Car audio batteries

rh_916 · Post by **rh_916** » Thu Oct 28, 2010 5:43 pm

Any decent car audio batteries for under 150 since my car battery is getting too old and im going to put in an new system any suggestion i would appreciate it thanks

todd217 · Post by **todd217** » Thu Oct 28, 2010 6:12 pm

i bought my group 34 yellowtop optima at autozone for around 150. they price matched it to sams club.

Stryker · Post by **Stryker** » Thu Oct 28, 2010 6:37 pm

for under the hood or in the trunk? what are you running? provide more info. In the meantime here's some links all 150.00 or under
http://www.caraudio.com/forums/car-audi ... 9a31s.html
http://www.caraudio.com/forums/car-audi ... lways.html
these are right up your alley.... welcome

rh_916 · Post by **rh_916** » Thu Oct 28, 2010 8:16 pm

For the hood. I am running just one ti500.4 for my mids and highs right now but in 2 to 3 weeks i will be running 1 or 2 rsdc 12 depending on what amp i get for it.

Post by **Rold Gold** » Thu Oct 28, 2010 8:58 pm

A yellow top will do nicely for yer install.........

Post by **kg1961** » Thu Oct 28, 2010 9:00 pm

Rold Gold wrote:A yellow top will do nicely for yer install.........

im running a blue top same thing as the yellow im my mk2 jetta what like a charm
i drawing 90 amp i have not done the big 3 and still no light dimming ect

Irongoats · Post by **Irongoats** » Fri Oct 29, 2010 2:08 pm

todd217 wrote:i bought my group 34 yellowtop optima at autozone for around 150. they price matched it to sams club.

Same here.

Post by **Jacampb2** » Fri Oct 29, 2010 7:37 pm

If you go optima, do some research, the actual color of the battery case, not the top, is more important. They have some that are deep cycle or starting ONLY and you can quickly destroy them in the wrong application.

IIRC, the dark gray case means it is starting only, light gray is dual purpose start/deep cycle, and white (which they may not make anymore) was deep cycle only.

I have several "red tops" with the dark gray case that have gone bad relatively quickly in my off road vehicles. They can only take a repeated discharge a few times before they are garbage. My off road toys sit a lot and if I don't pull the batteries they routinely discharge. If I remember right a optima starting battery can take ~50 deep cycles and it is likely going to be a door stop. I have had excellent luck with the starting batteries in daily drivers. I have one that made it probably 5 years in my pickup w/ no issues.

The yellow/light gray deep cycle/starting combo battery also has a finite number of deep cycles it can take. The info used to be on optimas website, but I am not sure if it is still there. I think it was around 200 cycles was the expected life. Like I say, do some looking around their site.

You might also take a look at NAPA auto's "orbital" battery, it is made by optima, and I have found NAPA's warranty to be more relaxed than when trying to get optimas replaced. I believe the NAPA Orbital is just the version of the starting battery though, no deep cycle ones that I recall.

Good luck,
Jason

gridracer · Post by **gridracer** » Fri Oct 29, 2010 7:45 pm

See and when I bought my first yellow top back before interstate bought them out I talked to one of their techs on the phone and on a forum(Wish I could remember that forum or had saved it) and he told me all the batteries were made the same they just classed them in different colors for marketing purposes, honestly that is what he said. So I bought a 34/78 yellow top and it lasted 10 years in my truck as a starting battery.