Optima recharging

[69ratfed]

I have a red top optima battery that keeps losing charge after 3-4 weeks. This last time was for 7 weeks. The battery has little life in it. What is the best way to possibly recharge an Optima battery?

[130fe]

I have heard that trickle charging is the best way for the optimas. I would try that.

[z65mm6]

Stick a fork in it, it's done. You can try and bring it back with a trickle charge but I don't think it's going to survive.

I've had to replace 3 red top optimas in my monte carlo all within the warranty period, the first one blew up in less than a day. The second one died within 6 months of consistent use. I charged the battery with a trickle charger at least 4 times. With each charge the battery would hold a charge for less and less time. The third one appears to be holding up okay but it's only been a couple months and I'm not holding my breath.

My dad's 01 Z06 had one go bad with less than 6 months. He drives the car reguarly and it has a battery tender hooked up to it when it sits. You'd think it would help but no, it died.

Now my mothers 99 C5 is doing the same thing. She puts us all to shame. She drives it so long as there's no salt on the road, it goes to the store, on trips, and she swaps tires and autocrosses the car at least 3 times a month. Again when it sits, it has a battery tender. The other day it wouldn't start, almost but not quite. I used a boostbox to get her going and it seems to be charging but let it sit for more than a couple days and it causes trouble. This battery is also less than 6 months old.

I will probably not buy another optima, if by some quirk I do, it will not be a red top.

Sorry for the rant

[69ratfed]

I charged the battery for 18 hours. Starting out at full charge 6amps actually 6.7 amps then the charger autmatically drops to 4 amps then finally 2 amps. The battery started car every time from Thursday until Saturday. Was at a show in Ocean City Maryland. The car will sit with a battery tender until this coming weekend. We will see what happens then. Hopefully, the battery will be ok.

I will let you know what happens.

Thanks,

Ken

[z65mm6]

Please do write back, I'm curious to know how that works out for you.

Did it have any charge on it before charging? Would it try to kick over at all or was it almost completely flat?

I don't know why I've had the luck with these that I have had.
I've tried to do everything right with their upkeep, I keep them clean, charged, don't let them sit around for long periods, and they still don't seem to hold up for me.

[CptKlutz]

I've never had a problem with any of my Red Tops. They sit in storage with the car all winter with just one charging around january or so. Usually because I'm changing something on the car and need the 12v. Then a charge when the season starts. During summer the car often sits for 1-2 weeks and starts right up when needed. I use an electronic charger with 2-10 Apms and trickle when the battery is full. The weather here during the season is anywhere from freezing to 30C BTW.

[cad]

I have friends that have to have an optima battery, or two (in race cars). All have had at least one defective optima.
My dad discovered this battery at his battery wholesaler in town.
http://store.summitracing.com/partde...5&autoview=sku
http://www.odysseyfactory.com/about.html
Read the fine print on cranking amps...it is NOT what it appears. It cranks over my 383 SBC effortlessly. It only weighs 23 pounds, can be mounted in any position, and you can use standard lugs with a bolt for the terminal, or buy regular old battery posts that screw in place.
I paid $100 for mine. It sits all winter and starts every time. If they are good enough for the military (Hawker Industries), then..... they're good enough for me.

Oh - and here is the warranty if used in a car:
3 years in automotive, commercial, and industrial use (red case only) from the date of purchase with original receipt, or from the manufacturer’s shipping date if no original receipt is available. Within the warranty period, the battery will be replaced free of charge if adjustment is necessary due to a defect in material or workmanship (not merely discharged).

[Tom Vogel]

To add confusion (and I know this is anecdotal)... I had a red top optima in my work truck for six years and never had any problem. When I sold the truck, the battery was still going strong. So ther you have it.
Fire away...

[69ratfed]

z65,

battery still starting car. Before I put the charger on it, the interior light would not even come on. I guess you could say it was kind of resurrected.

I will keep you posted.

[guccieng]

the best recharging is slow. that's why the old timers say 'don't push start the car because of a dead battery and then drive it til the battery's charged'. the fast charge rate creates heat. that heat will vaporize the gel (instead of water) in the optima. once it's gone, it's gone forever with a sealed battery. if you had a conventional one, you could at least replace the missing water with distilled water. here's a good quote and link:

With the battery up front, this 10gauge will be used for the “battery charging wire.” Connect the 10 gauge from the Terminal block at the firewall to the battery POSITIVE stud at the side of M.A.D.’s START’M UP kit solenoid. The entire ten feet may not be required, but we recommend using at least seven feet for this “battery charging wire.” This long-length of “battery charging wire” can slow the charging rate, which is most gentle to batteries and alternators.

The long wire length is especially important when using “sealed” batteries—as we will never have opportunity to add water that will be lost with fast-rate battery recharging. It’s best explained at our web site www.madelectrical.com, in the Electrical Tech section, the feature titled “Chevy Main Electrical Power system...”

[z65mm6]

z65,

battery still starting car. Before I put the charger on it, the interior light would not even come on. I guess you could say it was kind of resurrected.

I will keep you posted.

I'm glad things are working out for you.

The one in my mother's C5 is doing a death spiral as we speak. It's strange you can drive the snot of it and as soon as you stop you can watch the volt gauge on the display drop to 11.9-11.8 over the course of about a minute. I would at least expect some surface charge around 13 volts for 15 mintues or so.

I'm more than aware of how these things need to be charged slowly, but for the price that these things go for, that's an exceptionally dissappointing product.

update: The redtop in my mother's c5 died without any explanation. They went to Bristol, 500 miles round trip, .... came back, went to the store left her stranded in the parking lot.