Red Top or yellow top?
10-27-2007, 12:48 AM
#1
Red Top or yellow top?
I drive a 2000 chev cavalier and its time for a new battery, now i want an optima but just dont know what is best suited for me. I compete but with low power so im not interested in a second battery. I want a battery that will run my car well and be good for burping and continuous play. Now with that said i also live in northern ontario where it gets to minus 20 no problem and a bad morning can be minus 40 celcius with wind chill so would an optima be best or a different brand?
10-28-2007, 12:59 PM
#5
50 Watt CAFz'r
Join Date: Nov 2006
Posts: 228
any deep cycle battery is a good battery for car audio. they deliver power faster and charger just as fast. myself personally i use stinger db series batteries because of the high power output, because i have an exceptionally large system. i used to have an optima red top in my dads old old truck, 1981 chev silverado. 350. carburated. and that truck had no problem cranking over in minus 40 with a red top what-so-ever. and i believe yellow top is the step up from red top. so i see no problem with the temperature issue.
10-28-2007, 04:07 PM
#6
Yankee
Join Date: Oct 2003
Posts: 3,599
^ good post but not fully correct, a yellow top is not a step up on the red top, nor is the red top a step up over the yellow top... They are similar batteries, AGM, with a different internal structure for doing different things, if you are running the stereo with the engine off the yellow top is preferred if the stereo is typically only on when the engine is on then the red top is more of what you need. The red top is a car starting battery that produces a decent amount of current for starting a car (or doing SPL burps). The yellow top is not as good at producing a lot of CCA but it does last longer with the engine off. The gel cells are 'marine batteries' that last a long time but dont crank out the amperage like a yellow or red top.
The yellow top is the best compromise battery in their line. The red top is probably...faster at producing current
I am not sure you wont be as happy with a good lead acid with a good warranty for a lot less.
As far as cold weather goes... they will all be adversely affected but I have no idea whether AGM, gel or wet cell is superior. doublexl has a good history with AGM in cold weather
The yellow top is the best compromise battery in their line. The red top is probably...faster at producing current
I am not sure you wont be as happy with a good lead acid with a good warranty for a lot less.
As far as cold weather goes... they will all be adversely affected but I have no idea whether AGM, gel or wet cell is superior. doublexl has a good history with AGM in cold weather
Last edited by JohnVroom; 10-28-2007 at 04:10 PM.
10-28-2007, 04:40 PM
#7
50 Watt CAFz'r
Join Date: Nov 2006
Posts: 228
your smarter then me lol....but heres sum numbers
yellow top
cca - 650 to 900 (depending on size)
ah - 55 to 75 (again, size matters)
red top
cca - 670 to 1000(this is at 0 degrees) (size matters)
ah - cant really find any numbers, i would expect to be around the 70s
stinger sp1700 power2 db (battery i use)
cca - 1200 (1700 5 second cranking)
ah - 72
the red top is generally cheapest, then the yellow top (usually under or around 200). expect to pay around or over 400 for a stinger sp1700.
however the sp1700 is an extremely large battery (altho not nearly as big as a sp2150) i did put the battery in the regular gm spot. but a few modifications and moving of components (abs controller) had to be done to fit it in.
for drop in replacement go yellow or red top
yellow top
cca - 650 to 900 (depending on size)
ah - 55 to 75 (again, size matters)
red top
cca - 670 to 1000(this is at 0 degrees) (size matters)
ah - cant really find any numbers, i would expect to be around the 70s
stinger sp1700 power2 db (battery i use)
cca - 1200 (1700 5 second cranking)
ah - 72
the red top is generally cheapest, then the yellow top (usually under or around 200). expect to pay around or over 400 for a stinger sp1700.
however the sp1700 is an extremely large battery (altho not nearly as big as a sp2150) i did put the battery in the regular gm spot. but a few modifications and moving of components (abs controller) had to be done to fit it in.
for drop in replacement go yellow or red top
10-28-2007, 04:49 PM
#8
50 Watt CAFz'r
Join Date: Aug 2007
Posts: 109
what is you budget like - i run a purple haze in my o2 cavi (stock location) i payed $150 it puts out 750CCA and i run 3000wrms at times with no problems - it has so far handled -30 degree weather (one winter) with no problems, i have absolutly no bad things to say about this battey and i run red top in two other cars
BTW i have a car that is hard to start in the winter and the red top could not crank it over at -30 but my purple haze could. so if budget is an issue i would suggest the orbital purple haze over the red or yellow
BTW i have a car that is hard to start in the winter and the red top could not crank it over at -30 but my purple haze could. so if budget is an issue i would suggest the orbital purple haze over the red or yellow
10-28-2007, 05:27 PM
#9
^^^ And who makes the purple haze. I was also thinking of an Orbital battery...or a motormaster spiral cell, any good? What about something like kinetik's batteries..that was something else i was considering buying.
Last edited by LOWTONEZ; 10-28-2007 at 05:29 PM.
