I wish I could go into the in-depth comments some others know about batteries, but I can tell you that my Optima has never let me down in the (short) 7 months I've had it.

I have a modest system in my truck, and I like playing the stereo with the engine off down by the lake, out in the parking lots, in the pasture, ect. I will say that a factory replacement battery did this surprisingly well, but what concerned me was the frequent discharging on a "normal" battery doing these things. I don't think normal batteries like frequent discharging.

Make no beef about it, the Optima runs my stereo and starts my truck after lots of accessory use way longer than the stock size battery. It's just getting over the sticker shock these batteries carry.

http://memimage.cardomain.net/member...724235_133.jpg

yeah i found some local batteries on sale which i will pickup tomorrow. its 50 bucks no way im going to spend 100 more for an optima

I was told unless your running tons of accessories their not worth it.

Good choice, IMO Optima would only be good if you had multiple lights and a winch or soemthing that direction

http://www.1st-optima-batteries.com/ is a good site that tells about the Optima battery and while it has some things I think are hype most seems to be valid. The Optima is not a gel cell but uses some thicker than normal but thiner than gel cells sulferic acid. There is little tech info just average consumer stuff. You can use that site to choose the correct Optima for your use.

The site claims Optima's are deep cycle and starter cycle batteries. Deep cycle batteries don't work well for heavy discharge and starter cycle batteries don't work well for deep cycle discharges. So they have struck a happy medium. They have red, blue and yellow top batteries, the reds are for starter cycle, the yellows are for start/deep cycle, and the blues are for deep cycles. They say you can use them interchangeably with certain reservations.

Read the site.

I will see if I can find a site that gives tech info on the Optima.

Still trying to contact #1 son to ask about lead acid Exide batteries specs. I'd still like to see an inhouse study by Exide or another company compairing them to several brands. I'm sure it's been done to see how their product stands in comparison.

#2 son with the modified 914 lives in Lou. and #1 son lives in Tenn. He don't work for Exide anymore, he works for a company that wires and outfits helicopers.

You have all sons, Carl? I have all daughters, lol...

Ive had a Yellow top for 5 years, i got a 2000w stereo i hammer all the time...the thing i like about it, is its a dry cell...


Ide say go for the optima!

Well, it's not a dry-cell. That is a specific type of battery and chemistry and it's not that. It's a lead acid AGM -- a wet chemistry battery, but with the "wetness" constrained by an absorbent mat.

However, it has many of the same advantages as a dry-cell, but is more flexible in it's application. Dry-cells are limited in what you can use them for overall.

According to Optima they are semi gel cells, not liquid acid and not gel, somewhere inbetween. They can be used in any position, one their bottom, on the sides or upside down and not leak. The Optimas have lead/tin plates that are thinner than a standard battery with more surface area.

I found a lot of Exide info at this site http://www.exide.com/ and it seems Exide has a battery like the Optima. The site is interesting and if I were an offroad person I would buy an Optima or Exide round cell.

For the street a top grade standard high cold crank amperage battery is just fine.