Optima Battery?

[tony97gt]

My buddy and I are almost ready to install our stereo system in our 18' Talon. We are putting in a head unit, 3 subs, 4 mid range speakers, and a 5 chan amp. We currently only have 1 battery which is a West Marine brand. Is the Optima Battery (blue top, red top, etc) worth the extra $ spent? The Optima battery would be reserved strictly for pumping the stereo while the West Marine would be for the engine. Thanks

[johnboy 88 vegas]

I had a red top Optima (starting battery) in my old truck for 6 years and run it down over 100 times at partys playing the stereo till the truck wouldn't crank and it always always charged back up fine. I've had 3 of the West Marine 1000 cca batteries in my boat over the last 2 years and once you run them down below about 10 volts they are never the same again.

[H20WKD]

IMHO....not.

Have had and know of too many that failed way before their meager warranty ran out. They are very picky in their charge voltages and the slightest bit of over voltage will cause the gel to strip from the plates leaving a scar that doesn't heal and a severe decrease in capacity.

[mrcrsr]

i've had an optima in my camaro for 6 yrs now, no problems, on the same one in the boat for 4 yrs, they're nice because they never green mold the batt terminals, and withstand the vibration of the boat. if you ever totally kill one, they sometimes will not charge back up- the key is not to use a smart charger to charge them, and if the battery is stone dead attach a 12 v bulb(an anchor lite bulb is fine) across the terminals of the battery w/ the charger attached, applies a load to the charger and forces the battery to charge

[tony97gt]

Thanks for your input guys. That is two completely different opinions, hoping for some more soon.

[specboatops]

I have had a blue top in my boat for over 5 years NO problems, nothing, nada, fires right up....even after sitting in storage for 6 months....

[H20WKD]

i've had an optima in my camaro for 6 yrs now, no problems, on the same one in the boat for 4 yrs, they're nice because they never green mold the batt terminals, and withstand the vibration of the boat. if you ever totally kill one, they sometimes will not charge back up- the key is not to use a smart charger to charge them, and if the battery is stone dead attach a 12 v bulb(an anchor lite bulb is fine) across the terminals of the battery w/ the charger attached, applies a load to the charger and forces the battery to charge

Excellent points...my experience with them was in an RV, very similar as far as vibration goes with a boat install. But it was the inconsistent charge rate while towing that killed them. The GSE came with one,(bluetop), installed by the PO, tested marginal. Replaced with sealed Marine deep cycle. SFSG
POI...Lifeline AGM's now in the RV. 5 years, excellent but expensive option.

[CSD23]

I've had a blue top for around 4-5 years now and love it. I drag it from boat to boat and have ran it completely down numerous times and it shows no signs of slowing down. I ran it in my talon last year which was at the sandbar every sunday running the stereo (amp, sub, and 6x9's) all day long, and at the end of the day it always fired up my old merc 200.

[rev.ronnie]

A totally dead Optima must be first hooked directly to another fully charged battery and then a charger added to that to recharge them. Positive to positive, neg to neg. normal chargers will trip their breaker trying to bring them back up. I got this tip right from the interstate guy who sells them. It works.

[Adam McKeon]

Optimas are good batteries... I used to use them with great results and always keep one or two blue tops floating around. I now use Odyssey batteries... same concept, last longer and a much wider variety. JMHO There is an Odyssey distributor in Ft Lauderdale that would be happy to tell you all about them... If your going to spend roughly $200 on a battery, it would be worth checking them out.

[hydrostream1]

I have a optima blue top,five years old still kicking,300x and. Have a head unit ,amp and crank it for hours,still cranks the 300 over ,no problem.Would buy another.

[XstreamVking]

I have had real good luck with the odyssey batteries. Have some 5yrs or older. Run em dead and charge em back up, no prob. The optima's seem to be kinda spotty, some are great, and some don't seem to hold up to discharge and re charge cycles. Still have a red top in my truck, 3 yrs old. Best starting batteries for the money have been the deka 1000 amp sealed marine batteries. Have two in my charter boat and are 5 yrs old. Still load test out at 900 amps each. They are hooked together and have never been discharged.

[Euro Muscle]

I have also had good luck with the blue top's, I've been running two of them, going on 5yrs now..

[hydrostream300]

i just bought a optima 4months ago and it wont take a charge already and i never killed it completely and i always disconect it when im not useing my boat and it just went out one day while i was in the lake and left me cranking my v6merc by hand was not any fun

[H20WKD]

i just bought a optima 4months ago and it wont take a charge already and i never killed it completely and i always disconect it when im not useing my boat and it just went out one day while i was in the lake and left me cranking my v6merc by hand was not any fun

I haven't had good luck with any Optima, found them way too sensitive to charge rates, plates sulfate and short out.

Bob

[hydrostream300]

it was my first one i bought and at $220 its going to be my last i had better luck with old batteries i found laying around lol

[toyomirage02]

love the optima.mine comes back from dead to good charge all the time.red top.the best thing to do is have buddy at you local auto parts store.they call you when one comes in showing alil low charge.i get the for 50bucks.he tells me use it for a bit then bring it back.trade in for a newone.i have had to pay a pro rated fee but it was still like 1/3 of the price.....but you still really cant beat a new 1000 interstate either

[H20WKD]

Our biggest concern with the Optima red top in an RV application, where extended off-grid longevity is needed, was the limited 50ah rating.
The 100ah AGM's we are now using have doubled the off-grid time.

Bob

Plate Design:
Electrolyte: Case: Color:
Group Size:
B attery Model: 34 Part Number: 8002-002 Nominal Voltage: 12 volts NS N: 6140 01 457 5296 Description: High power, sealed lead acid, engine starting battery
B attery Model: 34R Part Number: 8003-151 Nominal Voltage: 12 volts NS N: 6140 01 475 9357 Description: High power, sealed lead acid, engine starting battery
High purity lead-tin alloy. Wound cell configuration utilizing proprietary SPIRALCELL® technology. Sulfuric acid, H2SO4 Polypropylene
Case: Dark Gray Cover: “OPTIMA“Red BCI: 34
Standard
Metric
Length: Width: Height: Weight:
10” 6.875” 7.813” 37.9 lb.
254 mm 174.6 mm 198.4 mm (height at the top of the terminals) 17.2 kg
TerminalConfiguration:SAE /BCIautomotive.
Open Circuit Voltage (fully charged): Internal Resistance (fully charged): Capacity: Reserve Capacity:
12.8 volts
0.0030 ohms 50 Ah (C/20) BCI: 100 minutes (25 amp discharge, 80°F (26.7°C), to 10.5 volts c