warning under warranty, so I figured I'd give it a shot.

Am I wasting money with this? Should I just get another RT and use the trickle? The nomenclature on that page sounds like a huge list of buzzwords and I look to you car guys to tell me if its really worth the extra cost or not.

 

[desy]

Is the Alternator upgraded for audio?
I'd get a die-hard and tricklecharger if you have a good alternator

 

[Platypus]

Is the Alternator upgraded for audio?
I'd get a die-hard and tricklecharger if you have a good alternator

The alternator is stock, should I opt for something else?

 

[Throckmorton]

Optima quality went down when they moved production to Mexico. They're supposed to be improving but I don't trust them. I had put a yellow top in my Miata and it worked great and survived a couple accidental deep cycles, but you don't want to be one of the few who experiences the low quality.

What you want is a Sears Die Hard Platinum (rebadged Odyssey)

 

[Platypus]

Optima quality went down when they moved production to Mexico. They're supposed to be improving but I don't trust them. I had put a yellow top in my Miata and it worked great and survived a couple accidental deep cycles, but you don't want to be one of the few who experiences the low quality.

What you want is a Sears Die Hard Platinum (rebadged Odyssey)

Can I mount that one sideways? I have a super fucked up cage assembly that isn't tall enough for the redtop I have now, but I got the RT so I could mount it in diff directions. I know not all batteries can do that.

 

[speedy2]

Any "dry cell" or "sealed" battery should allow you to mount it any way you need to. Again, make sure it's labeled as such.

Also, don't buy into the Yellow/Red top crap. It's a ricers battery and nothing more.

 

[Platypus]

Any "dry cell" or "sealed" battery should allow you to mount it any way you need to. Again, make sure it's labeled as such.

Also, don't buy into the Yellow/Red top crap. It's a ricers battery and nothing more.

Are they really crap? I've always read that they were one of the best but I've heard a lot to the contrary in this thread.

 

[speedy2]

Are they really crap? I've always read that they were one of the best but I've heard a lot to the contrary in this thread.

Plenty of crap out there with them. Not worth the hype or the money.

A simple dry cell battery is plenty. Although, with increased demand I'd suggest a higher output alternator.

 

[Throckmorton]

An Optima employee admitted on Expeditionportal that their quality went down. He said they were working on improving quality.

 

[Imported]

What you want is a Sears Die Hard Platinum (rebadged Odyssey)

+1. Though they're heavy suckers! Mine is 60lbs+

 

[Platypus]

+1. Though they're heavy suckers! Mine is 60lbs+

That one isn't going to work for me.

 

[BassBomb]

yellow top is meant more for hardcore audio application though, if your system is set up poorly changing the battery might not help

 

[Platypus]

yellow top is meant more for hardcore audio application though, if your system is set up poorly changing the battery might not help

It's not set up poorly at all, I just don't drive my car enough.

 

[OptimaJim]

Hello, I noticed your conversation regarding our batteries and wanted to offer some assistance. Platypus, if you are running significant audio components, a YellowTop is a better option for your application. Depending on how much work you’ve done, reviewing your electrical system would be a good idea as well, including your alternator and wiring. There is no such thing as grounds that are “too good” and one-wire alternators are especially sensitive to good, quality grounds.

Before you pull the trigger on a new battery, it might also be worth checking your current RedTop, to make sure it is no longer functional. Many of the “bad” batteries returned to us now are just deeply-discharged and work fine, when properly recharged. However, many battery chargers will not recognize or charge any battery that has been discharged below 10.5 volts. This is a charger issue and not exclusive to Optima. In fact, some manufacturers have dealt with this by voiding the warranty on any battery that has been discharged below 10 volts. We decided to create a YouTube video, which explains how to recover deeply-discharged batteries- http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=dIoaL3DWWEg

The key to long battery life (regardless of brand) is maintaining at least 12.4 volts in a battery whenever possible. When batteries are discharged below this level and allowed to sit for extended periods of time, sulfation begins to diminish both capacity and longevity. That makes a quality battery tender an excellent investment for any vehicle that is not driven daily.

Throckmorton, the quality of our batteries has always been excellent and continues to improve. I am the only Optima employee who posts at ExpeditionPortal.com and I have never posted anything regarding the quality of our batteries there or anywhere else, that contradicts what I have posted here. Johnson Controls is a company of over 100,000 employees and the poster you are referencing from ExpeditionPortal.com is not an Optima employee and has no direct relationship with Optima or Johnson Controls’ battery business. As such, any statements he made regarding Optima batteries were not accurate. If anyone has any questions about our batteries, I’ll do my best to answer them.

Jim McIlvaine
eCare Manager, OPTIMA Batteries, Inc.
www.facebook.com/optimabatteries

 

[thepd7]

Hello, I noticed your conversation regarding our batteries and wanted to offer some assistance. Platypus, if you are running significant audio components, a YellowTop is a better option for your application. Depending on how much work you’ve done, reviewing your electrical system would be a good idea as well, including your alternator and wiring. There is no such thing as grounds that are “too good” and one-wire alternators are especially sensitive to good, quality grounds.

Before you pull the trigger on a new battery, it might also be worth checking your current RedTop, to make sure it is no longer functional. Many of the “bad” batteries returned to us now are just deeply-discharged and work fine, when properly recharged. However, many battery chargers will not recognize or charge any battery that has been discharged below 10.5 volts. This is a charger issue and not exclusive to Optima. In fact, some manufacturers have dealt with this by voiding the warranty on any battery that has been discharged below 10 volts. We decided to create a YouTube video, which explains how to recover deeply-discharged batteries- http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=dIoaL3DWWEg

The key to long battery life (regardless of brand) is maintaining at least 12.4 volts in a battery whenever possible. When batteries are discharged below this level and allowed to sit for extended periods of time, sulfation begins to diminish both capacity and longevity. That makes a quality battery tender an excellent investment for any vehicle that is not driven daily.

Throckmorton, the quality of our batteries has always been excellent and continues to improve. I am the only Optima employee who posts at ExpeditionPortal.com and I have never posted anything regarding the quality of our batteries there or anywhere else, that contradicts what I have posted here. Johnson Controls is a company of over 100,000 employees and the poster you are referencing from ExpeditionPortal.com is not an Optima employee and has no direct relationship with Optima or Johnson Controls’ battery business. As such, any statements he made regarding Optima batteries were not accurate. If anyone has any questions about our batteries, I’ll do my best to answer them.

Jim McIlvaine
eCare Manager, OPTIMA Batteries, Inc.
www.facebook.com/optimabatteries

Great info in the link Jim, thanks! I have a feeling my battery was "deeply discharged" since it would power my headlights, etc, but not give enough juice to start my car. I just replaced it since it was 4 years old but this will be good to know for the future.

 

[Zebo]

Interesting. I only use Optima for fourwheeling due to being sealed. However in my boats I do have issues as you know it's a bitch to keep a constant charge in slip with power going out when some dumbass drops his line in water and trips breakers.. guys unplugging your power and whatnot i.e. too much whiskey and forget to plug it in.. and have had issues relative to lead.

 

[speedy2]

I would look into the Ah(Amp-Hour) Ratings compared to other batteries as well.