Optima vs. Platinum

[David]

I've recently had my Optima Yellow top die--completely, without warning, and at less than two years old (and averaging about 1 off roading trip every six months at that--that's averaging about $45.00 per trip for juice). I don't know what happened to it, but I haven't heard any bad things about these batteries in general, so I was simply going to buy another one. I then saw that Consumer Reports rated the DieHard Platinum very highly. It looks, more or less, like the same battery, except that its warranty is twice what Optima's is. Has anyone heard anything about these batteries--especially as might relate to off-roading--good or bad?

 

[TerryMason]

Is your warranty over on the Optima? If not, then I'd trade it in for a new one.

I've got a yellow top in one of my cars, and run it dead all the time - great battery so far.

 

[firemanharry]

If it's only 2 years old then take it back to where you bought it and get a new one. I've found the Optima warranty is OUTSTANDING.

 

[Joopin]

Yep, I have a Red Top in my jeep and mustang, great battery, only brought one back once and it ended up the battery wasn't even the problem. Oh well, got a fresh one!

 

[David]

Unfortunately, the Yellow Top's warranty is only 24 months, with the first 12 being full replacement and the second 12 being pro-rated. I bought the battery in March of '06, meaning that I have about $6.50 credit coming to me. The Red Top's warranty is better. The Sears DieHard Platinum's warranty is 4 years unlimited replacement and 100 months pro-rated. Also, to clear up any potential misunderstanding, the battery has apparently developed an internal short. This isn't a matter of recharging it; it's dead.

But anyway, the Sears web site does all but explicitly compare the battery to the Optima Yellow top DieHard Automotive Battery, Platinum P-4 - Group Size 34/78DT - Model P-4 at Sears.com, so I was simply looking to see whether this battery performs in the real world of off-roading.

 

[Bounty__Hunter]

If it's a similarly designed spiral wound battery I'm sure it'll do just fine. Is it a deep cycle/starting battery like the yellow and bluetops?

 

[firemanharry]

Unfortunately, the Yellow Top's warranty is only 24 months

No wonder the guy asked me if I'd rather have a yellow top the last time I traded in a red top. That sucks.

Does anybody know who manufactures Diehard's?

 

[redrooster]

I have a Napa Orbital dry cell that has been in my Jeep since 2002. I have drained it more times than I recall from sitting so long. A few minutes on the charger and she is ready to play all weekend. It's the equivalent of a red top. I can't say it's any better than another, but it has stood the test of time. I bought it because I worked for Napa's sister company at the time and got an employee discount.

 

[cewtwo]

I've been running dual red tops with a Roaring Forks BIC for years.

As for the Diehard version? I know nothing.

Now, forgive me, but I have always thought that a yellow top was a deep cycle battery. Deep cycle batteries were for marine use and for the back of an RV, but not for starting cars.

The electrical shop I take the Mighty YJ to says that Red Tops is the correct choice for a vehicle that starts the engine.

Did I get something wrong here?

 

[Utah_jeepster]

The Yellow tops are a deep cycle battery but they deliver more CCA (cold Cranking Amps) than a red top and more (start) cycles (around 250) compared to most wet cell battery's (50).
Red tops were made for quick cycles (Starter only). Optima will not warranty one if its hooked up to a winch or a large bank of night lights.
Blue tops are made for Marine use only.

I run a yellow top in my Jeep, just put it in, now I am a little more rough on my battery's, but I had the factory original in my jeep since 01 and it was still going strong The only reason I changes was I got this Optima for 50$ as a store return. with a 2 year warranty.

 

[Bounty__Hunter]

The Yellow tops are a deep cycle battery but they deliver more CCA (cold Cranking Amps) than a red top and more (start) cycles (around 250) compared to most wet cell battery's (50).
Red tops were made for quick cycles (Starter only). Optima will not warranty one if its hooked up to a winch or a large bank of night lights.
Blue tops are made for Marine use only.

Both the yellowtop and the bluetop are a deep cycle/starting battery, meaning they can be used in both applications. They are very similar in specs and the bluetop adds an extra set of stainless steel threaded studs to the top, handy for attaching winch leads.

There are two types of bluetops, the one with the light gray case is the deep cycle/starting battery, and I believe if the bluetop has a white case it is strictly deep cycle and should not be used in a starting application.

Bluetop info from Optima's website (yellowtop info is nearly identical):
The OPTIMA BlueTop battery is available as a starting or deep cycle battery for marine and RV applications and has all the valuable characteristics of its two brothers - the RedTop and YellowTop. It's perfect for boats with electric trolling motors, onboard electronics or stereo systems and RV's with “creature comforts” that tend to drain batteries quickly. The BlueTop is the battery for those who simply need a sure-starting, strong cranking, maintenance-free power source.
Benefits and Applications:
Dual-purpose

* Deep cycling and cranking power all packed into one battery.

Longer life

* Lasts up to 2 times longer than traditional flat-plate batteries.

Optimal starting power

* More power in the initial 1, 3, 5, and 10 seconds of the starting process than comparably rated conventional lead-acid batteries.

Higher reserve capacity

* Constant performance quality, which keeps your battery running at the same level even as it's being discharged.

Longer shelf-life (lower self-discharge)

* Ideal for seasonal use, fully charged it can sit unused for up to 12 months at room temperature (or below) and still start a vehicle.

Vibration resistance

* 15 times more resistant to vibration than traditional lead-acid batteries.

Leak-proof

* Mountable in almost any position.