Yellow top batteries? March 05, 2006, 11:28:35 PM Hello, I'm thinking of getting a new Optima Yellow top for my 88 Coug. Right now, I've got an 85A alternator thats fairly new and an Interstate battery thats about 2 years old. I mainly want the yellow top battery so that I can run my sound system longer while tailgating. I've got 2 12" subs with a 200w (100x2) amp. Is there anything I should be aware of with putting a new yellow top in? Thanks for any help! Quote Selected
Yellow top batteries? Reply #1 – March 06, 2006, 07:25:48 PM Well, a yellowtop optima is a deep cycle battery. Great battery, dont get me wrong, but a red top may be a better choice. I had a yellowtop, and if you drain that sucker completely, you have to trickle charge it to get it back up to snuff, not just a jump and go. A red top (incidently, cheaper with the same warrenty) is designed to hold a steady amperage while discharging. So in other words, you can repeatedly suck energy out of it, and that energy will remain the same for longer. Basicly designed to be cranked and cranked, but provide the same ammount of power every time, until it dies. Very good for subs, and a lot easier on your alt. I run one in my turbo coupe, and havnt had any problems. On the other hand, after sitting for almost a year in the car without being started, my yellowtop died. It was about as good as a tree stump when i tried to charge it. It was under warrenty, so i got the red top to replace it. Also, if you store a yellowtop for any long period, you have to store it on a trickle charger to keep it good. Just some food for thought. Quote Selected
Yellow top batteries? Reply #2 – March 06, 2006, 08:06:37 PM Birman: The attributes you just described for the red-top are actually characteristics of a deep cycle battery. Deep cycle batteries are designed to be charged and discharged repeatedly (the term "deep cycle" refers to the cycle of charging/discharging). They are best used for marine/RV/cottage applications where the battery will be used until it's dead, then recharged, then used until it's dead, and so on. If you have an electric trolling motor on your bass boat you'd use a deep cycle battery.A normal, non-"deep cycle" automotive battery will not last long if you repeatedly charge and discharge it. Automotive batteries are designed to be charged and kept that way. Automotive batteries are also capable of delivering more starting amperage (measued in cold cranking amps) while deep cycle batteries are designed to provide a certain level of power over a period of time (measured in amp hours).If you live in a warm climate or don't drive in winter, yet regularly use the car on battery power alone (such as to run the stereo) a battery with a high amp-hour rating is more important that one with a high cold cranking amps rating. Quote Selected
Yellow top batteries? Reply #3 – March 06, 2006, 10:11:13 PM Quote from: Thunder ChickenBirman: The attributes you just described for the red-top are actually characteristics of a deep cycle battery. Deep cycle batteries are designed to be charged and discharged repeatedly (the term "deep cycle" refers to the cycle of charging/discharging). They are best used for marine/RV/cottage applications where the battery will be used until it's dead, then recharged, then used until it's dead, and so on. If you have an electric trolling motor on your bass boat you'd use a deep cycle battery.A normal, non-"deep cycle" automotive battery will not last long if you repeatedly charge and discharge it. Automotive batteries are designed to be charged and kept that way. Automotive batteries are also capable of delivering more starting amperage (measued in cold cranking amps) while deep cycle batteries are designed to provide a certain level of power over a period of time (measured in amp hours).If you live in a warm climate or don't drive in winter, yet regularly use the car on battery power alone (such as to run the stereo) a battery with a high amp-hour rating is more important that one with a high cold cranking amps rating.Very good description. I would like to add he may consider a 2nd deep cylce if he runs the stereo for extended amounts of time. Quote Selected
Yellow top batteries? Reply #4 – March 06, 2006, 10:26:24 PM So what would you guys suggest would be best for my setup? I live in Jersey, it gets pretty f'n cold in the winter but can get into the 100s in the summer for days on end. I like to tailgate and basically want a battery that will allow me to use my system at a decent level for more than 45min without going dead on me. Quote Selected
Yellow top batteries? Reply #5 – March 06, 2006, 11:48:34 PM Quote from: mikeinnjSo what would you guys suggest would be best for my setup? I live in Jersey, it gets pretty f'n cold in the winter but can get into the 100s in the summer for days on end. I like to tailgate and basically want a battery that will allow me to use my system at a decent level for more than 45min without going dead on me.we used dual deep cycles in a 60 caddy we just finished.I ran the system for over an hour and still had over 12v in them both. Quote Selected
Yellow top batteries? Reply #6 – March 07, 2006, 12:35:33 AM I have a yellow top in my Coug....in fact it is a small one. Like one used in hondas and other small cars. They didn't have the bigger one so I was forced to get that. I decided to get an Optima because of its reputation for lasting even when abused repeatedly. I've had no problems with it, even though it is the wrong size. I has a decent amount of CCA. Not even close to the CCA ratings of some of the correct batteries for it but enough to crank it during the coldest of mornings. I also ran into "bad Alt syndrome". I had it rebuilt, battery still died, bought a new one, battery died, I had the new one rebuilt.....died. The only thing that kept me going, mind you it was a week between times I had access to a charger, was the yellow top. I figured out what the problem was and corrected it. (60A alt powering 2 20A fans and a stereo and the car) I put in a 3G 160A which I plan to upgrade the electronics to a 200A in the future. Now my only problem is flickering lights.I would highly recommend a Yellow Top in a Coug/Bird....especially with a weak Alt. Even the 87-88 TC alts are weak, but better suited for the load. Once I start working on my girlfriend's TC (this weekend hopefully), I'll make sure she gets a 3G and a yellow top. Quote Selected
Yellow top batteries? Reply #7 – March 11, 2006, 01:45:54 PM I second the Optima battery idea. But I'd get the red top.The red top has a better warranty, cheaper, better cold cranking amps, and mine lasted almost 7 years with a high powered audio system. But there is no substitute for the alt upgrade. I too have ran through several alts in the last few years. I'm doing the upgrade this summer. Add a cap to help minimize the flickering after the alt upgrade. Quote Selected
Yellow top batteries? Reply #8 – March 12, 2006, 12:25:43 PM Quote from: Thunder ChickenBirman: The attributes you just described for the red-top are actually characteristics of a deep cycle battery.Exactly.I use the yellowtop in my car because my car sits so much (only driven on weeekends) I could kill a regular battery every year because of the constant discharging/charging due to sitting so much. I've had a Yellowtop for 3 years now and that thing is superb. I do NOTHING in terms of maintainance with it and the car cranks eagerly no matter how long the car sits between starts. I only drive the car in the Spring/summer months so I pull the battery out for the winter and store it in my crawlspace. It sits there for 6 months until it's time for the car to go on the road. I check the voltage for shiznits and giggles and it's always been 12.whatever, so I throw it in and start driving again. In those 3 years I've never have charged it once and the car has always cranked over with no concern.Choice is up to you as both the Red & Yellow top batteries are far better than any conventional battery you can install. Quote Selected
Yellow top batteries? Reply #9 – March 14, 2006, 12:02:48 PM http://www.landiss.com/battery.htm Quote Selected
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