Finding Optima Yellow tops

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Finding Optima Yellow tops

October 10, 2014, 04:12:54 pm

My 3 Optima Yellow tops aren't holding full charge; installed since Nov 2005; guess its time to replace. Any suggestions on sourcing these nowadays? Considering doing business with a site called "Autoplicity.com" selling all three for $662.60 including their shipping discount to Atlanta applied.
Any experience with this company or perhaps a lead to another you were happy with in the past?

Re: Finding Optima Yellow tops

Reply #1 – October 10, 2014, 04:57:33 pm

FWIW.
sams club sells them for about 190 each. I guess there needs to be added sales tax but that seems to be somewhat better to me as if you had an issue, then it would be easier to deal with them than trying to ship/arrange replacement etc. Best of Travels to you.

Re: Finding Optima Yellow tops

Reply #2 – October 10, 2014, 09:29:06 pm

$177.40 today on Amazon. Free shipping with Prime.

Re: Finding Optima Yellow tops

Reply #3 – October 10, 2014, 09:33:02 pm

For engine starting would not the oem redtops work? Versus deep discharge?

Re: Finding Optima Yellow tops

Reply #4 – October 10, 2014, 10:09:08 pm

We replaced our 3 yellow tops about a year ago with a Deka Terminator 8D AGM - $600.00+.

This summer we replaced the 2 house batteries with: http://www.oreillyauto.com/site/c/detail/SSBL/AGM8D/N2493.oap?ck=Search_N2493_-1_-1&pt=N2493&ppt=C2389

Is the same product as the Terminator - just a different sticker. I contacted O Reilys and confirmed that it is the same battery.

One of our smart forum members found it.

Re: Finding Optima Yellow tops

Reply #5 – October 10, 2014, 10:26:28 pm

I have three redtops as start engine batteries. They may be original 02 but I haven't cked as I have only owned the coach about 2 years. Tks DAN

Re: Finding Optima Yellow tops

Reply #6 – October 10, 2014, 11:55:14 pm

Optima yellow tops (3) (group 31) were original equipment on my 2001 U 320. They are more $ than the group 34. I got these because they were original equipment in 01 according to James T. I considered red tops, i think they have more initial cranking power but not as much reserve for everything else that runs on these batteries. I still have the original yellow tops. They charge fine. I use them to run a redi-line 1600 watt 12v motor generator (very clean 120 volt output for ambulances) that powers my electric chainsaw. All day long is no problem.

Roger

Re: Finding Optima Yellow tops

Reply #7 – October 11, 2014, 01:27:51 am

The starting batteries on our coach do more than just start the engine. If they only just started the engine they would not lose a portion of their charge after sitting for a few weeks in storage. They are providing power for other things. I am not sure what. For this reason, I went with the Yellow Tops when I replaced them about a year ago.

Re: Finding Optima Yellow tops

Reply #8 – October 11, 2014, 09:11:03 am

"Ya" make a good case for the yellow tops upon the replacement of my red tops. DAN

Re: Finding Optima Yellow tops

Reply #9 – October 11, 2014, 09:21:26 am

Quote from: LTG – October 11, 2014, 01:27:51 am

The starting batteries on our coach do more than just start the engine. If they only just started the engine they would not lose a portion of their charge after sitting for a few weeks in storage. They are providing power for other things. I am not sure what. For this reason, I went with the Yellow Tops when I replaced them about a year ago.

All batteries self discharge at a certain rate. If no solar or trickle charge setup the deeper cycle nature of the yellow tops seems a good choice.

Re: Finding Optima Yellow tops

Reply #10 – October 11, 2014, 09:24:40 am

Fiddler, Any quality group 31 battery will work just fine. Go to Reilly's or similar and compare specs on Yellow or Red tops with their premium 31's and I will bet they are so similar that you ( and the starter ) can't tell the difference , except for price.
Gary B

Re: Finding Optima Yellow tops

Reply #11 – October 11, 2014, 09:58:15 am

Parasitic loads exist from engine and transmission control units.

