Which Optima Battery

There are three Optima Batteries: Red top, Blue top and Yellow top. What is best for my stereo system?

Blue

Blue is a deep cycle and is able to be drained and recharged multiple times.

http://www.optimabatteries.com/marine/recreational/

there's two blue tops too I think or at least there used to be, I think the one you want is the D34M

Optimas got really expensive this year... I was quoted $210 for the 34M blue tops a couple weeks back. I paid $180/ea last year, and $160/ea a couple years prior. They've gotten a lot more expensive for not having had any improvements from prior batteries... probably related to metal costs??

This year (and hopefully for several more), I'm trying out Sears' DieHard AGM batteries, which I picked up for $189/ea. They have more CCA's than the Optima's and if I remember right, about 25% longer amp hours (I think those were the measures, and don't remember the numbers), so figured it was worth a shot. They have a guaranteed three-year replacement warranty, and a pro-rated warranty for up to 70 months after that (meaning you get a percentage of the batteries life back towards a new one).

Given I've never had an Optima make it more than two years... it sounded like a good deal to me. We'll see.

By the way, the Sears batteries are marine specific, and built specifically to compete with Optima. I thought it interesting that they no longer carry Optima... it appears that they were losing marketshare there and this battery is an effort to try and take it back...

Optimas are decent batteries but like Cal has noticed are far from the best out there, especially when considering cost. Optima does haev proabbly the best marketing effort of any AGM battery. If yrou using the battery for a deep cycle application, Optima's can't compete with other options.

I blew a bluetop optima last summer and replaced with the Sears Diehard. So far so good, plus better CCA's etc.

CCA's don't mean shiatt unless you're using the battery as a starting battery. For stereo reserve capacity is where it's at. Some of you are looking at the wrong ratings on the batteries.

I've got 5 optima's on my boat all over 3 years old and going strong. I'm definitely not saying they are the best battery and I probably won't go that route next time. $-Ah there are better batteries out there for sure.

I agree with Nu Bu.

Our company switched from Delco batteries to Deka a few years ago and have been very pleased with them. They are one of the few batteries that are actually made in the US. They do standard lead/acid battery, Gel and AGM batteries. They have an AGM line dedicated for marine use. They make anything from a little lawn mower battery up to 8D's which is about the size of 4 standard automotive batteries in one. They weigh 158 pounds. They have a group 27 battery which is a little bigger than a 34 I believe and the AGM of this size has 580 CCA, a reserve capacity of 175 and a 20 AH rating of 92. Compare that to the Optima D34M with 750 CCA, reserve capacity of 120 and a 20 AH rating of 55. The Deka has a lot better specs in a similar size battery as far as the reserves go. Another thing I have noticed is that the Deka's we sell are consistently underrated. I actually just walked out into our warehouse and tested the battery I am talking about and it tested at 775 CCA's.

In my opinion Optima's are just well marketed and overpriced. There are much better options out there. Compared to ~$200 for the optima I can sell our battery for ~$175 and it is a better performing battery.

I have to agree with the sentiment of others. We ran two brand new optimas in our 05' and they did not even make the whole year. We tried it again in 06' and they only lasted a year. If you are running big stereos and your boat is parked listening to the stereos, they just don't seem to cut it. We have been dabbling with Odyssys and Kinetics and so far so good since then. Not a fan of Optimas anymore, but I am a huge fan of Costco for taking them back and giving me my money back.

Thanks all. What have you all heard about the longest AH rating battery, and who makes it?

I currently dont have optimas but I am thinking about switching to them. I know sams club in tn. is selling them for 155.00. If someone know of something that is cheaper and better I would love to hear before I buy 2 of them

Brett I'm coming to you for the Deka batteries next time.....

Both the optimas and the diehards are made by the same company- Johnson Controls. I imagine they would be pretty similar to each other.

Stinger or Kinetic are gonna be a little better than the Optima's.

I've sold Stinger's for about 10 years now, mostly using them in boats and they've been great.

Cal
why are you having to buy batteries every year

I have 2 blue tops

I have a dual charger (trickle) in the boat

it gets plugged in after every trip, and through the winter

I'm actually not buying every year... let me clarify.

Under normal conditions with average usage and normal cycling, Optima's have lasted me two years. This is based on four years experience with my old boat.

Last year, with my new boat... was not normal. I had an issue with a constant power drain (which I learned this winter was a bad install on my HK Drive&Play), and have an alarm system on my boat that is on when my boat is on the lift. So I bought again this year.

I've fixed my constant drain problem, so should be back to a normal battery usage period again... and hopefully longer than a 2 year battery-life.

