Best place to buy Blue Tops?

(tparider) · (tparider) **Join Date: Aug 2003** 02-28-2007, 4:59 PM

I'm looking to upgrade my batteries to Optimas and have been searching around online for good deals. Does anyone have a good site or shop that offers them for a decent deal?

thanks in advance.

(ponte_06_x2) · (ponte_06_x2) **Join Date: Jan 2006** 02-28-2007, 5:00 PM

Costco

(grant_west) · (grant_west) **Join Date: Jun 2005** 02-28-2007, 5:04 PM

Enriched Audio

(luckyj) · (luckyj) **Join Date: Aug 2006** 02-28-2007, 5:18 PM

call us and ask, www.luckydevildesigns.com

(fullspeed)

second that on COSTCO.

(sinkoumn) · (sinkoumn) **Join Date: Jan 2007** 02-28-2007, 5:49 PM

What types of deals are we talking about? What's Costco charge?

(tparider) · (tparider) **Join Date: Aug 2003** 02-28-2007, 6:49 PM

I've seen the D34m online before for $135, but wasn't able to find the deal again when I looked tonight.

I need 2.

(sinkoumn) · (sinkoumn) **Join Date: Jan 2007** 02-28-2007, 6:53 PM

damn, that is a deal. If you find them let me know, I need two also

(rbc_racing) · (rbc_racing) **Join Date: Jan 2007** 02-28-2007, 8:35 PM

Have you checked autozone? They can order any optima battery, at least they can here in GA. I got my red top that I use in my racecar for 105.00 from there, just as a point of reference.

(tparider) · (tparider) **Join Date: Aug 2003** 02-28-2007, 8:48 PM

anyone else?

(ponte_06_x2) · (ponte_06_x2) **Join Date: Jan 2006** 02-28-2007, 8:59 PM

G good one

(super_air) · (super_air) **Join Date: Jun 2005** 03-01-2007, 8:52 AM

I second Enriched, had I known they had the 3 hour blue tops I wouldn't have had to buy the 8 blue tops that are in my boat now!

(liquidmx) · (liquidmx) **Join Date: Jun 2005** 03-01-2007, 8:55 AM

I smell a group buy!!!

(evil0ne) · (evil0ne) **Join Date: Sep 2006** 03-01-2007, 9:18 AM

Shipping would kill any kind of group buy. Costco and Sam's club carry them for under $150. You may want to look into other batteries as well.

I will also quote some other info I have read recently regarding batteries:

"Optima, Stinger, Odyssey, etc. But in all honestly, the Delco batteries at Wal-Mart/Autozone will perform just as well for you if you aren't in to brand names and into competition sound. Look for a marine battery, or a deep cycle with the AH you require to run your estimated amperage for a given time. A 70 amp alternator will charge your battery fully (from 10.5V) within 30minutes to an hour, depending on RPM, this is with no other pull. With other loads that time can go up to 4 hours or more." - Spharis

"I have Oddessy's in my boat. They are a millitary grade battery designed to be abused and knocked around. I opted to go with the 2150's at 100 Ah each. I have 3. Problem is price. They are not cheap but should last a long time if I take care of them interms of charging. I did install an onboard charger to bring them back up at night or while being stored. Other batteries I like are the Trojan 6V. You have to run a least 2 to make it 12V and the Ah don't double. But must 6V you will get 225 Ah from the 2 and if you run 4 you will have well over 400 Ah. I was going to go this route but I was able to get a good guy deal on the Oddessy. Many will say to get the Optima Blue Tops. They are nice but are only 55 Ah each so in the long run you will be starting your boat more to charge (I use the term loosely with here) it up some. I don't remember if we did the math here or on another site but we figured if I played my system at 3200 RMS at 40% volume it would last 8-10 hours." - Coach

(johnny_jr) · (johnny_jr) **Join Date: Mar 2006** 03-01-2007, 8:50 PM

Enriched!

"Home of The 3 Hour Blue Top"

(ponte_06_x2) · (ponte_06_x2) **Join Date: Jan 2006** 03-01-2007, 9:15 PM

hey guys. i was at enriched today and a guy walked in and ask about the blue tops. he ended up getting three of them. so rich would like to thank you for the business. he saw this thread and thought that you guys were serious.

(grant_west) · (grant_west) **Join Date: Jun 2005** 03-01-2007, 9:25 PM

Thats Awesome.

