Optima Battery: Red or Yellow?

[ERA 778]

I'll soon be ready for a battery in my Cobra and I can't decide between the Red and Yellow options. I'm pretty sure about going with Optima, but what are guys using out there? I've got the trunk mounted battery option with the closed off compartment. I'll just be cruising and driving for fun mostly, so I'm sure there will be periods of weeks and maybe a couple of months when I can't drive the car. What should I buy?

Harold

[elmariachi]

Definitely a red. Yellow tops are deep cycle and are meant for severe duty discharge environments like winching or powering lots of accessories with the engine off. I run a dual red/yellow setup in my expedition Land Cruiser. When camped/parked I switch the truck over to the yellow top only. That saves the red as my backup/jump-start battery if needed. Been running these batteries for 15 years like this.

[patrickt]

Originally Posted by ERA 778

I'll soon be ready for a battery in my Cobra and I can't decide between the Red and Yellow options. I'm pretty sure about going with Optima, but what are guys using out there? I've got the trunk mounted battery option with the closed off compartment. I'll just be cruising and driving for fun mostly, so I'm sure there will be periods of weeks and maybe a couple of months when I can't drive the car. What should I buy?

Harold

Don't have an answer, but if you could post some shots of your compartment that would be nice.

[marcalan]

I placed a battery tender cable on my battery so when I am not using it I can keep it charged, just a thought

[mrmustang]

Originally Posted by elmariachi

Definitely a red. Yellow tops are deep cycle and are meant for severe duty discharge environments like winching or powering lots of accessories with the engine off.

X2............



Bill S.

[ERA 778]

Here's what the trunk looks like so far. That's the stereo on the left. I moved the battery 1.5 inches left of ERA's position. I'm still a long way from getting this thing on the road!




Thanks for the feedback guys!

[Sledge]

I've had a yellow-top in mine for the last 5 years and has worked great. On very hot days in traffic I'll shut off the engine but leave the cooling fan to keep temps in good shape. Mine is also mounted in the trunk but is not vented--nothing to spill, no outgassing.

The red top is probably best for most applications.

[Excaliber]

Deep Cycle batteries, unlike regular batteries, will force your alternator to put out as many amps as the battery can take. Deep Cycles are amp hungry! In some cases this leads to premature failure of your charging system from meeting that high demand rate for an extended period of time.

Worst case scenario would be, engine doesn't start, so you crank and crank the starter trying to figure it out and run the Deep Cycle battery pretty low. When the engine does start, the alternator will be putting out near max amps for quite awhile bringing that battery back up to speed.

[PANAVIA]

Give Oddessy batteries a try -- they are smaller , Lighter and if you are using a gear reduction starter can provide all the AMPS you need.

[onefastmustang]

Red.. Red is faster...

But seriously, only put a yellow in a car if your firing up a serious stereo system. And with a cobra, who needs a stereo. The car is music.

[66AC]

I have been running an Optima since #375 was new in 1993. Believe it or not, the most recent battery an Optima Red Top 8022-091 75/25 was just changed out in 2016 after 14 years of use. Now, that battery was always on a small battery Tender when the ERA was parked in the barn. I now use the Optima Digital 400 battery tender and charger on the new Optima 8022-091. Based on past experience, the Optima has more than enough cranking amps for my 428 and lasts a real long time to boot. My voltage regulator and alternator appear to like the Optima as well seeing that they are all original to the first build.

[Large Arbor]

ERA 714 has a red one.

Phil

[Three Peaks]

Holy Thread resurrection- 7 years old thread brought back to life!

Something I learned about a year ago when I was getting a new battery for my Cobra is the new Optima batteries are made in Mexico now and the reliability is suspect. I've read a few negative reviews on the new batteries and warranty issues.

There are several new Absorbent Glass Matt (AGM) batteries similar to Optima available now that have great reviews and are slightly cheaper than the Optimas.

Bob

[snapier]

I have a Superformance SP01400, which came with the Optima Red.

[Dwight]

Ten years, or so, ago I bought a Optima battery for my Cobra. It lasted nine months. Local GM dealer warranty it. 13 months later I'm back. Next battery, no charge to me. It lasted less than a year. The guy behind the counter as me if I wanted a lead cell battery at no cost. I answered, Yep and 5 or 6 years later I had to replace it.

You can not give me a Optima battery to be used in a Cobra.


Dwight

[Dwight]

The power of the search button

[Rjw289]

Optima red and use a battery maintainer when not in use. They are made in Mexico now so probably won't last as long.

[66AC]

I was not aware that Optima had changed sometime in the last 14 years. You learn something new all the time here, thanks for that info.

In any case, my new Optima is about 6 months old so fingers are crossed that I received a good one.

BTW, what are the "other" AGM type battery brands that are "good" or have a positive reputation now?

[csx4017]

I just removed the passenger side battery placement and installed a 1500 Odyssey with billet aluminum hold-down in the upper shelf area of the ERA trunk. The two ganged 6 volt Optima red tops in the CSX4017LA are 7 years old and never needed a trickle charge. Have heard about changes to the Optima of today? Recommend Odyssey.
Nice job on the trunk.

[66AC]

Yup, my Optima is in the trunk too, on the passenger side. A long time ago I got a nice billet aluminum battery tray from Speedway Motors which holds it in place.