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Blindpugh



Member Since: 14 Jun 2010
Location: Reading
Posts: 40

United Kingdom 2000 Defender 130 Td5 HCPU Cairns Blue
Optima batteries which ones.
Hi all have just fitted a split charge system in the 130 and was going to fit a red top & yellow top Optimas but someone has said to me that you are better off using two the same ie 2 red tops or 2 yellows.
Anybody know anymore or advice?,before I go buying.
Many thanks. He who dies with the most toys wins.
Post #108158 18th Dec 2011 11:33am
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leeds



Member Since: 28 Dec 2009
Location: West Yorkshire
Posts: 8582

United Kingdom 
Optima red tops are starter batteries.

Optima Yellow tops are combined leisure starter batteries.

A good split charge system should be able to cope. What system have you got?

We sell Odyssey batteries which are compined starter/leisure batteries so have to be careful what I say. Would suggest you google Optima batteries or do a search on other Land Rover forums.


The Odyssey batteries do cost more but are (IIRC all the figures) Odyssey 1500 are 68 amphr batteries compared to 55 amphr for yellow tops. CCA on 1500 is 880 amps, yellow top 690 amps. 1500 weighs about 3 kg more then the Optima, also has a 40% dod.

Our Red 110 has 2 x Odysset 1700's in plus Gensis management
Our Black 110 has 2 x Odyssey 1500s in plus IBS split management
Our Disco 2 has 1 x Odyssey 1500 in


HTH

Brendan


Last edited by leeds on 18th Dec 2011 5:05pm. Edited 1 time in total
Post #108163 18th Dec 2011 11:57am
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markalpha



Member Since: 23 Apr 2008
Location: Downham Market
Posts: 690

England 2013 Defender 110 Puma 2.2 XS CSW Santorini Black
I used odyssey on my split charge system on my 110. No problems at all with them. I was advised by the company who did the work on my truck that they had a few issues with optima batteries.
Post #108197 18th Dec 2011 4:53pm
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Blindpugh



Member Since: 14 Jun 2010
Location: Reading
Posts: 40

United Kingdom 2000 Defender 130 Td5 HCPU Cairns Blue
Hi Brendan I used the T-max spilt charger as it was in my price range and had all the features I think I needed,hopefully that should be ok to work on a red/yellow top combo.
But I will look at the Odyssey 1500 just out of interest what would a pair of them cost and how tall are they as that is the main constraint as the clamp I have will only go up to a max body hight of 170mm.
Thanks for the advice.
Paul. He who dies with the most toys wins.
Post #108202 18th Dec 2011 5:23pm
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bpman



Member Since: 21 May 2008
Location: Oslo
Posts: 8069

2008 Defender 110 Puma 2.4 SVX Station Wagon Santorini Black
I'm thinking about fitting 2 optima yellow tops and a VSR - but I might go for Odyssey 1500's or 1700's and a VSR

Last edited by bpman on 20th Dec 2011 6:36pm. Edited 1 time in total
Post #108259 18th Dec 2011 8:20pm
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landy andy



Member Since: 15 Feb 2009
Location: Ware, Herts
Posts: 5729

2006 Defender 110 Td5 USW Zermatt Silver
I have two Odyssey 1500 in mine, like the idea of two of the same batteries, as you can swop them. They fit in easily and even have enough room for all the rest of the wiring and a big set of jump leads.

Optima's don't always get good comments on a lot of the forums.


Andy
Post #108263 18th Dec 2011 8:27pm
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tatra805



Member Since: 16 Aug 2011
Location: Dolany
Posts: 436

Slovakia 2008 Defender 110 Puma 2.4 CSW Bonatti Grey
Aware of the comments about optimas i want to add my experiences.

Bought 2 yellow tops at billing 2007, they were installed for 6 months in my discovery and since then not used anymore. With the winter kicking in and the 110 since this summer i took them out of the barn not expecting anything merely hoping for something.
One still had 11volt the second barely 8. Shocked

Second wouldnt charge so i put it in parallel while charging. Guess what.. 12 hours later they were both fully charged and now functional for the past 4 days.

