i am going to get sme optima battiries i was wondering which one? red top or yellow top?

Some say Red is fine others go with Yellow. Use the search tool and search this section for optima. Only issue I know of is aftermarket high amp output alternators can melt down optima batteries from some post I read. If stock I see no issue.

Brian

I am running yellow tops and love them.

i am going to get sme optima battiries i was wondering which one? red top or yellow top?
Do you intend to use the Optimas as starting batteries for your 2006 Silverado (if so, what happened to the OEM batteries?), or do you want the Optimas for a different application?

Optima batteries are spiral wound Absorbed Glass Mat Valve Regulated Lead Acid. They prefer a slightly different charging profile than a typical OEM flooded lead acid starting battery. In particular, the peak bulk phase voltage and optimum float voltage for an AGM battery is slightly higher than a flooded battery.
More info about that here:
http://www.vdcelectronics.com/optima/Optima-type_NL.pdf
and here:
http://www.vdcelectronics.com/Optima_batteryminder.htm

The Optima Red top is intended for starting only.

There is no real internal difference between the Yellow top and the Blue top - they are differentiated mainly for marketing purposes, but also for the cable connections. Both are essentially identical dual-purpose deep cycle/starting batteries, the same dual-purpose application (but not the same construction) as the "deep cycle marine" batteries you can buy at Wal-Mart.

None of these are true deep cycle batteries; more info here:
http://www.windsun.com/Batteries/Battery_FAQ.htm#Starting,%20Marine,%20and%20Deep-Cycle%20Batteries
excerpt:
"There is generally no problem with using a deep cycle battery as a starting battery, providing that allowance is made for the lower cranking amps compared to a similar size starting battery. As a general rule, if you are going to use a true deep cycle battery as a starting battery, it should be oversized about 20% compared to the existing or recommended starting battery group size to get the same cranking amps."

The yellow top has higher purity lead than redtops - red tops are not deep cycle and will die like a wetcell if you let them run way don a few times. - Yellow tops will not suffer as much sulfation on the wound plate - that's why it's more expensive. It will also recover from being completely dead many times - the red top will not. I have a yellow top for the starting battery in my boat and in 1 of my 69 Camaros - both are about 5 years old and have been dead a few times (from sitting for a couple years) - they both when charged up will hold a charge fine and start the engines easily. Don't try that with a redtop.

I work for one of the largest battery manufactures in the world. Let me start by saying, DO NOT buy Optima batteries! For the cost and how you will use them you are not getting any value. You are better off buying a low maint flooded battery and calling it good. In many cases you can buy 2 or 3 sets of flooded batteries for the cost of one set of Optima batteries. We produce AGM and Gel batteries as well as flooded batteries. In the trucking industry AGM products are starting to catch on but you need to look at how they use them. With the increased cost of diesel fuel many truckers are using batteries to run things rather then the engine. They need the AGM batteries for their deep discharge ability. I can go on and on about how flooded and AGM batteries differ but when studying the Optima there are some design issues which cause premature failure. I can say that when I worked for an Optima distributor they had our highest warranty return rate. Most of this is because of two issues. One is an internal strap that tends to fail and the other is charging systems in vehicles. I won't bore you anymore about battery info. Bottom line is there are advantages to AGM products in some applications but when it comes to AGM products Optima is not a good product, there are other manufactures who make AGM batteries that are a lot better.

Cat, Kenworth, Peterbuilt, Mack, Volvo, Freightliner and a many others all have their batteries made by East Penn Manufacturing / Deka batteries which is who I now work for. All of these OEM can not be wrong.

when I worked for an Optima distributor they had our highest warranty return rate. Most of this is because of two issues. One is an internal strap that tends to fail and the other is charging systems in vehicles. I won't bore you anymore about battery info. Exactly. A normal vehicle charging system is set up for a flooded battery, and is slightly off from what an AGM battery ideally should have.


Let me start by saying, DO NOT buy Optima batteries! For the cost and how you will use them you are not getting any value. You are better off buying a low maint flooded battery and calling it good. In many cases you can buy 2 or 3 sets of flooded batteries for the cost of one set of Optima batteries.
..........
Bottom line is there are advantages to AGM products in some applications but when it comes to AGM products Optima is not a good product, there are other manufactures who make AGM batteries that are a lot better.
I completely agree with that.

If someone really needs an AGM, there are plenty of other AGM batteries available for $0.15 per watt-hour, about half the cost of an Optima.

The Optima yellow top & blue top aren't even true deep cycle (if that's even needed in this case), and the spiral-wound design provides no better energy density or power density than a "regular" AGM, and less than a true deep-cycle flooded battery.

If someone really wants the very best and has money to burn, step up to a Valence:
http://www.valence.com/products/ucharge_overview.html

But in my opinion that would be an even bigger waste of money for most applications.

Add'l info here:
http://www.batteryuniversity.com/partone-6.htm
http://www.batteryuniversity.com/partone-13.htm
http://www.batteryuniversity.com/partone-21.htm
http://www.batterystuff.com/tutorial_battery.html

Well, I'm not into all the technical about the batteries, but I have been through quite a few.

I can tell you that I am not thrilled with the Optima batteries I've had. I've had them fail prematurely and I've had new ones fail completely when the temps drop below freezing. I have a red top and a yellow top in my K5 (red for starting, yellow for winch/stereo) and they've been hard to keep alive. I have to keep them on a trickle charger constantly.

I wouldn't recommend them. I've never had a bit of trouble with all the DieHards I've been through, but I know people that hate them too.

My wife and my kids mean the world to me and their safety is my priority. I run a DieHard Gold in the wife's car.

I run a single redtop in my FJ40 with a 165 Amp alternator. I have never had issues even after some heaving winching. The redtop recharges real quick.
I run dual redtops in my GMC and it has served me well.

Some say Red is fine others go with Yellow. Use the search tool and search this section for optima. Only issue I know of is aftermarket high amp output alternators can melt down optima batteries from some post I read. If stock I see no issue.

Brian

Info on maintenance chargers for Optima batteries, here:
http://www.dieselplace.com/forum/showpost.php?p=2685750&postcount=13

I just fried my passenger side battery, disconnected the (-) and drove it to a les schwab and they tested alternator and driver side battery, they told me the battery was bad (only had 60 cca when the battery should have 770), the alternator was good. I called around and searched websites, i thought about the optimas, but decided to stay with the AC Delco's due to price and warranty. Seems like most batteries had anywhere from a 60 to 108 month warranty which is prorated, and the only a free replacement period of 1-2 years. If you look at the ACDELCO site they offer a 50 month free replacement warranty, and prorated for remaining 34 months, total of 7 year (84 month) warranty. Locally i found them for about 110-122 each.
I use my truck for daily driving and occasional towing of a 26' toyhauler.
Matt