Is the Optima Yellow Top a good batt?

What a lot of posters are not taking into account is your way way better off spending a little more money on the best 12 volt you can find as it will last a lot longer than an after market battery and hopefully you will not have to deal with it again because messing around with the 12 volt battery has been disastrous for many people primarily reversing the jump leads and blowing up the 12 volt buss system on a Prius.

So the least amount of interaction with the 12 the better. Spending more on a higher quality part will guarantee that.

So many people that come to this site don’t even know there’s safe and easy jump points under the hood and go after the 12 volt battery in the trunk. That usually ends badly because the same people that don’t know about the jump points usually know nothing about a 12 volt battery.

The other thing is everybody throws battery specs around but that’s pretty meaningless if it’s a lower quality build and just won’t last longer. Search where that product is made. Search the warranty.
I can find a China knock off product that touts better specs than its original made in Japan part and it’s a pos.

You get what you pay for. When my optima failed in less than 3 years if they had not replaced it for free I would have bought an oem. I made it under the 3 year by one month.

 

Interesting...I've only heard great things about Optima longevity. I really hope you are not trying to pass off the Optima as not being a 'quality part'...because frankly it *is* one of the best out there.

 

Maybe every 4~5 years. Especially if you're closely monitoring it (electronic load tester), and doing prophylactic reconditioning charging (with a smart charger). But for the regular owner, every 3~4 years is going to be safer. Really your call.

 

No it won't. Might increase the odds a bit in your favor but it will GUARANTEE NOTHING.

What YOU seem to fail to take into account is many batteries are substantially or exactly alike, being built in the same factory, just with a different label.

Your best value price point usually is somewhere between the average and the top price.
From a reputable company with a good warranty.

 

Based on what exactly ? Their claims ??

 

No of course not. Based on a multitude of 'battery' threads on this site and others where people have been very happy with them.

Looks like batteries are another "it's like talking about politics and religion" topic ( similar to oil discussions, etc.. ).

 

Maybe you need to read a bit closer.

There was a time not too long ago that this site was getting a LOT of reports of a high failure rate within the first year of life.
Apparently they have fixed that now.

I tend to be skeptical of anything that claims to be the "best thing in the world", far surpassing any of it's competition.
That extends to Amsoil too.......even though I use it occasionally when it is convenient for me.

 

I believe Optima batteries are made by Johnson Controls, the largest or one of the largest battery manufacturers in the US. It seems people either love or hate Optima batteries and I have no opinion.
I don't know if theit batteries are made in the US though.

 

Connect a smart charger to the under hood jumpers when not driving, and the battery should last a long time.

 

That's my ploy. Our car often sits 2 or 3 days. I wired in a quick connect for my CTEK 4.3. It's ok to leave connected full time.

 

I remember that my old Optima Yellow Top had proud american flag label with Made in USA text. Somehow i dont recall seeing that on my two previous Red Tops...hmm..

 

I just replaced my yellow top after 7 years, because it seemed to be low.

 

7 years is a great run for a Prius battery.

As with anything...I guess time will tell with the two I have. Glad to see you didn't have one of the 'bad ones' Sam mentioned above.

 

The yellow top is designed to handle discharges better than the stock battery without issue.

Posted via the PriusChat mobile app.

 

My 2005 I Relplaced original battery 01-11 74k miles with Optima yellow top
Now has 208k Optima still working..

Posted via the PriusChat mobile app.

 

No always in ready mode

Posted via the PriusChat mobile app.

 

This is just my understanding in READY mode:

In READY mode, with a few very trivial exceptions, the traction battery supplies all 12v power through a DC to DC converter that steps down to 12v.

The 12v battery is just another load for the traction battery, meaning if the 12v charge state on the 12v battery is low, it will receive power from the traction battery, through the DC to DC converter, to replenish.

Once the traction battery is below a certain level, the ICE starts to provide a charge.

So a 12v battery with a full charge will not need to be charged by the traction battery (not be a load on the traction battery) and so technically it would be true that the ICE would not need to start as frequently.

I'm open to a different understanding as I'm not a Prius mechanic by trade.