I am getting a new audio system installed. I don't often sit around running the system while the car is off. Only occassionally, but who knows, with the new stuff ???

Question is, I want to replace the battery. I heard a Yellow Top is better for cars with audio systems. Mine won't be too crazy but there will be one 4 x 175 (4) channel amp and one 650 watt monoblock for the sub along with an Alpine HU. I picked up a RedTop at my local battery joint because he says that he has a hard time keeping the Yellows in Stock. I can get a Yellow at Sears, for about 25 bucks more.

Which one is better for my purpose or will it matter. Esoterically the Red would look better under the hood but that's not the primary goal.

Thanks for your help.
Dav

 

No matter where you buy, the yellow will be more expensive.

You can't go wrong with either red or yellow. I own both. My C5 happens to have the yellow. The Optima web site does a great job at explaining the differences in the batteries.

 

I put a red top in mine mainly because it is a daily driver and I wanted to keep the cranking amps up a bit. This was after talking to 3 seperate retailers, two product reps (optima reps), and the dude selling our cart batteries to us for the last 20 years. All said red for my application.

That being said the red does not like sitting for days/weeks at a time. Its life is known to get cut short from such treatment. TONS of posts on the boards about this. I don't run my stereo for long periods of time while it is off so I have not had an issue and I always see between 14.0 and 14.3 in the control center and have not had any issues. This is while the stereo is seriously cranking. I can make the volts dip with a serious rap/hip hop cd when the lights are on but the rest of the time it is dead solid.


Fej

 

I do sit the car during the winter and it may sit for a week or two in the good weather from time to time. I start it once a month in the winter but I still seem to kill the Delco every winter if I miss starting it for longer than a month.

So I guess since the car will sit as it's not a daily driver, then maybe the Yellow would be better ?

Thanks

 

Get one of these.
http://www.batteryweb.com/batteryten...Model=021-0128

They work GREAT. Do a search on storing your Vette. You will find many positives. This $40 wonder will make your $120 battery last much longer. Will work for any battery.

 

my yellow top is 5 yrs old and still strong

 

the yellow top is designed for high drain applications, the term "deep cycle" means the battery is designed to be drained and "abused" (this is what i used in my truck) the red top is optima's regular use battery, it provides more power than the yellow top, but has a tendancy to drain faster and has a shorter total life than the yellow top.

unless you have a high powered sound system, i'l go with the red top

 

Thank everyone. My installer also recommended the Yellow Top and I purchased one at, of all places, Sears this weekend. It's was fortunate because my installer told me that the Delco was DOA everytime they went to turn on the car. So armed with all the knowledge gained from this great forum and the fact that the Yellow matched my car (most important, and the wifey concurred) I went for the Yellow option due to the 700 and 650 watt Kicker amps that are going into the car.

So all this info is being used for the new Alpine DVD CDA-9853 HU, JL Stealth Box, Kicker SS65.2 Component Speakers and crossovers for the fronts and Kicker KS525 series co-ax for the rear. SX700.4 (4x175 for the cabin) and SX650.1 for the JL Sub. B-Quiet sound deadener througout the rear and doors (Vert) Yellow Top, Valentine V1 remote concealed display. The amps will have the removeable side fins painted millenium yellow. Still have to find or make an amp rack for behind the seats.

Installer is having some issues with fitting the JL Stealth Box into the Verts rear. They say that it won't get in there all the way flush. (anyone having issues with JL Stealth Boxes fitting?) I'll check it out tomorrow when it's done. (Can't wait). Otherwise I may be off to Subthump to get one of theirs along with the Kicker Comp VR or VX Sub. We'll see how well we drown out those B&B Bullets with this setup.

Thanks again.

 

I am assuming you have a C5...If so the stealth box installation requires you to cut the carpet out of the well area prior to installation. This will permit the enclosure to fit below the deck...

 

which is DUMB!!! why do they design it like that?? to give installers reason to charge more?

 

Yes it is a C5. Good question though. I'll have to check with them to make sure that they didn't put the carpet back in. They did install the Dynamat into the hole though. Would that cause a problem ?

 

i bet if you need to remove the carpet the dynmat would need to be removed too

 

Might be able to save the dynamat but gonna have to loose the carpet, they did everything they could to get every last inch of airspace they could for that enclosure, which includes losing the carpet heh.

Sounds like a sweet setup.

Fej