Which Blue Top are you running?

[Cody]

I want to put a deep cycle or cycle duty battery in my **** box, which one are you running?

...or should I just go yellow?

 

[Chevycrew]

Optima says red is for basic car stuff, stereo, ect.

Yellow is what they recommend for a winch

Blue is more for a slow steady amp draw like a trolling motor.

I have dual yellows in my toyota, plenty of power.

 

[Cody]

hmmm. so d34 or 34m

..... maybe I will just go yellow. I'm half tempted to go back to my exide orbital extremes, but my good deal source is no longer around.

whats teh diff between the d34 and the d34/78?

hmmm, or oribital 34 xcd?

 

[SLC97SR5]

I'm running a single D34M in the 4Runner. Good starting kick with plenty of reserve for lights and the winch. I've never killed it but I've drawn it down and I put a slow charge on it for 6 hours at >3 Ah. I used the charger so I wouldn't stress the alternator. It's been like new ever since.

The Mini Truck has dual starting orbitals from NAPA. I haven't had any problems with the Optima or the Orbitals and we seriously abuse the Orbitals at work.

Do you have a good source for the Optima's?

Last time I checked at Costco, the Yellow's were less expensive than the Blue's.

 

[Rusted]

whats teh diff between the d34 and the d34/78?

Here is a link to their info

http://www.optimabatteries.com/optima_edge/technical_specs.php

Same specs on the battery, just different posts on them. D34 is the round posts that stick up. THe D34/78 has both the round posts and the style where cables screw into them

 

[yellowbronco]

Yellowtops rock! I have drained mine down to zip several times and it always comes back to life.

 

[Herzog]

I run a D34/78 Yellow, ran it dead on accident numerous times (bad wiring) and it's always came back to life and holds a full charge. Going 6 years on this battery now.

 

[yellowbronco]

I run a D34/78 Yellow, ran it dead on accident numerous times (bad wiring) and it's always came back to life and holds a full charge. Going 6 years on this battery now.

Mine is about that old as well, and yes, I had some wiring problems too...

 

[Cody]

hmm, ya I guess I'm leaning towards the yellow, and I deffinately want the side posts. I'll have to run to Costco and see what the damage will be.

Anyone offer a compelling argument towards the exide orbital extreme? It has more CCA's, and I was really really happy with the two I had in my old Dodge. They are just a little more expensive it would seem.

 

[Maverick]

hmm, ya I guess I'm leaning towards the yellow, and I deffinately want the side posts. I'll have to run to Costco and see what the damage will be.

Anyone offer a compelling argument towards the exide orbital extreme? It has more CCA's, and I was really really happy with the two I had in my old Dodge. They are just a little more expensive it would seem.

I just bought a yellowtop from Costco over the weekend $162 + a $25 rebate. I killed the redtop during my log winch-fest over the weekend.

Next is finding a kick butt alternator.

 

[Gravy]

yellow top side posts rock!

got mine from wayne for a sweet deal 3 years ago

 

[Caleb]

hmm, ya I guess I'm leaning towards the yellow, and I deffinately want the side posts. I'll have to run to Costco and see what the damage will be.

Anyone offer a compelling argument towards the exide orbital extreme? It has more CCA's, and I was really really happy with the two I had in my old Dodge. They are just a little more expensive it would seem.

I can argue against them

 

[Bucking Bronco]

let me know how much costco has them for. I need one also but dont have a membership to go look

 

[jdub]

I subscribe to JP and the electronic section mentioned that the side mount posts aren't that durable for winch cables. I've attached my winch to my red top and had success for years. What's with that? Sorry Cody, had to ask. I purchased mine at costco too.

 

[cruiseroutfit]

Side posts can and do melt right out of the housing under extreme loads. Thats not to say that it will happen in every case, but its enough to cause manufactures to recommend against it. After seeing it happen first person I won't even attempt it... just build a couple custom cables to route them all the the main lugs.

 

[Caleb]

Side posts can and do melt right out of the housing under extreme loads. Thats not to say that it will happen in every case, but its enough to cause manufactures to recommend against it. After seeing it happen first person I won't even attempt it... just build a couple custom cables to route them all the the main lugs.

what he said, I've always ran anything that will put any load on the battery to the top lugs and accessories to the side terminals.

 

[RockChucker]

hmmmmm. that is good to know....i should probably move my winch to the main lugs before i melt something and kill my battery, even if it isn't a sweet optima.

 

[Herzog]

Side posts can and do melt right out of the housing under extreme loads. Thats not to say that it will happen in every case, but its enough to cause manufactures to recommend against it. After seeing it happen first person I won't even attempt it... just build a couple custom cables to route them all the the main lugs.

I've heard about this, but I've heard that you either need to run your main loads off the side posts or the top posts, but not both. The meltdown comes from the resistance between the two posts when you run higher loads on them... Such as your main power off the top and a winch off the side.

No idea though.

I run all my high loads off the top posts and only a few small accessories off the side posts.

 

[SAMI]

I searched "blue top" and found this thread. Obviously the yellow top seems to get the majority vote. I'm curious though, if I can pick up a used Blue Top for $80 or less should I do it? Or hold off until I get $$ for a Yellow top?

I do not have a winch at this time

I currently have 2ea 100w IPF lights

stock stereo

.. So no major heavy loads at this point in time. Would a Blue Top be ok? Good for $80?

Thanks

 

[Cody]

how old is it? If it's in good shape and reasonably new, $80 isn't bad for that battery.