Optima batteries

Conundrum. Friend has bought optima batteries after endless cold starting problems, one for his old Same Antares and another for his Sanderson teleporter, and after much praise over the last year, one has given up the ghost. Now firstly, I'm not so sure he has been sold the right ones, these are yellow top batteries, and I always believed that it was the red type you put on heavy applications, and the yellow were more suited for your range rover sport with all it's electronic DVD players etc etc? The battery initially packed up on the Sanderson, not holding a charge, so he swapped it for the one on his tractor in the belief that it has a better alternator. Not so, I multimetered them both and charging ok at 13.7 volts. The tractor drains batteries over night, so it has an isolator switch, so no issues there. He took the battery back to the supplier and they charged it and said it was fine. I have charged it with a ctek twice to no avail, so, it's fecked. Should he buy a red top one next time? The Same and Sanderson ain't exactly pimped rides, they only drive, lift, shift and drag, no electrics, climate control or DVD player to watch porn on, so I can't see why they sold him a yellow type, or am I wrong?
 

clbarclay

Member
Location
Worcestershire
The difference between red an yellow tops is a slightly different balance between cold canking amps and capacity. If it was starting well on yellows then red tops shouldn't make too much of a difference. A friend had a red top on an old range rover which was great when new (breifly had it on my own and the starter motor had never spun over so fast), but like your friends yellow top it deterorated far too soon.

I find an over size ordinary lead acid batteries works as well as anything, eg if it takes a 622 battery as standard then fit a 629 instead (almost the same physical size with higher CCA and Ah), though having said that my sanderson manages fine with a 622.
 

tanker

Member
Red tops on everything(nearly) here..not touched one of them since the day they went on..several years in a couple of cases..
 

Sebastian

Member
Location
Dorset
Think the yellow tops are a deep cycle type, more suited to marine applications?
From the optima site:

The YELLOWTOP® high-performance AGM battery has everything you need. It’s one of the few true dual-purpose automotive batteries available, and performs above expectations as a tractor battery, forklift battery, or for other applications. With premium cranking power and impressive cycling capability, this heavy duty battery is also perfect for modern accessory-loaded vehicles. The YELLOWTOP can repeatedly be brought back from deep power drains to full charge, so it can power plenty of electronics and still start you up time after time. Low internal resistance also provides more consistent power output and faster recharges.

Trucks with winches, vehicles with high-demand electronics and audio systems, commercial vehicles and heavy equipment can all rely on this battery to provide ultimate starting and deep-cycle power. It also functions well as a forklift battery, tractor battery, or for other applications.

Bluetop is the one for marine

Installing an OPTIMA® BLUETOP® high-performance AGM battery in your boat or RV means exceptional running time and more recharges than you’d get out of a traditional battery. It’s the perfect marine battery for boats with trolling motors, extensive electronic systems, and works well as an RV battery for RVs with creature comforts that tend to drain batteries quickly. On top of providing outstanding vibration resistance, the BLUETOP’s efficient power delivery and faster recharge time mean you’ll spend less time worrying about your battery. This means more time for fun. Again and again. This flexible boat battery and RV battery is ideal for those who need a sure-starting, strong-cranking, maintenance-free power source.
 

Sebastian

Member
Location
Dorset
From the optima site:



Bluetop is the one for marine
Well, according to the site, the Yellow top is better for tractors. But since the red top is recommended for trucks, it should be good for tractors too

Red top:

The REDTOP® high-performance AGM battery is the ultimate starting battery designed to deliver a powerful burst of ignition power for a reliable start-up every time, whether it's used as a truck battery, automotive battery, or for other applications. The REDTOP will outperform and outlast traditional batteries in demanding cranking/starting applications. With impressive high-power delivery and extreme resistance to the most common causes of battery failure, the REDTOP is ideal for trucks, SUVs, hot rods, street cars and other applications that require a spillproof starting battery. Its reputation as a truck battery or automotive battery is unsurpassed.
 

Cowabunga

Member
Location
Ceredigion,Wales
After a quick look at their web site, it looks to me as if two 5.5 model yellow tops are required for a Same Antares, or for most tractors. The Same Antares is usually a very quick starter in all conditions as long as the starter motor get enough juice to swing it over at least once at sufficient speed
He wasn't trying to get away with using just one battery was he? Or have I missed a bigger battery model that he has fitted?

Looks to be an expensive battery system.
 
As far as I'm aware, the Antares only has one battery, it's right in front of the radiator, and only room for one, that's how it's always been as long as I've known the tractor. The battery died on the Sanderson, so he swapped them as I said, in the belief the same had a stronger alternator, so would charge the battery, except both machines charge up fine. My question is, would a red top be more suitable for his machines as opposed to yellow?
 
My Optima supplier said yellow tops are for boats or caravans and red tops are for tractors. I always use red tops on tractors here and they are brilliant apart from I messed one up from leaving it dead flat on a machine that had a drain, it didn't recover from that at all.
 

Sebastian

Member
Location
Dorset
My Optima supplier said yellow tops are for boats or caravans and red tops are for tractors. I always use red tops on tractors here and they are brilliant apart from I messed one up from leaving it dead flat on a machine that had a drain, it didn't recover from that at all.
According to optima blue top is for boats. Why does this have to be so confusing? :D :rolleyes:
 

Cowabunga

Member
Location
Ceredigion,Wales
As far as I'm aware, the Antares only has one battery, it's right in front of the radiator, and only room for one, that's how it's always been as long as I've known the tractor. The battery died on the Sanderson, so he swapped them as I said, in the belief the same had a stronger alternator, so would charge the battery, except both machines charge up fine. My question is, would a red top be more suitable for his machines as opposed to yellow?
Yes I know it originally only has one battery, but it is a whopper. The biggest yellow top Optima I recall seeing on their web site was 75 amp hour iirc. The battery needed for the Same is at least 110 amp hour, I'm mot sure what cca that would be.
That is why I reckon that two of those yellow tops would be needed to better the standard single conventional battery
 
Hi All

Just to answer a couple of questions on this as it can get confusing.

Red Tops are traditionally used for starting applications, Blue and Yellow are more for Marine, Leisure and Aux applications.

Biggest Red top supplied into the UK is 50Ah with 815 CCA (measured to EN)
Biggest Yellow and Blue is 75 Ah 975 CCA

Generally speaking these batteries should not fail early because the technology inside them is really advanced (spiral cell technology in case anybody's interested). Likely cause is that the supplier you bought them from has had them on the shelf to long and the batteries have not been monitored and charged.

If you wish I work for Varta / Optima and if you have any questions or want a trusted supplier I can help.

Vince
 

Steevo

Member
Location
Gloucestershire
Thanks for your contribution Vince! If a tractor usually took a 100Ah battery to start it, would you therefore need 2 x Optima red tops to make the same starting power?
 
Hi All

Just to answer a couple of questions on this as it can get confusing.

Red Tops are traditionally used for starting applications, Blue and Yellow are more for Marine, Leisure and Aux applications.

Biggest Red top supplied into the UK is 50Ah with 815 CCA (measured to EN)
Biggest Yellow and Blue is 75 Ah 975 CCA


Generally speaking these batteries should not fail early because the technology inside them is really advanced (spiral cell technology in case anybody's interested). Likely cause is that the supplier you bought them from has had them on the shelf to long and the batteries have not been monitored and charged.

If you wish I work for Varta / Optima and if you have any questions or want a trusted supplier I can help.

Vince

Vince - based on the spec above, wouldn't the blue/yellows be better for starting industrial machinery - as they have on paper 50% more capacity and 160 more cold-crank amps, versus the red-top versions? Just interested to know.
 

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