got a new battery...
 

Well my battery was starting to act a little finicky, so i went to the parts store on base and got myself an optima red top.. i wanted a yellow top, but they didnt have it and didnt know when they would get any in, so i settled for the redtop..

Anyone have any experience with them? will this battery be good enough for 6 150Wkc lights? i know i need to eventually get a bigger alternator but for right now the battery was cheaper lol

The battery is for powering devices when the engine is off. Item #1 on your shopping list is a high output alternator to power your lights while the engine is on. If you are overloading your alternator and falling back on battery power, you're just going kill it.

On the Fords be very careful about upgrading alternators because the wiring from your alternator is only rated to whatever the max voltage from the STOCK slternator is. So if you upgrade alternators your more then likely going to melt some wiring.

I got a red top optima in Nov. of '08. From a starting stand-point this battery cannot be beat.

i got mine in jan 07 still going never had any problems there tuff to kill

If you upgrade alternators I would upgrade the big 3 wiring as well.

http://www.the12volt.com/installbay/...TID~73496~PN~1

I've had my Optima since 2005. Love it. I need to do the big 3 on my truck.

so if i were to get a high output alternator, what would you suggest? and if i were to do the big 3, would that pretty much eliminate any worries i would have of over-doing the existing wiring?

My 2002 came with A/C, power windows, door locks and side view mirrors. To that I've added fog lights, 4 comp speakers in the doors, 2 10" subs, 2 amps and 2 air compressors for the air ride sys. All this stuff can pull over 150 amps if they are all running at the same time. (Not likely, but anything is possible.) Most of my driving is low speed. (around town, 2000 rpm or less.) Last Oct I installed a Yellow top optima battery, and 200 amp alternator. My old battery (Pepboys best) was only 2 years old and just kept going dead. I've had the new setup installed since mid Oct 08 with no problems. I love the optima. When I purchased the alternator, I was told it was basically a plug and play setup. Just to go to a zero gauge ground wire. Which I did. So far, no problems.

How much are the red and yellow top batteries? Where is the best place to get one? I know I will be needing one in the very near future.

Got mine at Auto Zone. The Yellow tops are expensive. Think I paid like $200 plus for mine. Check the chain web sites. Auto Zone, Pep Boys, Kragen, etc.

I have the stock battery in my truck, still going strong!

In my car: Motorcycle Battery!
http://i213.photobucket.com/albums/c...7/PICT3391.jpg

I am on my second battery since I got the truck and I am running an extra set of fog lights, a sub, Cb and sooner or later a set of off-road lights and a set of back up lights I still have sitting in my garage. I already upgraded to the 200amp alt., just time for a better battery.

I got my Red top at Advanced Auto Parts. They were also running a sale. I'd shop around since Optima's aren't the cheapest thing in the world.

Advanced Auto Parts ($12.00 Core Charge)
Yellow Top Part No. D34 - $215.29
Red Top Part No. 75/35-925 - $162.79

Auto Zone (Core Charge $8.00-$12.00)
Yellow Top Part Number: D34 - $227.99
Red Top Part Number: 75-25 - $161.99

When in doubt. Call Optima Customer Service/Tech support. Tell them what you have/plan to get and ask them to suggest a battery. The guy I talked to was very friendly and helpful.

888-8OPTIMA (888) 867-8462 9 a.m. - 5 p.m. (CST) Monday - Friday.

http://www.optimabatteries.com/customer_service/

Gracias.

so.. what alternator should i get? And should i upgrade to the yellow top later? i think the red top should be good with the better alternator.. and if i do get the new alternator, do i have to do the big 3 like then or could i wait a while

Jim you can get an upgraded alternator from either of these places.
As I told Mike, give them a call, tell them what you have/plan to get.
Ask them for suggestions. I got my 200 amp alternator from MrAlternator.
Nice guy and he helped me pick the right one and told me how to install it.
Only problem is neither of these guys has an toll free number.
So you'll have to call long distance. Their phone numbers are on their websites.

Which RedTop did you get? The 25 or the 34. If it's the 34, that will probably get the job done.
Call them and ask.
Good Luck.


http://www.mralternator.com/

http://www.alternatorparts.com/Ford_3G.htm

Hmm...I am still running a FoMoCo battery. Never had problems.

thanks memphis.. ill def.. be taking a look.

You mean except by the yellow top and various other batteries like Kenetik.

http://www.mean-green.com/products/alternator.html

The yellow top's only advantage to the red top is being a deep cycle which means it can provide more current at a lower voltage and you wont damage it by running it down.

Big 3 is $30 worth of wire and a $3 fuse. DO NOT skimp out on it. Our stock alts come with like a 6ga (+) and no additional ground outside of the engine block and that is too small for a 95a alt IMO.

ok, so i will have to see about getting the stuff here in germany...