Re: Finding Optima Yellow tops

Reply #12 – October 11, 2014, 10:33:22 am

No question there is confusion on Optima color top. This offers some help, but it still leaves us with not one best answer.
Support - FAQs | OPTIMABATTERIES

We think that red-top is clearly a starting battery and does the job in our coach (we never use boost for starting). Since we all have house batteries for slow deep discharges, yellow tops are probably not better than red.

Re: Finding Optima Yellow tops

Reply #13 – October 11, 2014, 11:26:59 am

Try Street Side auto on internet.
I bought (3) Red Tops for $450. delivered. Of course that was almost two years ago and they were on sale.

Re: Finding Optima Yellow tops

Reply #14 – October 11, 2014, 12:56:24 pm

Hi Fiddler,
Which model Optima yellow top are you ordering? Check with Batteries Are Us.com.
Raymond

Re: Finding Optima Yellow tops

Reply #15 – October 11, 2014, 02:53:03 pm

The red tops are better starting batteries. They have a higher cranking amperage capacity. There is no need for the yellow tops for starting batteries.

Re: Finding Optima Yellow tops

Reply #16 – October 11, 2014, 05:06:27 pm

Our red tops have a 1,000 cranking amp rating. We added a 3rd red top because there was room in the battery tray. Most of our Foretravels came with space for three batteries, and used 2 batteries for C 8.3 engines and 3 batteries for M11.

Re: Finding Optima Yellow tops

Reply #17 – October 11, 2014, 08:47:47 pm

We also installed an Ultra TrikL-Start. It attaches to the Battery isolate and trickles charge into the starting battery to keep it charged. I think about $45.00. Worth the expense.

Re: Finding Optima Yellow tops

Reply #18 – October 11, 2014, 10:52:47 pm

Quote from: Barry & Cindy – October 11, 2014, 10:33:22 am

We think that red-top is clearly a starting battery and does the job in our coach (we never use boost for starting). Since we all have house batteries for slow deep discharges, yellow tops are probably not better than red.

Does anyone know why Foretravel installed Yellow Tops on some models instead of red from the factory? Yellow Tops are clearly more expensive.

Larry

Re: Finding Optima Yellow tops

Reply #19 – October 11, 2014, 11:16:52 pm

Foretravel even installed 3 Yellow-tops on my bottom-of-the-line U270 in 2002.

I gave them a Trik-l-start when I bought it in 2005. I wonder about them, as I think they should have died by now, but they still start with no problem after 12 years of service. I know there are plenty of arguments that Yellow-tops aren't necessary, but to my understanding, FT didn't spend unnecessarily in the 2002 year when things were lean, and yet they still used Yellow-tops, even on U270s.

Re: Finding Optima Yellow tops

Reply #20 – October 12, 2014, 12:15:30 am

I think Foretravel played around with battery brands and types many times over the years, and what they originally installed may not be the only choice.

BTW, our Red Tops also have seen over 9 years of service.

We have always had a diode based Trik-L-Start on them, which does nothing to charge start batteries when house batteries are 100 degrees and our Xantrex lowers float voltage to about 12.9 volts.

Re: Finding Optima Yellow tops

Reply #21 – October 13, 2014, 12:54:34 pm

Would anyone know why my '02 U320 has 4 yellow top cranking batteries vs. 3 like most have? I need to replace them and was hoping to upgrade to a single 8D but I am a little concerned that the cca might not be enough. These batteries seem to be factory original as the cabling seems like factory and their age seems that old.
4 (yellow tops) x 750 cca = 3000 cca total
any ideas?

Re: Finding Optima Yellow tops

Reply #22 – October 13, 2014, 01:05:37 pm

An 8d will likely give you around 1400 CCA. That would be half what you have now. You might not like the change.

Re: Finding Optima Yellow tops

Reply #23 – October 13, 2014, 01:12:42 pm

Does anyone know what the Cummins start battery spec is?

Re: Finding Optima Yellow tops

Reply #24 – October 13, 2014, 08:33:52 pm

Hi Rick,

Probably the PO added the fourth battery. FT suggested the yellow tops when I replaced mine because that what was there originally. I was leaning toward red tops because they are starting batteries, more ommph of the line. But I went with YT based on FT advice. Before you replace them make sure your terminal connections are clean and tight and the same thing with the other end of the cables and your starter connections too.

When you decide you need new batteries, look at red tops.

Roger

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