optima battery
- Thread starter kurt v
- Start date
tubman
Well-known member
THis is a link to the last one I bought on Amazon. That was June 13, 2019. It is the third one I've had since the 1990's. The previous one is still good under my bench. I replace it when they go on sale if the current one is over 10 years old because I can. I wouldn't have anything else.
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Fritz
Senior Member
Not finding a consistent part number. 6V or RED6V.
They hold charge well if all you can find is one that’s 6 months old. Optima lists their dealers here-
Interstate Batteries sell them too. Red Top 6v
They hold charge well if all you can find is one that’s 6 months old. Optima lists their dealers here-
Interstate Batteries sell them too. Red Top 6v
Seth Swoboda
Well-known member
I agree. Optima Red Top. I put one in every antique vehicle I purchase.
JayChicago
Well-known member
Yeah. In a Ford case if not under the floor.
It's a great battery. But if that modern red battery is seen in an old car, to me it stands out like something big and red on a horny dog.
I love seeing those red 6v Optimas in my old junk, shows I care enough to buy the best. Also indicates the car is gonna start. I've bought 3, first one is coming up on 11 years old so we put it in the 8N. Waited for Amazon price to go down and cashed in my points for a new one.
Bored&Stroked
Well-known member
Are these Optima batteries 6V or 8V? I thought I remember hearing folks talk about an 8V version? I am due for another battery - have had too many issues with lead acid batteries (when they sit too long).
1936 ford pickup
Senior Member
tubman
Well-known member
The Optima Red Top" 6 volt battery being discussed here is 6 volts (3 cells). They are lead/acid batteries, but are made differently from "normal" batteries. Their construction is called "AGM", which stands for "Absorbed Glass Mat". Rather than being in liquid form, the electrolyte is carried in a glass mat.
For different chemistry batteries, I installed a "LiFePo4" battery in my Corvette a few months ago. I am sold on them completely. Their only shortcoming is that they just don't work below about 40 degrees. That's OK with me, since I don't own a pair of tire chains for it either. Unfortunately, there are no 6 volt versions available (yet).
For different chemistry batteries, I installed a "LiFePo4" battery in my Corvette a few months ago. I am sold on them completely. Their only shortcoming is that they just don't work below about 40 degrees. That's OK with me, since I don't own a pair of tire chains for it either. Unfortunately, there are no 6 volt versions available (yet).
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1936 ford pickup
Senior Member
SORRY....wrong photo sent.Yes, in my '36 Ford pickup I have the Optima Red Top 12 Volt battery.
I modified the floorboard and fabricated a hold down bracket as well.
No need now to remove the wooden floo4rboard.
Bruce in California.
Here is the Optima Red Top battery and modified wooden floorboard with battery hold down that I fabricated.
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hueyhoolihan
Well-known member
AFAIK Optima does not offer an 8v battery and the thought of them not working at a temperature below 40 degrees is hard, at best, to take seriously. unless it is -40 degrees. at which point, oddly enough, Fahrenheit and Celsius are identical! (i.e. -40C and -40F are the same temp).
tubman
Well-known member
No. The "LiFePo4" battery is a completely different technology from an Optima, which is still a lead/acid battery and works at low temperatures. The battery I am referring to is a variety of lithium batteries intended for automotive use. The temperature restriction is very real, but of little consequence in some instances.
The main advantage is that although they look like a conventional battery, they are much more powerful and have a longer life. The battery I installed in my Corvette has 1000 CCA, a 10 year warranty, and weighs 15 lbs. And, it cost less than $200. If you have ever tried to install a conventional battery in a C2 Corvette, you would appreciate the significant weight reduction.
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hueyhoolihan
Well-known member
my apologies...it wasn't clear to me that you were referring to an OPTIMA battery in the first paragraph of your comment and then switched to a battery that had nothing in common to it in your second paragraph, although it started off with the sentence, "for different chemistry batteries". when you had just explained that the Optima "but are made differently from "normal" batteries", in the preceding paragraph.
hueyhoolihan
Well-known member
understood
