See the Optima D34 group buy thread here: http://www.aussiemagna.com/forums/showthread.php?76755-Second-Optima-D34-Group-Buy!&p=1243715#post1243715

The terminals on the Optima Red Top 34 are the 'wrong way round' for a 380. At least they are for the one I got. Dunno about the D34 Yellow Top though, but I guess they would be the same.

Unless one or both come with reversed terminals, I didn't check coz I didn't think it would be a problem.

I had to make some minor mods to the leads to get them to connect properly to the terminal posts.

The positive terminal was a PITA, the lead is tight with almost no slack and it barely reached the now-slightly-further-away terminal post. But it still wouldn't connect properly, the 90 degree cable mounting brackets fouled on the edge of the battery and stopped the connector from fitting snug around the post.

So I bent two of these three brackets a bit, very carefully with pliers, one out and one sideways (they are at different angles) and eventually it fitted properly.

Meant trashing the red plastic cover on the positive terminal/lead, but all fixed with a bit of black electrical tape and now looks factory.

With the negative lead the problem was that the earth wire no longer reached the terminal. Luckily there is another same sized bolt in just the right spot a few cm inboard, so a simple case of swapping the earth wire mounting point.

KJ.

They have a Red Top 34 R, which is the reverse. See Here (http://www.optimabatteries.com.au/Content/Documents/34202034R_082304.pdf)
If thats the one reply here and I'll quote in the Encyclopedia.

They have a Red Top 34 R, which is the reverse. See Here (http://www.optimabatteries.com.au/Content/Documents/34202034R_082304.pdf)
If thats the one reply here and I'll quote in the Encyclopedia.

Yep, after I posted I thought the R might mean reverse. Sure looks like the one I should have got!

Hang on, checked the photos and they are the opposite of what I have.

Just checked my receipt and the sticker on the battery and they both say R34!!

Looks like the bozo sold me the wrong one! I definitely asked for a 34 and not a 34R.

Too late now, and after my fun & games with the fitting mods it works perfectly.

So the 'plain' 34 is the right one for a 380.

Two morals to this story - check that your new battery terminal orientation is the same as factory, and that you have been sold the right model, before you walk out the shop with the new battery.

Update -

Had another look at the old battery, the new battery and the positive leads & brackets.

Sure looks to me that even with the 'ordinary' 34 instead of a 34R you will have trouble fitting the positive lead. The terminal posts are well inboard of the battery edge, which means that the positive lead wiring & brackets will still foul on the edge/top of the battery. Pretty dopey design I reckon (the 380 positive lead, not the Optima).

Update 2 -

Ignore the dribble above, the photo of the 'ordinary' 34 shows that the terminals/posts are quite near the edge of the battery top, leaving plenty of room for the standard 380 positive lead to fit.


KJ.

Same happened to me, they sold me a redtop 34R & said it was right & it wasn't. So another trip back to get the mirror reversed model.

The 34 is the correct battery. Just by the way impressive specs - 1000 CA & 800 CCA.

Sorry to mine an old thread, but thought this would be a good one to revive...

I tried swapping my D34 yellow top into the 380 today, and the distance from the post to the edge of the battery makes it damn near impossible to clip the positive terminal on, even with bending the mounting brackets. Has anybody found a way around this?

I've though about replacing it completely with a gold terminal, however on closer inspection there is actually a small fuse in the positive terminal. Does anybody know what this is for?

When I put one of these in the 380 in July I managed to get a connection and then I took it to an Auto Electrician who made a step/extension thingy to allow it to be attached better than my ghetto style.

I did it just before going to Melbourne so installed in Canberran and had it fixed up in Melbourne while I was there.

I came here to see if an Optima would be a simple change over with my OEM battery.

But this thread has confused me even more!

Was looking at a D34 Yellow, but the pictures online definitely look to have the terminals too far from the battery edge.

Are any other yellow tops with terminals closer to the edge?

As stated above, I have a D34 in my car. When you go to buy it just check the terminals are on the same side as currently, I can't remember if you need the reverse model or not.

My yellow top went straight in, no drams what so ever.

Mine certainly didn't fit like the original battery, but it's in there.

I think the confusion comes on the model of yellow top.

The 34 is a bigger capacity, 750 CCA model with 55 Ah - with inboard terminals which will require modification for the 380.
The 35 is a smaller capacity, 620 CCA model with 48 Ah - with outboard terminals which should slide straight into the 380 from the look of diagrams.

See

http://www.centurybatteries.com.au/search/index.php/batteries/ID-49-1319

and

http://www.centurybatteries.com.au/search/images/battery_assemblies(polarity)-diagram.jpg

for diagrams related to terminal positions

"D" seems to be the 380 requirement, at leat the way conventional batteries are numbered

Eg the Century 75D23R

Yeah, the "D" is definitely the 380 config... but obviously has nothing to do with the "D" in Optima's naming policy.

The D35 fits, the D34 doesn't. Go figure!

I have a D34 installed