Tell Rich to send me my commision check $$$$

(ponte_06_x2) · (ponte_06_x2) **Join Date: Jan 2006** 03-01-2007, 9:28 PM

just keep it commin. your hookin him up

(tparider) · (tparider) **Join Date: Aug 2003** 03-01-2007, 9:48 PM

I guess I missed the "3 hour blue top" post.

So is Costco the way to go then? I'll check Wal-mart too tomorrow and report back.

(j_knight) · (j_knight) **Join Date: Feb 2005** 03-01-2007, 9:54 PM

I used the blue top and they did not hold a charge. I wonted a battery to use for my stereo and they did not do it for me. The stock battery was still going strong. I don't know what I am going use next, but it wont be a blue top. I have a red top in my truck and it is the best.I think because I use it daily. Coscto is a good price that is where I got mine.

(technarider) · (technarider) **Join Date: Jun 2006** 03-01-2007, 10:10 PM

question about the Costco ones... i been looking at them myself.. but the true blue top is D34M and the ones at costco are D34... i even sent optima a email about that.. and they said to compare the specs.. but i know from my stereo guy in LA area he said to watch the model numbers cause some not true blue tops are out there

Techna

(wakefish) · (wakefish) **Join Date: Jul 2006** 03-01-2007, 11:08 PM

Blue Top is about 120 at costco

(tparider) · (tparider) **Join Date: Aug 2003** 03-02-2007, 6:48 AM

yeah I was looking for the d34m for sure. hitting up Wal-mart today to check it out.

(sinkoumn) · (sinkoumn) **Join Date: Jan 2007** 03-02-2007, 7:32 AM

post up if you find them and how much they are.

(itrynwake) · (itrynwake) **Join Date: Apr 2002** 03-02-2007, 7:47 AM

so which is better the D31M or the D34M for stereo applications?

(sinkoumn) · (sinkoumn) **Join Date: Jan 2007** 03-02-2007, 7:54 AM

isn't the 31M just a larger version of the 34M? I.e. larger amp hours, higher cold cranking, and cranking amps as well. That's what I've always seen the difference as, but feel free to correct me or add onto it.

(05mobiuslsv) · (05mobiuslsv) **Join Date: Apr 2006** 03-02-2007, 8:05 AM

Costco is a great place to buy them, that's where I got mine. If they ever go down just take them back and get a new one no questions asked. Can't really beat that.

Ben Kerran 03-02-2007, 8:17 AM

The 34M is a starting battery (only)for Marine applications. When I was shopping, I found the D34M was cheaper but lower in CCA/MCA/AH. The D31M is what I went with (75 AH as opposed to 55 on the D34M).

(super_air) · (super_air) **Join Date: Jun 2005** 03-02-2007, 8:21 AM

Boat Sinker - Did you ever think that your system is probably not set up correctly? I have never had any problems with my blue tops, they might not be the best out there but for what I need them to do they do just fine,and I am sure I am running just a few more rms in my system than you are.Here is my set up all running on a switch with built in charger and an upgraded 140 amp alternator, when I get off the lake I can plug it in and have full batteries by morning.Another nice thing about the Optima's is the ability to lay them on their sides for room constraints, these are all D34m's.
driver side Upload

passenger side Upload

Ben Kerran 03-02-2007, 8:33 AM

I have been pretty happy with mine too (except my storage does not have power

). Which means I have to charge at home if I sit for a long time and do not run the boat afterwards.

(michale) · (michale) **Join Date: May 2004** 03-02-2007, 8:34 AM

CAR,clean set up. that looks great

(tparider) · (tparider) **Join Date: Aug 2003** 03-02-2007, 9:37 AM

CAR - how many amps and what wattage are you running to need 8 batteries and the beefed up alternator?

(j_knight) · (j_knight) **Join Date: Feb 2005** 03-02-2007, 9:44 AM

CAR, That is a clean set up. I am not sure how the set up would be wrong. I replaced the stock battery with a blue top. I only have one battery but getting ready right now to put two batteries in. One for the stereo and one for the starter. Not sure how many rms I am running with two amps. don't remember the watts of the amps maybe 500 and 300 JL's. I wish I could plug in to charge but that is not going to happen. I am on a dock without power all summer.

(denverd1)

boat sinker - i had one out of two fail. wired up in series, one battery just will not hold a charge anymore. of course i'm within 2 months of th 36 months warranty!

