Optima blue top

F

fishinAK

New member
Ok last battery question for a little while...promise. thanks to everyone for the help so far.

So I have spent the last week shopping for batteries. My big question is, Why is optima so great? I understand the advantages of AGM batts over flooded. But when comparing #s the optimas just dont look that great. I am looking primarily for 1 grp 24 starting and one grp 27 deep. The deep I like the best is the interstate. It has 190 minutes reserve capacity. The optima only has 140, but cost 2 x as much. WHY

If the optima really is better I dont mind paying more for it. But is it really any better?

any other advice or opinions on deep cycle batteries. I am going to try to make a 27 fit, but may have to stay w/ grp 24.

Can I cut/grind down the terminal (the big car like one not the wing nut stainless one) to make it fit. Then electical tape/insulate it?

Any and all ideas, and opinions greatly appreciated!
 
I have 2 grp31 Optima in my RV as house batteries. It came that way, I would have put in a common AGM. A couple of Optima advantages - I believe they are more robust than others, and I can charge them how ever fast I want, as long as I manage the temperature. I sometime begin a charge at 100A +, and as long as the temp stays down it is OK - according to Optima. Now with the crappy little Guest charger that becomes a mote point.

Are you talking about cutting down the height of the terminals ? Aren't they the same height as the threaded terminals ?
 
yes. I am talking about the height of the teminal. They ar close to the same height as the threaded, but they are closer to the end...hard to explain w/o seeing it.

So you are using these optima blue tops as deep cycles?
 
Yep, in my application, I deep cycle them - Optima, calls them deep cycle in some places, in others they call them dual purpose. You can get more amps from Interstate, and some others - I personally don't feel they are worth the premium price.

I see no reason you couldn't cut the big terminals completely off - then maybe 5200 some rubber over them, course that is just my opinion.
 
I put 4 of the Optimas in Discovery when she was built in Dec. of 2005. They pooped out in less than 2 1/2 years. I now have 4 regular flooded cells, group 27's. They are doing a fine job. The AGM batteries maybe don't allow equalization. Depends on who you talk to.

Brent
 
No, you shouldn't de-sulfate the Optima batteries if you adhere to their charging perimeters. Max voltage they should see is 15.6 - de-sulfating boosts the charge voltages to 17+ volts. Don't know about other AGMs.

My Optima are 3+ years old.
 
Optima makes starting batteries (red tops, and the 34M version of the blue top, which are identical except for terminals). These have very little deep cycle capacity, but they are great starters, particularly for their size and weight. I had a pair for my boat's 260hp diesel that lasted 7 years. The other pair in my diesel truck is 9 years old and still nearly good as new. The one in my wife's Trooper is 6 or 7 years old.

I have heard that in some recent years Optima had quality problems, but I don't have any experience with newish ones.

They also make slightly more dual-purpose versions (the D27M, D34M, and D31M blue tops and some yellow top models). These are pretty expensive for the small amount of deep cycle capacity they have. They don't look very good in terms of deep cycle capacity per pound either.

East Penn Mfg (Deka) Sea Mate dual-purpose AGMs (WM sells them under the Sea Volt label, and they're available under various labels much cheaper at industrial battery suppliers) are much better deep cycle batteries, especially for the money. My house bank is a pair of Deka g31 AGM's - they're going into their ninth year, and still seem nearly good as new.
 
I bought a red top optima battery for my truck. Good battery, will stand without usage for a long time. Other than that, it's the same as any other lead-acid battery, except for the price.

First bought one at Costco. Somehow that was a smaller version of the battery I thought I was buying. Took it back and went elsewhere. Make sure you get the type/model battery you want. Apparently there are several models for each size made by optima, all have a red top.

A battery store told me that optima now are made in Mexico. May explain the problems.

Boris
 
I get about four years out of the optima blue top combo batteries.

To me there is value in the jell cell/AMG design over traditional lead acid. Smaller footprint, low storage discharge rate, no venting mount any direction, no acid corrosion in the battery compartment .

