Mix regular battery with deep cycle?

[madmikeismad]

Quick question. With optima's, can you mix red and yellow tops? I'm moving the 2nd battery to the bed to run trailer stuff and accessories, and would like to run a yellow top. I know it can be done with an isolater, but want to see if anyone has run without one, like in a stock setup.

 

[Macgyver76]

If you are adding a second and running in direct parallel without an isolator you will want them to both be new at the same time or you will have parasitic discharge.
If both are new you could mix the red and yellow though from someone who buys upward of a hundred Optimas a year I wouldn't even bother with the reds. We use a ton of yellows and blues. Both for performance vehicles and serious sound systems. The reds bring nothing to the table over the others and don't bounce back from an occasional deep discharge like the others do.

 

[madmikeismad]

Oh i wish I'd have known that. The reds are marketed as more cranking amps. Which seemed nice with higher timing/single battery.

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