(Message edited by phenom_1819 on February 03, 2009)

Hate to beat a dead horse but I've had two trojan t-105 ( 6v) combined 20 AH rating of 225, reserve capacity is 450 minutes with a 25 amp load. By far the best bang for yrou buck. two will set you back roughly $200. If you can mount your batteries rigth side up and are using it for runnign your stereo, there's no better way to go. My battteries have been beat to death over the last 4 years...and they still charge up to 100%

i have 3 of the blue top optima 31t and love them, enough reserve to last all day with a 3800 watt stereo.

That is another great option that Adam is talking about. We use to sell the Trojan T105 and now sell a Deka version. They have almost identical specs to the Trojans. They work really well. My father and myself are in a yacht club and have switched a fair amount of people over to Golf Cart batteries for the reasons Adam explained.

Rich, you are correct Optima, Diehard, and many other batteries are made by the same company although the lead-acid batteries are manufactured in entirely separate facility.

I just did a quick run down of a few options we have if you wanted to create a single bank with 2 batteries for your Auxiliary bank.

This is what I found. I will start with the cheapest first. 2 Dual purpose RV/Marine group 27 batteries wired in parallel would give you reserve capacity of ~300 and a 20AH rating of 160. These are around lead/acid batteries and are sold for around $85 a piece. Next is 2 Deep Cycle group 27 batteries in parallel gives you a RC of ~350 and a 20AH rating of 180. They are lead/acid and run ~$100 a battery. If you wire 2 Dual purpose group 31 batteries in parallel you get a RC of ~360 and a 20AH of ~200. They are lead/acid and run ~$110 a battery. Group 31 Deep cycles wired in parallel give you a RC of ~370 and a 20AH of ~210. These are ~$115 each. Now we start stepping up to the more expensive stuff. 2 group 27 AGM marine batteries in parallel hae a RC of ~350 and an 20AH rating of 180. They are ~$165 each. Group 31 AGM marines in parallel have a RC of ~400 and a 20 AH rating of ~210. They are around $180 a battery. Now to 6V golf cart batteries. 2 lead/acid GC batteries wired in series give you a RC of ~435 and a 20AH rate of ~215. They run about $130 a battery. The last most expensive option is running 2 AGM 6V golf cart batteries in series. This setup would have a RC of ~410 and a 20AH rating of ~190. There are advantages and disadvantages to running AGM's. They handle vibration better, you can mount them about anywhere, they don't have liquid in them so you can't spill nasty acid everywhere. They are expensive though and a little more sensitive to charging.

Compare those specs to the Optimas. 2 D27M blue tops in parallel only give you a RC of ~280 and a 20AH rating of ~130. They also cost in excess of $200 each. 2 D31M blue tops in parallel have a RC of ~310 and 20AH of ~150. I would guess at your local store they probably cost around $250 a battery. That is insane.

The point of this was mostly to show that there are a lot of good options that can range from fairly cheap to really expensive. Don't fall into the trap that Optima's are anything special.

Deka came with my 2005 MC, never a problem with it. I just put a new one in last night. Nothing wrong with old one, but the new one was free, so I couldn't resist

I been running 3 Odyssey batteries with no problems powering a loud system.

i have 3 of the blue top optima 31t and love them, enough reserve to last all day with a 3800 watt stereo.

My Stinger SP1500D can play my 3,000W stereo for about 4 days before needing a recharge.

^^^^ You guys crack me up. No way is a battery with a 120 mintue reserve capacity going to power a 3000 watt RMS stereo for 4 days....

I don't understand the difference btw optima blue and yellows, they are both deep cycle with similar specs? Maybe just marketing...

John step away from the crack pipe. Blue tops have the additional posts ontop that come in handy for marine applications with alot of accessory power wire coming off the batteries.

(Message edited by 05mobiuslsv on February 05, 2009)

I don't think I would call any of Optima's batteries true deep cycle batteries. They are more of a dual purpose starting/deep cycle. Another thing I have heard is that Optima is having a higher warranty rate now then they use to.

Bought a pair of T-105's locally today for hte pontoon boat. right under $300 out the door ( tax, core charge, state fees, ect. )

I think I am going to go with the pair of T-105's also. With all of the help from the people above, and the research, Running these two batteries will give you the most Ah for the money. Like stated above 200Ah. You need at least 4 blue tops to get to the 200Ah area. So 2 Trojan T-105's for the stereo. And yes, a local golf cart company will sell them for 145 each, out the door.

^^^ Befroe you buy make sure you know where you want them to go in your boat. They are roughly the same dimensions as a standard car batt. (I think group 24) but taller. A dual 6v batt. box will run you close to $100. I fyou dont; need a top and have the space you can use (2) standard group 24 boxes ( ~$20). Or in most cases it's usually easier to fabricate something your self. You want these batts on something, if any of that acid spills out it will eat thru the carpet.

From my old system. Mine are still running strong after 4 years.