Need to replace this year and thinking I will go with odyssey batteries in the form of Group 31 Sears die hard platinums. Little bigger than the optima but I have the space and am hearing good things about them.

stevej
 
Hi Boris,

Thanks for the reminder - there are several different sizes of Optima red tops, all of which are starting batteries.

Optima's "marine" starting battery, the 34M blue top, is identical to the 34-size red tops except for terminal types.
 
I was a big Optima fan but after three batteries, blue top, red top and yellow (deep cycle) lasted 3-9 months, I quit buying. Now, it's Odyssey batteries for engines and 6-volt Lifeline batteries for my deep cycle needs.

AGM, with the smart chargers are maintenance free.
 
Warren, Odyssey batteries have a great reputation and should be available from your local battery shop, they also manufacture Sears platinum batteries that are less expensive and if you watch sears website you can often get them at a 10-15 % discount - we are going to switch to Sears platinum when our current bank of Interstate flooded cell batteries poop out on Chack Chack. My reasoning for this is less self discharge when the boat is stored and less maintanence. The down side to AGM is less amps per battery vs flooded cell technology.
Have used Optima in the past but same problems as some others have described with early and untimely demise of the battery but that could be our application - used one as a gate battery and in tractors with intermittant use and a lot of cranking when the diesel engine doesn't want to start.

Eric
 
Just as a point of interest, EQ installed Optimas for starting batteries on the Tom Cat, with another brand AGM whose name I don't recall, as the house battery.

On the 22 I have all AGM from Trojan, I believe, that I bought from Cap Sante. I have found it frustratingly difficult to shop for specific battery brands other than, of course, Optima, Sears, etc.

Warren
 
When we bought Valkyrie in '05 I specified Blue Tops. They didn't last one year. Let's just say that I am not a fan.

Nick
"Valkyrie"
 
We have two Optima 34M Blue Tops for start batteries and 8D Lifeline AGM's for the house. All are working as new going into their 4th Season. The boat stays plugged in when stored and the Outback Inverter/Charger keeps them topped off at all times. I'm optimistically looking for a few more years on all four!
 
Hey thanks so much for all the replys and help guys!

So this afternoon I bought a grp 29 interstate deep cycle. It has a RC of 205 and MCA at 845. In order to get it to fit, I had to hacksaw off the neg post, then I coated it in 5200.

My plan it to use this as my house batt and maybe use to to start the ob as well. I think will also buy a smaller GRP 24 to use as backup starting battery.

So one more question. I have both batteries hooked up to a guest 2 bank 10 amp 3 stage charger. Can I run fans, radio, etc in the driveway while the battery charger is plugged in?

Thanks again for any and all help
 
The real claim to fame of these gelled-electrolyte/glass-mat-separator/rolled-plate batteries is their low internal resistance...
A battery is a voltage source in SERIES with it's internal resistor...
When you short the battery terminals together (like what happens in the first split second when you hit the starter on your engine) the amount of current the battery can deliver is limited by the series resistance of the battery-cables/clamps/relay-contacts/starter-windings PLUS the series resistor inside of the battery...
Now, you can't do much about the series resistance of your starting circuit (other than keep the connections clean) but you can choose a battery with a much lower internal resistor... So, batteries like the Optima can double or triple the current flow (and the cranking/spark) because their series resistor is so much less than big flat, widely separated, plates in a flooded battery...

The down side of these technological wonders is high cost, and a nervous disposition like a thoroughbred race horse... Personally, I prefer big, dumb, placid, reliable, flooded cell batteries - except on my airplane where these light weight, gel wonders are great...
 
Just installed a 34M Blue Top for the start battery and a D34M Blue Top for the house battery on Frequent Sea. Also have two group 31 AGMs in the house.

I've never used them before but they have a record of good performance and very long life in this neck of the woods. We'll see how they do.
 
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