Fingers crossed but in any case tripple Bow down for them. That is +4 years storage and still functional Shocked

So Thumbs Up to optima from my side.
Post #108303 18th Dec 2011 10:34pm
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kzycnn



Member Since: 24 Apr 2009
Location: Northumberland
Posts: 277

United Kingdom 2003 Defender 110 Td5 XS CSW Oslo Blue
I've got two Optima yellow tops fitted to my Defender. No problems at all (touch wood) with either in over 5 years.

Tony
Post #108333 19th Dec 2011 7:48am
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ken



Member Since: 18 Aug 2009
Location: Banging Birds with my bitches !!
Posts: 4328

United Kingdom 
Nothing but praise for the YT's fitted to our split charged D3's & FFRR although Odesseys fitted to the Puma must say not conviced totally but they fit nice so for the min I'll live with them
Post #108341 19th Dec 2011 8:33am
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Blindpugh



Member Since: 14 Jun 2010
Location: Reading
Posts: 40

United Kingdom 2000 Defender 130 Td5 HCPU Cairns Blue
Thanks for the advice guy looks like I will go the 2 yellow tops route. Thumbs Up He who dies with the most toys wins.
Post #108364 19th Dec 2011 9:49am
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BigMike



Member Since: 13 Jul 2010
Location: Lancashire
Posts: 2253

United Kingdom 
bpman wrote:
I'm going to fit 2 optima yellow tops and a VSR.


why not to use a vsr

http://www.adverc.co.uk/batterymanagement/split-charging-systems
Post #108401 19th Dec 2011 11:13am
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Zagato
Site Supporter


Member Since: 08 Jan 2011
Location: Billingshurst West Sussex
Posts: 5013

United Kingdom 
I thought Optima batteries were outdated, superceded with a more advanced battery/brand! Have read a couple of threads on this but don't can't remember the make as I would never need them! Will do a search on another forum Confused
Post #108442 19th Dec 2011 2:33pm
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BigMike



Member Since: 13 Jul 2010
Location: Lancashire
Posts: 2253

United Kingdom 
Zagato wrote:
I thought Optima batteries were outdated, superceded with a more advanced battery/brand! Have read a couple of threads on this but don't can't remember the make as I would never need them! Will do a search on another forum Confused


Optima is yet another in the same stable as BFG etc as a "must have" thing based on previous reputation going years back which is now no longer warranted with better, cheaper products out there. There are FAR better batteries out there like varta, yuasa, unipart, numax. cranking amps on a defender are not that high, a calcium unipart is perfect for example. Numax too are good, VERY good in fact for running fridges and accessories from.

a fantastic source of really good, simple stuff re batteries and split charges etc is www.adverc.co.uk I've been using these products now for two years. They're robust, don't fail in extreme temps and just..work. plus they are really helpful.
Post #108445 19th Dec 2011 3:02pm
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Blindpugh



Member Since: 14 Jun 2010
Location: Reading
Posts: 40

United Kingdom 2000 Defender 130 Td5 HCPU Cairns Blue
Blindpugh wrote:
Thanks for the advice guy looks like I will go the 2 yellow tops route. Thumbs Up


Made the decision two yellow tops ordered will let you know how they get on. He who dies with the most toys wins.
Post #108636 20th Dec 2011 10:04am
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bpman



Member Since: 21 May 2008
Location: Oslo
Posts: 8069

2008 Defender 110 Puma 2.4 SVX Station Wagon Santorini Black
I have taken some advice and researched, I'm now thinking of twin Odyssey 1500s and using a BlueSea 7622 ACR to manage them.

see http://www.mobilecentre.co.uk/automatic-vo...p-565.html

does anyone have any experience of these units ? I like the idea because they are a pretty simple install.

(I'm not going to run a winch, just chargers, 12v electric blankets, lights and webasto)
Post #111780 3rd Jan 2012 6:33pm
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