On 22 Aug 2005 at 11:08, bueses wrote:

> >> "Having just bought & installed a yellow top aux. battery last weekend
> >> ($170), & read the instructions, yellow top batteries are listed as deep
> >> cycle & starting batteries. If you want to use it for starting, you connect
> >> the side post locations, if you want to run aux. Devices off of it, you use
> >> the top posts. 1 year warranty like mentioned above."
> >
> >
> > Maybe dumb question - why would side or top connect matter?  Don't they
> > internally connect together?
>
> Yep, I wondered the same thing, however the instructions did not say
> why.-anybody know???
>
> Tom
>

Assuming no one is going to tear apart their Optima to find out, I'll take
a stab at an answer.

I'd guess the starting terminals (side) are the first and heaviest
connections to the plates (or whatever the elements are called in that
type of construction).

Then the other set (top) is probably lighter, thinner metal, and
connected to the side set rather than to the elements directly.  This
means there's more resistance in the top set - not good for heavy
starting current.

//Jack