Optima battery for a camper, which one?

[BadAss88GT]

Hey, just signed on to the site, bought our first popup, a 98 Jayco Eagle 10UD.

Which would I be better off with, a yellow top or blue top?

http://www.optimabatteries.com/publish/optima/americas0/en/config/product_info/automotive/deep_cycle.html

http://www.optimabatteries.com/publish/optima/americas0/en/config/product_info/marine.html

Thanks-Dan

[mike4947]

If you don't have money to throw away, neither. Optima's are simply a niche AGM battery originally built to sustain severe vibration and shock that is seen in off road racing and off shore boat racing.
The plates are designed and built in a curve which gives them much greater strength than a conventional straight plate. BUT, they also take up more room and are more expensive to make. So you get less lead and higher cost.
If you want or need an AGM type battery a much better choice would be a http://www.concordebattery.com/
They are made with convential straight plates so they have equivalent amperage levels to open wet cell batteries and only at a slightly elevated price.

[BadAss88GT]

The reason I am interested in the Optima is I have one in my car and it works great. I'll probably end up getting a regular battery from the parts store, since I doubt I'll use it much, I think almost all the places I'll be going have electric, but I need a battery for it anyway.

[austinado16]

I've got a yellow top in my PUP only because I found it on Craigslist locally for $60 and I knew I wouldn't find a decent group 31 for that price.  Yes, it does do the job just fine, but as Mike wisely points out, if you compare the numbers to a standard AGM battery, or conventional lead/acid Marine battery, I think you'll find that the Optima doesn't have the storage.

Welcome to the forum and to PUP ownership!  I'm new to it all myself.

[chasd60]

The Optima Yellow Top has less available power than the Group 24 Deep Cycle.
On their website they claim "Lasts up to 2 times longer than other batteries"
That is based upon battery lifetime not available power.
 
As Mike said they are more for severe vibration use and good at that.
 
Specs for the Yellow Top
http://www.optimabatteries.com/publish/optima/americas0/en/config/product_info/automotive/deep_cycle/technical_specs.html

[zamboni]

Just a quick note:

The Optima is a Gel battery.

This is not the same thing as an AGM (Absorbed Glass Matt) battery.

*****

A Gel battery can hold a good charge, and can be charged quickly -- but it is temperamental; it must be babysat to stay within its charge "window".

An AGM battery, like the Lifeline Battery that I have, can be abused a lot; a big range of charges, flipped/inverted/dropped, and recharged more than regular batteries.

[austinado16]

Just a quick note:

The Optima is a Gel battery.

This is not the same thing as an AGM (Absorbed Glass Matt) battery.

Their website states that it's an AGM.

[aw738]

I just recieved an email from them, it follows:

Optima Batteries are AGM batteries.


Please feel free to contact customer service at the number below if you have any other questions. Thank you for your interest and support of Optima Batteries.

Bridget
Optima Batteries
Customer Service
1.800.292.4359


                                                                           
             
                                                                           
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                                       Battery Type

[brainpause]

Hmmmm.... :confused:

I was always under the assumption that Optimas were gel batteries too.

Larry

[mike4947]

Gel batteries while great batteries would definitely NOT handle shock or vibration loads. Not to mention they do have more stringent voltage requirements for charging than either wet cell starting/deep cycle or AGM types.

[zamboni]

Their website states that it's an AGM.

Actually, their website is very... deceptive.  They do not claim to be an AGM battery, but they specifically claim to be different from "gel batteries".

They ask "How does a Gel compare to your battery".  Their answer is "Most batteries have "  Oh... at no time, do they claim they are not a Gel battery.  NEVER.

*edit*

I read through their materials safety data sheet, and the batteries do have glass in them.  However, due to their spiral-cell, and from other things I've found on the web, they are not what is now being called "Advanced AGM" (newer generation?)

Oddly, some websites call them Gel, some don't.

I find it odd, that if it were truly an AGM battery, that their website does not actually state it (at least not where I could find it, and not in their FAQ).  Maybe they want to be "mysterious"


Plus, from their charging rates, it does appear they have similar numbers (ie, can be charged fast) to other batteries that are labelled "AGM"


I didn't buy it (and bought the Lifeline) because I could not determine that the Optima was AGM...

[aw738]

My reply was an email directly from Optima. I sell these batteries and I have always been told that they are AGM.