phrostbyte0311 10+ year member
USMC Veteran
Just switched from Yellow Top to an XS Power D3400 and have so far noticed a decent performance bump. Headlights are much brighter too.
Simply can-not agree with this statement more. Oh and I run Yellow-Tops, never had a problem with a battery from ANY manufacturer that wasn't due to overly discharging, lack of water, freezing, corrosion ETC I've never had a battery being used and maintained properly have any kind of issues. Sulfication will happen over time but this process is extremely sped up by not keeping the battery properly charged. If you are having that many issues with batteries dieing then it is likely you do not have the proper charging capacity.Hello, I noticed your conversation regarding our batteries and wanted to offer some assistance. porksoda, as Imtjnotu suggested, given the electrical demands of your truck, a YellowTop would be a more appropriate choice. An appropriately-sized RedTop will offer plenty of cranking amps, but it is not designed for deep-cycle use, which would include car audio applications. Both batteries do come with three-year, free replacement warranties, while our BlueTops come with two-year, free replacement warranties. Internally, BlueTops are identical to their YellowTops counterparts, except for the 34M BlueTop, which is the marine equivalent of our Group 34 RedTop starting battery.
Since you mentioned the “g” word, I should clarify that Optima batteries are not “gel” batteries, but Absorbed Glass Mat (AGM) batteries. They can be treated and charged just like normal lead-acid batteries, but “gel” or even “gel/AGM” charger settings should be avoided, as they may not fully-charge an Optima and could damage it over time. If your truck sits for long periods of time, either a quality maintenance charger or a quick disconnect (for a fully-charged battery) would be a good idea.
Our batteries shouldn't be charged at a rate higher than 10 amps and when any battery swells or vents during charging, it is typically due to overcharging or sulfation that has built up because the battery was deeply-discharged and left sitting in that state for an extended period of time. Many of the “bad” batteries returned to us now are just deeply-discharged and work fine, when properly recharged. My truck starts every day on one such “dead” YellowTop that was returned to us under warranty.
Proper voltage maintenance is the key to long battery life, regardless of manufacturer. When batteries are discharged below 12.4 volts and allowed to sit, sulfation will diminish both performance and lifespan. That makes a quality battery maintainer a good investment for any vehicle that doesn't see regular use or vehicles that may significantly discharge their batteries during use. Fully-charged, our RedTops will measure about 12.6-12.8 volts and our YellowTops will measure about 13.0-13.2 volts. Fully-charged voltage ranges will vary from one manufacturer to the next and some manufacturers will void your warranty if your battery has been discharged below a specific minimum voltage level, so it's a good idea to check that information out before making a purchase. You can read our warranty information here.
Jim McIlvaine
eCare Manager, OPTIMA Batteries, Inc.
Optima Batteries - Automobiles and Parts - Milwaukee, WI | Facebook
Yep, if it is cold outside and your battery isn't fully charged you're gonna see some expansion and your battery will lose some if not all of it's usefulnessakheathen & 6thpinned, I appreciate your feedback. akheathen, since you live in Alaska, I should mention that fully-charged, our YellowTops are only protected from freezing down to -30 degrees. “Fully-charged” is the key to that statement, as many batteries are not fully-charged and when any battery is in a partially-discharged state and exposed to extremely cold temperatures, their protection from freezing and subsequent damage is diminished significantly. While the quality of our batteries has always been excellent, the batteries we are manufacturing today are the best we have ever made.
While I normally recommend that anyone considering a battery purchase closely review the warranty terms and conditions of any battery they are considering, that would be especially true for people using batteries in car audio applications. You can view our warranty here. Some manufacturers have special terms and exclusions, like batteries discharged below a specific voltage level. If you find yourself going through multiple batteries of any brand in a single year, your best option might be the cheapest battery with the longest warranty and the most-liberal return policy.
Jim McIlvaine
eCare Manager, OPTIMA Batteries, Inc.
Optima Batteries - Automobiles and Parts - Milwaukee, WI | Facebook