Thanks for the info Gunslinger. I noticed the spiral shaped cells, so I knew something was different. The car came with the Optima aready in it, so I really don't know how old it was. The prior owner passed so I can't ask.

I guess what I need. as well as many others, is a battery that can sit for weeks/months and not fail from not using it.

I put a marine battery in because I've had really good luck with all my boat batteries, they really sit a lot and never seem to fail cold/hot/ old or new.....also last well past the expected lifetime spec.

My 2 cents...

My car is stock, I put in a Delco replacement.  Long warrentee, no probs and 1/2 the price.  This was based upon my wrench's suggestion who sells everything..

Well... as for batteries,  Optima is a good battery, we sell them(though we dont push them because of "warranty" problems, mainly from mis-applications). The Red Top is mainly what you would want in a "normal" vehicle, its a cranking/starting battery. The Yellow and Blue top batteries are deep cycle batteries.  Only difference from the Yellow and the Blue is the post configurations, Blue has threaded posts for marine applications.   We dont normally reccommend using a deep cycle battery in a normal vehicle application because of the alternator charging system.  Deep cycles are made to be drawn down, then recharged, at a slightly lower voltage/amperage than an alternator will produce.  Thus a car alternator will tend to 'overcharge' an AGM battery(absorbed glass matte).  Not trying to discourage you from an Optima, just, adding a little  information.  As for a battery that can sit unused for months, well, all batteries self discharge, regardless.  Only hope you might have in letting one sit is to have it fully charged before forgetting about it for several months.  Now, we rotate our stock every 5 months, in colder climates, you can be a little more forgiving, as a battery discharges slower in colder weather.  The Optima is a unique battery as Gunslinger mentioned, its cells are spiral shaped.  One piece of lead in each cell, approximately 8 feet of a lead sheet rolled up with a fiberglass seperator(lookes like a jelly roll).. this does offer less internal resistance and  is one of the reasons the car audio guys like them for their stereo systems(lights dont dim as much), they are sealed(can use them upside down) and they dont gas as much as a wet cell battery(which by the way has several postcard type sheets of lead in each cell, welded at the top to a lead manifold, which often is the cause of a bad battery when those welds break due to vibration).   Anyhow, my 3 cents worth... by the way, why not get an Interstate Battery?? hehee, its where i work....  

At one time I worked for a place that sold Interstate batteries. I always thought they were excellent products.    There's a lot of good quality batteries out there. Interstate is one of the best plus nationwide distribution should you have a problem with one.

I still like the Optima and that's what's in my '78. A lot depends on your needs and how long you intend to own your car...the long term or not.

WOW!!!!!!!!!!!!

Lots of GREAT information. I just went out and picked up a red top Optima. Will install this evening.

Thanks Again

Hey Stingray,

Well explained, good job. You must be from Tennessee......

I have 10 yellowtop Optima 55AH bargain blems on my boat inverter system on Center Hill, great setup, but not enough AH..., going with golf car batteries this year, 10 6V Titans for 1000AH, I think.

I agree, the yellowtop Optimas don't hold up as well to 14.7 volt charging. Red tops are best for general automotive aps. Interstates are as good a wet cell lead acid battery as you can get.

C U N PF in June.

Dave

Dave(Autom8r),

Agreed about the capacity of the Optima for your application... the golf cart batteries ought to do you justice.  The golf cart(GC) batteries have much more capacity/reserve than the Optima, which in your case is what you are after with an invertor system.  Interstate does carry GC batteries too, model U2200,  and there is larger batteries(physically) with more capacity. In fact, there is one that is the same width and legnth, but taller, about 14 inches tall, compared to the GC's appx 10 inch height.  The model number on it is U3050.  In the Center Hill area, you would be serviced by Music City IBS, and, if you know of a IBS dealer in your area, they can order those for you...  http://www.ibsa.com/www_2001/content/products/product_6volt. asp?mscssid=G3MGS9U3DU6C9M4HNGJTV2GCSKB13L11&js=1

link to specifications for those batteries.. least one thing, the golf cart batteries, are roughly half the cost of an Optima..  hope that helps some.. if i can be of some help, let me know.

Kinetik batteries, very good, very expensive $$

Stingray,

Thanks for the link.

I bought the Optimas 'cause they were a bargain at $30.00 each as blems, didn't go too wrong as they have worked for 2 years.

I am going to put a noisy sound system on the flybridge this spring and can use a couple of the Optimas there for plenty of power reserve for the 1200 watt system.

Dave