Consequences of running a Yellow Top Battery?
 

Once I get this In via the mail, I plan on relocating It to the rear. I will be running this with a FD Alternator If that matters. With the shorter stops, higher output Alternator (again, If this matters), Is their any negating factors to running a Yellow Top? Or just running a Yellow Top as a partial-daily driver?

Any experiences on running Yellow Top Batteries?

The yellow top ones are deep discharge. Normally, you don't want to use deep discharge for starter applications, but the rotary engine draws so little current when starting (compared to a piston engine) that it will be fine. When you run a yellow top on a piston car the battery life is shortened. My experience has been 2-3 years instead of 5-6.

Thanks for the reply.

I think the "deep discharge" Is where I was thrown off and It's overall effects to this type.

I scored It on ebay for a price that couldn't be beat. Initially, I was going to go with a Red Top (b'c I was going to relocate my Battery), but ended up with the Yellow Top.

What exactly does deep cycle mean?

It can store more overall electricity?

The meaning of Deep Cycle taken out of Optima's site.

It was this very quote that piqued my Interest In my thread. Perhaps a laymans definition Is an order here?

It sounds like a deep cycle battery can withstand being drained almost all the way, and filled up all the way, better than other batteries.

...at the expense of being able to deliver short-term high current.

From someone who has lived in "winterville" for 30 years:
Regular lead acid batteries are designed for high current discharge, but meant to be kept at least 60% charged at all times. If you "deep discharge" them, even once, their life will be shortened. Repeated deep discharges will kill them within a year or so. "Deep discharge", as the Optima site points out, is less than 60% charge left - ie leave the lights on till the car just barely starts. The Optima Red top is this type of battery.

"Deep Discharge" lead acid batteries are designed to withstand this type of treatment. Their life will still be shortened, but not by much. They are not very good at high current discharge. It can damage them, and shorten their life. I'm talking a discharge current number equal to or greater than the battery amp/hr rating. For a battery found in an RX-7, that would be a current greater than 50-70 Amps. To draw that starting a rotary, the temp. would have to be below about -20 C (or about 0 F), or you'd have to have very heavy oil in there. The Optima Yellow top battery is this type.

Just for reference:
RX-7 max. starter current = 90 Amps (typical less than 50). RX-8 is the same.

Thanks very much for that detailed, real life example Dave. So the Optima was a good buy than. I got It for $91usd shipped!

Sounds like a pretty good deal! Let us know how it turns out.