Optima is a brand known for its great spiral cell technology. The AGM based batteries have spiral-wound cells made of lead surrounded by glass fibers that give the batteries an excellent performance to weight ratio. In this article, we’ll discuss the Optima BlueTop 8016-103, talk about its pros and cons, and find out the best applications for this battery.
The BlueTop series is said to be best for marine uses as well as best for RV’s as they have great deep cycling capacity. The other products like the RedTop and the YellowTop have their functionalities too.
The best feature that makes the BlueTop really stand out is its weight. Comparatively lighter than most of its competitors, the BlueTop is an excellent choice if you’re looking for something simple and powerful.
Let us talk in detail about some of the best features of this battery.
Optima 8016-103 D34M BlueTop Features
Deep Cycling Capacity
The feature that makes it a very good option for marine uses is its excellent deep cycling capacity. Deep cycling batteries are very different from regular car batteries. Car batteries are generally starting batteries that offer high jolts of electricity at once and become almost useless if they’re discharged below a threshold, which is generally very high.
Deep cycling batteries on the other hand,allow you to further discharge your battery with the only consequence being that the amount of electricity supplied starts to fall, which is acceptable in most cases.
The BlueTop has features of both a starting and a deep cycle battery that makes it a “dual-purpose” battery, which is again a great feature. The battery exhibits a capacity of 55Ah, which is pretty great compared to its size.
The capacity of deep cycling batteries are often recorded in Ah, or amp-hours.
If your current draw is say, 5Amps, a 55Ah battery will last you 11 hours after a complete charge.
Reserve Capacity
Another measure of the battery capacity is the RC or Reserve Capacity. RC is the scale on which the capacity of starting batteries are measured.
But you may think that they’re the same as Amp-Hours, right? Well, no.
Reserve capacity of a battery is the number of minutes the battery can supply a very high current at a voltage above the cranking threshold.
The RC comes into play when we’re starting the engine as a very high current is drawn from the battery and the battery starts to drain really fast. Once the engine is started, the current draw drops and the Ah rating comes into play.
The D34M has an RC of 120 minutes which is great as it provides a lot of time for you to crank your engine in case something goes wrong.
Cold Cranking Amps (CCA)
CCA is the scale on which the starting power of a cranking battery is measured. The higher the CCA, the faster the battery can fire up your engine. A good CCA is especially necessary when you have a car running in cold climates or higher altitudes, as they really put pressure on the battery making cranking difficult.
A battery with a good CCA rating coupled with a great RC is a best choice if you’re looking for power and performance. The BLueTop D34M has both a good RC and a CCA rating of 750A making it one of the most durable and reliable batteries out there.
Although, the cranking power will also depend on various other factors too such as engine type, engine size, condition of the engine etc. and all these factors should also be taken into consideration.
AGM technology
The Absorbent Glass Mat technology implemented in this battery is one of the best in the market as it is coupled with their spiral cell technology which gives a better performance to size ratio.
AGM batteries, unlike regular traditional batteries do not need any sort of maintenance such as refilling as they are completely sealed and leak-proof. You can mount the battery in any orientation without having to worry about losing any capacity because the battery has no fluid inside and thus can function the same in any orientation.
AGm batteries also have longer battery lives and durability. The BlueTop claims to have 2-3 times more battery life than other marine batteries.
Optima 8016-103 D34M BlueTop Drawbacks
However, the battery claims to provide great dual-purpose functionality, it is seen that the cranking power is pretty mediocre as compared to most of the other starting batteries.
Moreover, it is also pretty expensive than most batteries but considering how powerful it is, it seems like a good investment.
Another issue is the size. The battery belongs to group 34 and may not be compatible with some vehicles.
Let us have a look at some of the pros and cons discussed so far before moving on to the final verdict.
Pros
- 750 CCA of cranking power.
- 120 minutes of reserve capacity.
- 55Ah rating.
- AGM technology.
- Long battery life.
Cons
- Not the best cranking battery.
- Kinda expensive.
Optima 8016-103 D34M BlueTop FAQ
Can you use a deep cycle battery for cranking?
Are marine and deep cycle batteries the same?
Do Optima batteries require special chargers?
Are Optima Batteries worth the money?
What is the best charger for Optima batteries?
Final Words
It can be safely concluded that the Optima BlueTop D34M is an excellent battery for you if you’re looking for something with good deep cycle capacities for an affordable price.
The battery is durable and powerful. The battery is most suited for marine applications as it is sealed and safe.
However, it can be too pricey if you’re looking for a cranking battery as there are batteries in the market with higher cranking power.
