Batteries: Starting vs Deep Cycle

[buickid 0]

I was thinking... Deep cycles (ie. Yellow Top) are meant to discharge quite a bit over a long period of time, but starting batteries (ie. Red Top) are meant to discharge large amounts of current over a short period of time, like the starter.

Now for our application, car audio, unless playing with the engine off for extended periods of time, wouldn't starting batteries be better? Music is quite dynamic, and as such, starting batteries would be better able to provide the bursts of current. Now I understand that purpose built batteries such as Kinetiks and Powermasters probably have high current in mind, but when using other batteries like Optimas, would a Red Top work better?

~Trevor

Edited July 9, 2008 by SteveSan

[KU40 173]

I believe that's what I've heard. I used a red top as my starting (and only) battery in my last car, and as soon as the battery in my Explorer goes, I'm replacing it with a red top as well. It's been a couple years since I've last discussed this, but the consensus was that red top is good for primary battery and yellow is better as a secondary. That's not to say the yellow top couldn't be your primary. It may also depend on if you play your stereo a lot with the car off. In that case it might get a little blurry as to which one you'd want. However I will say that when I was taking my stereo out of my last car with the red top, my vehicle lights were on for probably 8 hours because I didn't disconnect the battery. and when I went to start it, it was as if it didn't even know it had been discharging. started right up without so much as a half-hiccup.

[scottiej 5]

I used to think the same... until I tested them. In every spl test I ever conducted with Optima's the blue tops were the best, the yellow tops second, and the red tops the worst.

[emperorjj1 2]

which makes sense deep cycle ftw interms of power for your system.

[Tmax98 3]

also deep cycles will take a re-charge alot better then starting batteries

[buickid 0]

I used to think the same... until I tested them. In every spl test I ever conducted with Optima's the blue tops were the best, the yellow tops second, and the red tops the worst.

Hmm, interesting. How much did they results of the tests vary by?

also deep cycles will take a re-charge alot better then starting batteries

This is true, starting batteries are damaged by repeated deep discharges. In theory, with a beefy enough alt, this shouldn't become a problem, the battery acts as a buffer. Perhaps Optima Blue Top type batteries would be ideal, as they are made to dump lots of current, and discharge over a long period of time. Hmm.

[95Honda 486]

I had to pick some deep cycle batteries a few years ago for use in the Middle East. I ended up buying 150 optima yellow tops. I spoke in length with different engineers at Optima before making a choice. The only difference between the yellow and blue top is the extra set of terminals and extra metal that connects them. The internal plate configuration and specs are identical. For my application I choose the yellow top because I didn't have such high current demands (little over 100 amps). But, with super high current demands, the extra metal used for the connections of the blue top gives you a little lower resistance. Just wanted to point out the actuall differences between the 2.

[buickid 0]

The only difference between the yellow and blue top is the extra set of terminals and extra metal that connects them. The internal plate configuration and specs are identical.

Hmm, thats quite interesting....

[KU40 173]

I had to pick some deep cycle batteries a few years ago for use in the Middle East. I ended up buying 150 optima yellow tops. I spoke in length with different engineers at Optima before making a choice. The only difference between the yellow and blue top is the extra set of terminals and extra metal that connects them. The internal plate configuration and specs are identical. For my application I choose the yellow top because I didn't have such high current demands (little over 100 amps). But, with super high current demands, the extra metal used for the connections of the blue top gives you a little lower resistance. Just wanted to point out the actuall differences between the 2.

So is the red top a completely different beast then (relatively speaking)?

[95Honda 486]

Yes, they told me the Red top was completely different.

[Bobaflob 0]

I use a marine starting deep cycle.

[scottiej 5]

I used to think the same... until I tested them. In every spl test I ever conducted with Optima's the blue tops were the best, the yellow tops second, and the red tops the worst.

Hmm, interesting. How much did they results of the tests vary by?

also deep cycles will take a re-charge alot better then starting batteries

This is true, starting batteries are damaged by repeated deep discharges. In theory, with a beefy enough alt, this shouldn't become a problem, the battery acts as a buffer. Perhaps Optima Blue Top type batteries would be ideal, as they are made to dump lots of current, and discharge over a long period of time. Hmm.

Only a few tenths between the yellow and blue, the red on the other hand would be significantly behind... well over 1dB.

When you guys are comparing starting batts vs deep cycle batts, I assume you are refering to flooded vs. sealed. If this is the case, them most of what you are saying is true, but there are sealed AGM starting batteries that can give both high amp discharge (for starting) and can still be deep cycled. Odyssey, Northstar, and XS Power are good examples...