TOY: Re: optima yellow top change???

[David Knight <knight@xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx>]

"Kevin Read" <seajeeper@lightmail.com> wrote:
> 
> When I bought mine a couple months ago I noticed the same thing.  I e-mailed
> Optima and got a response back which basically said they relabeled it to
> comply with certification requirements, but it was the exact same battery
> that they had been selling as a 750AH.  Sounded kinda like they were going
> to get it certified and then change the label again to 750, but the
> correspondence is at work and so I don't have their exact wording.  If I
> remember I'll get it tomorrow and send out to the list.
> 
> I ended up buying it anyway because as long as the battery is the same, the
> reputation it has earned is intact.  It did make me wonder about the exact
> specs and how they label and certify them.  Sounded a little fishy if you
> know what I mean.....

I emailed them as well. here is what I got...

The design of our batteries haven't changed, the ratings for the Yellow
Top are:
CCA       650
CA   870
RC   120
Optima has changed ownership, and thus the different ratings.
Thank you for your continued support and interest in Optima Batteries, a
Johnson Controls company.

Hmm, now we have the old bats labeled 750cca, the new ones labeles 550cca,
and optima telling us the rating is really 650 cca. Oh well, no matter
what they are rated they still have plenty of amps to turn over my
motor. I'm guessing they were over rated before, now they are being
under rated to pass "certification" and the truth probably lies
someplace in between... Annoying though, and I agree, a little fishy.

> 
> - ----- Original Message -----
> From: "David Knight" <knight@atmos.albany.edu>
> To: <toyota@4x4wire.com>; <Offroad@offroadlist.com>
> Cc: "David Knight" <knight@atmos.albany.edu>
> Sent: Saturday, November 03, 2001 6:00 AM
> Subject: TOY: optima yellow top change???
> 
> 
> > Hi,
> >     Two years ago I purchased an Optima yellow top
> > battery. Model D750U, part#8014-021, 65 AH 750 CCA.
> > I liked it so much I just recently purchased another
> > Optima yellow top (thinking it was the same battery).
> > This new yellow top is part#D34/78-950, model#8014-045,
> > but has only 55AH and 550 CCA. It looks like the
> > same battery, but the capacities are notably smaller.
> >
> > Anybody know what is going on here?
> > Thanks
> > David
> >