4-post battery terminal question

[80t0ylc]

Sure is funny how that "malarkey" got discussed so much, with research, and clarification for us all. I would think that Optimas are not the olny top and side post battery that might have problems. I use the side posts on my Z71 with a winch but the battery is designed as a side post olny battery. On my 40 with winch I use olny the top posts. To each his own but why take the risk?

Most winch connections that I've seen don't have the typical automotive style top post terminal to hook up with. They're just a heavy duty ring terminal meant to be hooked up to something other than the top posts of a battery. A modification of some sort is in order to securely connect to the top post and this is not provided by the winch manufacturer, usually.

A person should be able to reasonably conclude that posts on a battery, especially a battery touted for off roading, would be capable of handling anything that battery is capable of powering, unless marked with a warning of some type on the battery itself. Such is not the case with Optima side posts. And while you were correct about the Optima, you were wrong about the Die Hard Platinum. Remember:

Only use the top posts for anything with a heavy current draw. The side posts are not made to handle anything but light current. Do a search on mud to confirm that this issue has already been discussed at length. I found out myself on Mud and had to reconnect my Optima battery using the top posts. I don't use my side posts anymore.

From your post #2. A reputable battery should allow you to use the side posts for anything the top posts can handle. Hell, even my el cheapo Costco Kirkland does it better than an Optima!:

 

[-Spike-]

Sure is funny how that "malarkey" got discussed so much, with research, and clarification for us all. I would think that Optimas are not the olny top and side post battery that might have problems. I use the side posts on my Z71 with a winch but the battery is designed as a side post olny battery. On my 40 with winch I use olny the top posts. To each his own but why take the risk?

There is no risk with an Odyssey, the Optima design sucks, and I don't know of any other top and side post batteries off hand. If you do, post up and I'll do the research to find out if they suck or not. To just assume that all top-and-side post batteries can't be used this way just because one manufacturer sucks is silly.

If you want to refer to a bunch of research and clarification, why don't you link it? Otherwise it's just something you heard somewhere. Don't make me search for it.

And it's spelled 'only'. (just thought it was funny that you spelled it that way 3 times. )

 

[-Spike-]

Hell, even my el cheapo Costco Kirkland does it better than an Optima!:

FWIW, my blue Optima has those marine posts, and I use them for my winch. They look beefy enough to handle the current. I haven't seen any warnings on the Optima site against this practice.

 

[80t0ylc]

FWIW, my blue Optima has those marine posts, and I use them for my winch. They look beefy enough to handle the current. I haven't seen any warnings on the Optima site against this practice.

Spike, just for grins, you may want to consult your manual or contact Optima and ask them directly if you should be running a winch on those terminals. I was looking at the Optima website and it occured to me that the blue top is intended for marine & RV applications. Yellow tops are for off roading. They're the ones with the side posts and if you dig deep enough into the manual, you see the warning not to use side posts for a winch !!! Gee, silly me thought that winches were used off road, too. Like I said in previous post, the winch power connections are more easily connected to the side post type of battery terminal, than the top posts. Go figure! Who knows, maybe off road winch owners should be running the blue top, like you, instead of the "off road" approved yellow top.

 

[-Spike-]

No mention of using (or not) the threaded connections on the blue tops for winches in any Optima literature I can find. They do say that the yellow and blue tops are identical with the exception of the threaded connectors. At the time, the blue top was a $10 upcharge over the yellow at Costco. I didn't see anything about the yellow tops being for 'off-roading', just for applications with more accessories or requiring a dual purpose (starting/deep cycle) battery.

 

[80t0ylc]

No mention of using (or not) the threaded connections on the blue tops for winches in any Optima literature I can find. They do say that the yellow and blue tops are identical with the exception of the threaded connectors. At the time, the blue top was a $10 upcharge over the yellow at Costco. I didn't see anything about the yellow tops being for 'off-roading', just for applications with more accessories or requiring a dual purpose (starting/deep cycle) battery.

On this link, play the video for tech tip #1. I guess this is Optima's tip for the customer that's not sure which colored top of battery to buy. Anywhere else on this Optima site, I could only find reference to off road applications when researching the yellow tops.

 

[fj404life]

I use these. Napa can get them.

Approved Vendor 0717007 Military - Clamp Battery Connector, Pack of 5

 

[spotcruiser]

Exide Orbital batteries have the same continuous ampacity rating on the top and side terminals.

 

[80t0ylc]

Exide Orbital batteries have the same continuous ampacity rating on the top and side terminals.

Another battery designed right!

Just an FYI for folks: I wouldn't put Optima batteries on a pedestal. I think their customer support is very poor. I shot this e-mail off to Optima's customer support line:

I have been considering an Optima Yellow Top battery for my SUV. I have a winch and will be using the battery of my choice to power my winch. However, in my research, it has been said NOT to use the side posts on a Optima Yellow Top to hook up a winch. This is very disappointing because my winch, and most others that I've seen, have heavy duty ring terminals to hook up to a battery and with the correct bolts, the side terminals on the Yellow Top would work very well. But, I've read horror stories of owners who have missed your instructions not to use the side terminals for a winch and melted the side terminals off the battery. What gives? Why would you put side terminals on a battery approved for off road applications, that won't hold up to a common off road accessory? I've heard good things about Optima batteries, but this baffles me!



They promptly replied with:

Hello Tom,
We do not recommend attaching a winch to the side terminals. The side posts are intended for starting your vehicle which, although high current, is a short duration electrical load. A winch is also high current but can be very long duration. Using a winch connected to the side terminals could damage the connections in the battery, it can melt the side terminals right out of the battery housing. Only use the top (automotive type) terminals for connecting your winch. This is not only true for Optima, but for ANY battery.
Thank you,
Mary Jo
Optima Customer Service
(I highlighted in red) and they didn't tell me a damn thing that I didn't already know, plus they gave out bogus info on side posts for other batteries. They didn't give any technical reason WHY they're batteries are made this way - just information that most people know already!




I answered with this and it's been 2 days with no reply:

Mary Jo,
Thanks for the reply. Might I point out that most vehicles, including SUVs, hook up to top posts with OEM battery cables. So to wire the starter to these side terminals, as Optima suggests, would require additional modification of some sort. Most winches come standard with ringed terminal lugs, easily accommodated by your side terminals. Excuse me, but am I missing something? It seems that what Optima is suggesting is opposite of standard practice. Also, the Sears Die Hard Platinum P-4 with side posts, is fully capable of using a winch on the side terminals. This has been confirmed with Scott Lichte, Plant Engineer at Enersys Inc.'s Warrensburg, MO plant. They make both the Platinum P-4 and the Odyessy batteries. I am not trying to be difficult, but it appears to me that using Optima Yellow Top with side posts, would be more difficult than is necessary. Yes, one could make your battery work, but it would require modification for both OEM wiring and winch wiring, whereas equally competent batteries can hook up with no modification.
One last question, on your Blue Top Marine deep cycle batteries - there is additional screw on top posts. Is it ok to use these for a winch in an automotive application? Thank you for your attention!