Anyone care to argue the merits of either the red top or yellow top Optima battery for winching?

The optima site says the red top is good for starting and high power demands for winches.

The yellow top is better for long deep draws with things such as accessories and lights.

Now where I'm confused is I remember hearing that the yellow top can handle being drained completely more times than the red top. This seems like it would be good for long use of your winch as the red one might wear out sooner.

Any comments? I know they're both good batteries, but I've got more lights now, and want a new battery for use with my winch.

By the way, did anyone else read that you can't roll-start a standard Xterra? Is that the interlock causing that? I haven't had to try.

Don't know about the Optima batteries since I don't own one. However, I've read that some X's can be roll started while others could not. Maybe it was something Nissan changed? I have an auto, so I can't verify it on mine.

is this going to be the second battery in a dual battery setup or are you just having a single battery for everything? if it is a single for everything, i'd go with the red top. it is a great all around starter battery and i remember using MTs winch with his for long periods. say running much of 10 minutes plus, with no problems. and that was 8 months ago. he still has the same battery. you'd want to have the yellow for situations with lights as light have a constant current draw for longer periods of time. with winches you usually use them for a few minutes and then you are not stuck and the alternator has no problem charging it and the battery never has a chance of getting fully drained.

now then if you leave the headlights on when parked at the mall all the time schlud, THEN get the yellow top. :apoke:

Schlud, if your contemplating a dual setup I would go with one red and one yellow! At least according to the site. Red for winching and yellow for lights.

I read an article in Peterson's in which they used the yellow top for winching. I was planning on buying the yellow top based on that article, but you guys have me thinking I should go red. I didn't realize that Optima recommended the red top for winching. I seem to remember that the red top is about $60.00 cheaper than the yellow top.

Dude, Red Xterra, red battery, Yellow Xterra, yellow battery...

Originally posted by xoc
Dude, Red Xterra, red battery, Yellow Xterra, yellow battery...

Yeah, but my Xterra is white :smoker:

No dual setup for me yet.

I'm leaning towards the yellow top since I've added more lights to my truck. I'll probably call Optima and see what they say. Part of me feels like it's just marketing writeup to get people to go one way or the other (kind of like all those versions of Edge shaving gel, same stuff, people just think "oh this one is made for me"). I'll post what I find out.

Optima recommends a Yellow Top for winching. At least they did when FSR asked them. I haven't had any problems at all with my Red Top ...

I've got the yellow top (got a great deal on it) and I've had no problems running Clifford in full lighthouse mode as of yet (about 1000 watts draw when all lights are on)...planning to add a winch soon but might be going dual battery first. I tend to leave my rock lights on for very long periods of time (4-8 hours) when working on my truck at night, so I'm glad I have the yellow top.

YMMV...

You do need an interlock bypass to be able to start your X in gear (rolling start). One of the MAXC guys is making kits for just this purpose.

Bought the yellow top, thanks for the advice. ChuckH also spent the afternoon with me sweating in the sun wiring up the last of my lights.

Originally posted by rhombus
You do need an interlock bypass to be able to start your X in gear (rolling start). One of the MAXC guys is making kits for just this purpose.

Yeah, I figured as much. Maybe I'll see if they can bring one with them to GoX.

Originally posted by Schludwiller
Bought the yellow top, thanks for the advice. ChuckH also spent the afternoon with me sweating in the sun wiring up the last of my lights.



Now I have Lobster Legs! :eek:

I better start adding things to my truck...keeping up with the Schlud's is not an easy thing to do!

Originally posted by ChuckH


I better start adding things to my truck...keeping up with the Schlud's is not an easy thing to do!

Hell No! I finally got my truck to look different than yours. You stay with your current mods. Ok? :D

Originally posted by Schludwiller


Yeah, I figured as much. Maybe I'll see if they can bring one with them to GoX.

you need to email coolerman. he is the one making them. there are a few options as to h ow you want yours that he can go over with you. it'll be easier to have him mail them to you he lives in KY.

I'm pretty sure when I was battery shopping a bit back (Last year?) - the Optima warrenty was void for a Red Top used with a winch...you could dual battery a red/yellow...with the winch on the yellow.

So - If you are winching (I think they actually also exclude coverage if you have a high powered sound system or other high draw accessories...) - You MUST use the Yellow, not the Red Top.

If they have changed the warrenty since last year...I have not heard...but then I haven't been paying attention recently either.


So -

Red for starting and normal use,

Yellow for high drain applications, such as winching.

:)


I ended up with an Exide Orbital Gel Cell. Same spiral wound technology, better overall performance than the Optima's. About 25% less $ too.

:D

Originally posted by Lance


I ended up with an Exide Orbital Gel Cell. Same spiral wound technology, better overall performance than the Optima's. About 25% less $ too.

:D

Do you have a model number or something? I checked out their site and they had several batteries that they call an "Orbital." The Orbital marine looked like it was probably a gel cell, but I wasn't sure about the others. Also, how did you determine that the Exide performs better? Thanks.

I don't have the battery anymore....the guy I sold the Jeep to has it.

I just went to Pep Boys...and got the brochure for the Orbital, and to a local speed shop to get a brochure for the Optima. Well, actually, I got the Optima info first now that I think about it.

I compared the construction (same), cold cranking and other data...and the Orbital was better....and in stock.

It was not a huge difference in performance, but it was significantly less $.

They are both spiral gel cells, spill proof, multi-mount capable, etc.

I had no winch at the time...so I was most likely comparing the Red Top Equivalent, albeit I might have considered a future winch...It was around a year ago...so I just don't recall anymore. (yesterday is hard enough...)


If you have a Pep Boys near you...you could just grab a brochure. :D

Here is a short review.

http://www.rockcrawler.com/techreports/exide_orbital/

I read Optima is making the batteries for several companies now and they private lable them...seems this might be one of them...I just saw an Interstate branded Optima the other day.

Saw the Orbital @ Napa the other day. Didn't note the price though.

Brent

I don't think Exide needs anyone to make batteries for them. ;)

The above article is a year or so old, but had a link to Exide:

http://www.exideworld.com/products/trans/productdetail/Orbital_Automotive_Starting.html



The article lists some crank/amp type data for Exide, and is very positive in their review.

You can compare the data to Optima's...and see where they stand now a days...assuming Exide's Orbital data is the same now a days too.

Hope this helps.

:)

Yellow Xterra....yellow Optima!

At G.I. Joes for $159.00....I'll install tomorrow!