Author Topic: Feedback on Optima red top sealed, spiral core. battery(Poll) (Read 9001 times)

notajeep · « **Reply #30 on:** Jan 21, 2006, 06:10:32 PM »

I put in a red top last summer because the walmart 500cca just wasn't cutting it to run the winch, but otherwise was fine. Optima works great ( the walmart cheapie wasn't bad) but I have noticed a HUGE improvement in the performance of my winch.

Thomas P · « **Reply #31 on:** Feb 18, 2006, 05:10:33 PM »

I can vouch for the yellow top, after running my high powered stereo system for hours at a time until my music started cutting out I managed to crank it over no problem. I did that dozens of times before the battery acted up. Luckily it was under warranty and I got a new one and have been runnig it for two years with the same stereo.

jimbo74 · « **Reply #32 on:** Feb 18, 2006, 05:14:34 PM »

i had a yellow top as a starting battery in my exploder, gave me many years of great service

KYOTA · « **Reply #33 on:** Feb 18, 2006, 07:38:46 PM »

I use red tops in my Toy and my 1 ton GMC, great batteries couldnt beat the price, (Sears on sale) but I have also heard alot of good things about Exide Orbitals too.

jimbo74 · « **Reply #34 on:** Feb 18, 2006, 08:38:33 PM »

Quote from: KYOTA on Feb 18, 2006, 07:38:46 PM

I use red tops in my Toy and my 1 ton GMC, great batteries couldnt beat the price, (Sears on sale) but I have also heard alot of good things about Exide Orbitals too.

the exide orbitals suck... they are notorius for having bad cells, i am on my second one currently...... the first one i had died after a year and a half so i got a free replacement one

trekker · « **Reply #35 on:** Feb 18, 2006, 11:15:59 PM »

i like the red optima a lot i have had great luck with them but the exide orbital is crap i had one and it it lasted 6 months and it crapped out

Plowking · « **Reply #36 on:** Feb 19, 2006, 06:48:25 AM »

This post was started over 1 year ago and since then Have bought the red top, had it for a year, great battery.

Rocksurfer · « **Reply #37 on:** Feb 19, 2006, 06:52:40 AM »

One of the 2 blues I have died, 5 yrs. old. Just replaced them with 2 Walmart specials for under 1/2 the price of 1 Optima. I figure even if they fail 1 day after the warranty I win the $ battle since I could almost buy 6 cheap batteries for the original cost of 2 blues.

kneedownnate · « **Reply #38 on:** Feb 19, 2006, 02:23:53 PM »

Yknow, if I had to buy a yellow top optima I'm not sure I wouldn't be able to afford it, but having a rich customer give you 3 sure helps out!

toynizzy · « **Reply #39 on:** Feb 19, 2006, 09:41:06 PM »

i was wondering how well it would do after its been just sitting for over a year,a friend of mine gave me a brand new one,aint had probs with mine so no need to put it in,its in my shed,on the wood floor,u all think it wil still work like new?

Thomas P · « **Reply #40 on:** Feb 20, 2006, 08:10:24 PM »

I think it would be good still.

kneedownnate · « **Reply #41 on:** Feb 20, 2006, 08:50:17 PM »

They don't seem to mind sitting around for a while, so long as it was charged when you got it. Mine have sat around for a year at a time or more without dropping even a full volt. I've parked them with around 13 volts and when checked quite a while later they still had over 12.

Rockdiver · « **Reply #42 on:** Feb 21, 2006, 12:29:21 PM »

Since this Post started. My Red top took a duump . Mostly due to bad terminals. Had redone the ground when I got the Truck. The Pos. was one of those cheap replacement type . When I pulled it off the top post was cooked Havn't checked the volts yet but without a good post why Try . Tried to get a new Optima at $ wheel Parts Told me they were backordered Napa sprial cell installed .

Plowking · « **Reply #43 on:** Feb 21, 2006, 03:58:05 PM »

Actual post coming out of battery top? Or post connector. I come to like the marine style post connectors with a stud on top they are the ticket for lots of connections directly to battery

KYOTA · « **Reply #44 on:** Feb 21, 2006, 05:55:31 PM »

Quote from: jimbo74 on Feb 18, 2006, 08:38:33 PM

the exide orbitals suck... they are notorius for having bad cells, i am on my second one currently...... the first one i had died after a year and a half so i got a free replacement one

they all are or just yours? I know quite a few people that run them with nothing bad to say about them do you have anything to back your "they ALL" claim or are you just generalizing?

kneedownnate · « **Reply #45 on:** Feb 21, 2006, 10:17:50 PM »

Man, I can back jim on this one bigtime. We unfortunately use the orbitals at work and they drop like flies! We have a $1,000 battery tester (why I don't know), and we checked all the orbitals I labeled bad this year at the end of the season. I am essentially fully responsable for all our batteries, so there was no real chance of other people sneaking batteries in without me knowing what was giong on. Every single one failed totally, along with 2 new ones off the shelf! Some would charge up to 12 volts but couldn't hold a load. They are really good at dropping a cell, dunno why but they do. If your friends get away without problems with theirs I say

and good luck, but I wouldn't steal one.

And rockdiver, I saw in your thread you carry a load tester and one of those little compact jumper packs in your rig. What'ya do for a living.

KYOTA · « **Reply #46 on:** Feb 22, 2006, 12:21:00 PM »

good to know Nate, good info to back it up. I almost went with the Exides, glad I chose Optima's

Rockdiver · « **Reply #47 on:** Feb 22, 2006, 07:08:48 PM »

Well My optima just had a bad connection and it slowly cooked the top post i will Post a Pic tomorrow I bought a napa gel cell because i was told by 4 wheel parts they were on backorder. I found a new Optima at Penners in reedley yesterday so now I have a new one in and some fancy Monster cable ends . Hope this one Lasts.

Nate I carry a Bat Pack and tester for jump starts I do some aaa calls for a local tow company Lockouts, Gas, jumpstarts, general Repairs, Pulling rookies out of the Snow and off road recoveries AAA normally doesnt cover as needed . As for profession I am a Resort Manager Lynn and was told today have 2 dead napa gel cells wont hold charge but they are great no questions on returns.

Rockdiver · « **Reply #48 on:** Feb 23, 2006, 06:08:08 PM »

Here is a Pic of the terminal on my Optima Truck would not charge or start Charged and tested later holds good just nasty terminals

Thomas P · « **Reply #49 on:** Feb 23, 2006, 07:01:36 PM »

They take a lickin and keep on tickin.

kneedownnate · « **Reply #50 on:** Feb 23, 2006, 08:14:33 PM »

That battery looks nasty! We had a lot better luck with our optimas, but the company changes their mind all the time about what they wanna run, so even if something works really well one year that's no guarentee they'll stick with it.

Plowking [OP]

Plowking [OP]

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