The Optima
Red Top is designed for standard auto and truck applications where starting puts the most load on the electrical system. It is the best Optima battery for people who do not have extreme electrical system loads (like a winch) and who do not use electrical items in their vehicle for long periods of time when the engine is not running. It is now available from
Atlantic British for $169.
The Optima
Yellow Top is a deep cycle battery. It will last a lot longer than the Red Top starting battery if heavy electrical loads (like a winch) or use of electrical items for long periods of time (like running a stereo or 12V fridge for hours at a time with the engine off) that run the battery down on a regular basis. (I recently found it is now available from
Atlantic British for $199). The Yellow Top is still a decent starting battery but due to a different chemistry for the paste material on the plates and a stronger acid it has a little less starting power than the Red Top.
Update May 2004: Wayne Hubbell reports: "Optima now makes a D31A battery that fits perfectly in the Range Rover tray. It is a sealed, deep cycle "yellow top" with tremendous cranking current and very good reserve. I have had great luck with their batteries under desert conditions".
The
Blue Top Optimas are their Marine batteries and Optima makes both starting (Blue Top, Gray Case) and deep cycle (Blue Top, White Case) marine batteries. The only difference between the "Marine" Optima batteries is the addition of threaded marine terminals in addition to the standard battery terminals. Optima batteries last much longer than regular batteries in boats since the abuse on a battery in a boat in rough water is much worse than in any vehicle.