(super_air) · (super_air) **Join Date: Jun 2005** 03-02-2007, 10:07 AM

David- 5 amps and close to 7000 watts, the whole idea with set ups like these is to not have to run the boat while sitting and playing the stereo and then be able to go home and charge the system back up to full before the next day.

Boat Sinker- It sounds like the problem is you are just running everything off one battery so unless you are under power and charging your battery you are going to drain it, not being able to plug in and bring it back to normal you will always be running on less than full strength. Be sure to add a battery switch in when you install the other battery. Like I said they might not be the best out there but they work for me and what my system is set up to do.

(sinkoumn) · (sinkoumn) **Join Date: Jan 2007** 03-02-2007, 10:34 AM

CAR, do you use a isolator/combiner (hellroaring or Yandina) or just the manual switch?

(grant_west) · (grant_west) **Join Date: Jun 2005** 03-02-2007, 11:35 AM

Caesar: We gotta make a better looking link between your batterys. The wire is good but if we made a Chrome plated bar btween the batterys that connected them to each other it would look better than the 0 Awg. Andreas's X-30 is hooked up like that

(loux2) · (loux2) **Join Date: May 2004** 03-02-2007, 12:06 PM

Just puchased 2 each Optima D34M's from Costco in Livermore, CA. The price today is $167.99 + $5.00 Disposal fee. The had about 10 each or so in stock.

(super_air) · (super_air) **Join Date: Jun 2005** 03-02-2007, 12:22 PM

Sinko - It is a blue sea battery switch like this one.
Upload

Grant- I haven't seen his but it sounds like it looks better than the cables, I'll check with you later.

(clayton191) · (clayton191) **Join Date: Apr 2006** 03-03-2007, 11:16 AM

Grant, Do you have a pic of the bars your talking about?

Ben Kerran 03-03-2007, 9:08 PM

Here is another Blue top pic
Upload

(tparider) · (tparider) **Join Date: Aug 2003** 03-06-2007, 7:31 AM

Sam's Club had them for $165.99 yesterday. Not bad. I'm still looking around...

(laidback) · (laidback) **Join Date: Nov 2006** 03-08-2007, 5:09 PM

thread jack.
I just installed a second battery (deep cycle marine)with a guest switch in my boat. How long will one battery last with one amp one subwoofer, 4 boat speakers and 4 tower speakers?
Which charger are you guys using?

(grant_west) · (grant_west) **Join Date: Jun 2005** 03-08-2007, 5:20 PM

Vince: Ill try to answer part 1 of your question each battery has a rated Amp hrs. Example A blue top Optima is rated at 55 amp hrs @ a 20 amp draw.
So in english if you had a 20 amp draw a fully charged Blue top optima would last 55 hrs.

So If you knew how much your system was drawing as far as amps you could answer your own question

(tparider) · (tparider) **Join Date: Aug 2003** 03-09-2007, 6:33 AM

Grant - how do you figure out how many amps your system is drawing?

(laidback) · (laidback) **Join Date: Nov 2006** 03-11-2007, 10:23 AM

I'm with you David.
i've got a 07 X2 with stock stereo system anyone know?????

(tparider) · (tparider) **Join Date: Aug 2003** 03-11-2007, 3:22 PM

Vince - I just charge my 2 marine batteries after every session - my charger (Autozone I think?) shuts off after the battery is fully charged.

Grant - I have 2 500watt class D, 1 220watt AB, and 1 800watt AB powering 2 12" subs, 6 co-ax, and 4 Wet Sounds Pro80s. How many amps is this drawing?

thanks!

(grant_west) · (grant_west) **Join Date: Jun 2005** 03-11-2007, 3:37 PM

I guess you could look at all of your equipments spec's. It shoud tell you how much your Amps each peice of equipment draws. Add it all up and you should have a good Idea. Also if you have a amp clamp that can tell you. I have a Xantrax Link 10 its amp gauge that tells in real ime what your system is drawing

(technarider) · (technarider) **Join Date: Jun 2006** 03-11-2007, 5:39 PM

a watt is a VA <volt> so at max load 500+500+220+800= 2200 watts so if you take the voltage of 12 volts 2200VA/12volt thats 183 amps at max load..

now i think that corect but i am not sure.. all that is MAX amp draw.. i would take a amp clamp and run the system at normal levels and check the draw on the main wire going to the block.. to see what amps you are truly drawing