OPTIMA Marine Battery

Optima batteries has a long history of producing quality batteries. They produce batteries for multiple applications, including starting, deep cycle and dual purpose. The AGM battery, absorbed glass mat, is what OPTIMA produces. There are construction advantages to the AGM design, as well as performance enhancements that aren't found in other types of batteries.

The OPTIMA name was first used by Gates Rubber Products. They began producing spiral wound AGM batteries as early as the 1970s. Gates later sold OPTIMA to Gylling Group in 1992. Under the direction of Gylling, the YellowTop and BlueTop lines were added to OPTIMA. The company was finally purchased by Johnson Controls in 2000. There have been additions to the range of battery sizes as well as changes to the manufacturing process under Johnson Controls.

OPTIMA was the first company to produce AGM style batteries. The acronym AGM stands for Absorbed Glass Mat. Within each cell of an AGM battery, you'll find a plate wound within a fiberglass mat. This fiberglass mat contains both the sulfuric acid that you find in wet cells, as well as provides the electrolytes that allow the chemical reaction to occur & produce electricity.

These types of batteries are also referred to as "dry cell" batteries, due to the fact that they cannot spill their contents. Most are sealed, but even if the seal is broken, all fluid is suspended within the glass mat and does not escape. Because the liquid is suspended within the mat, there is no risk of freezing or damage due to extreme cold. This makes the AGM very reliable.

Another major advantage of AGM batteries is that they are extremely efficient. There is little to no water loss, as the design is very efficient. These types of batteries are called recombinant, because the oxygen and hydrogen recombine within the battery, preventing their loss.

Finally, AGM's provide excellent shock absorbtion. They are a good choice for marine applications as well as off-road conditions. This is due to their design, the plates are wound tightly within the mats and secured so there is little to no motion.

One of the most unique characteristics of OPTIMA batteries is the classification of battery types by the color of the sealed top. Each color will come in a variety of sizes, and only represents the application they're intended for. You can find an OPTIMA for any use, whether it's auto, marine, industrial, golf cart, atv or RV. The first place to start is the general application, which will determine the color OPTIMA you want to use.

RedTops are used for engine starting only. As detailed above, being an AGM battery ensures long lifespans for the RedTops, but they are not designed for as rugged conditions or deep discharge, like the other two types.

YellowTops are dual purpose batteries. They provide both resistance against shock and can withstand a lot of abuse, as well as having many of the characteristics of the BlueTops, allowing for deeper discharge. This makes the YellowTop an excellent choice for offroaders or those who plan to use their battery when the engine is shut off.

The BlueTop is a deep cycle battery that will allow you to discharge the unit almost completely, and still recharge and reuse the battery. Common applications are watercraft and RV's, where you expect to use the power with the engine shut off for extended periods of time. Because their efficient design, the OPTIMA BlueTops will give both adequate power for any application as well as long life and reusability.

The AGM type deep cycle battery doesn't require any special type of charger. There are some battery chargers that are designed for use with deep cycle batteries, but these are necessary for AGM style batteries.

For all other deep cycle batteries, you should ensure that the battery is charged slowly. The 20% rule applies to deep cyles. You should only use an amperage rating 20% of the battery's Ah. If your battery is 100 Ah, then you should only charge it at 20 amps. There are a number of different charging tips that will help ensure your charge goes as planned, but observing the 20% rule is the only hard and fast rule for deep cycles.