RedRider98

With all the posts regarding the premature cell failure in Optima batteries, how many use a battery tender regularly but still have had a premature failure? I bought my Red Top two years ago and it failed recently, so I took it to Autozone and got a brand new battery. I immediately bought a battery tender and keep it connected every night. I am trying to decide whether to keep the Optima and hope it doesn't leave me stranded or to replace it now, even though the replacement is working fine.

Bryan

vettenuts

Not sure on the Optima but I used it on my Delco AGM and I think that is the only reason it lasted as long as it did. My Battery Tender shorted out about two months ago, and a few weeks later the AGM died. Coincedence? Not sure, but maybe not. I don't think these batteries like to be idle for too long without being run (charged).

RedRider98

No additional input???

c5freak

I've got a red top Optima and keep it on the tender all winter and anytime it's going to sit for longer than a week.
No troubles at all except for the time I had shorted wiring from a previous owners battery leak into the wiring below the battery area. Blew thru 2 Optimas (covered under full warranty) but no problems since the wiring repair over a year ago.

Al.

zozmanZ06

Actual Results:

2002Z + Optima Red Top + Battery Tender = No problems.

1993 Z28 + Optima Red Top + No Battery Tender = Failure (Two week old battery)

No brainer.

Randy

FLACHUSNRET

I had to replace my 2 year old Red Top just recently. I never used a tender on it. When I bought an Exide Orbital I also bought a tender which I put on the car every time I park it and don't intend to drive it within the next few days.

Shylor

Well I have had an Optima red top battery for over 5 years without a battery tender connected to it and it still works.

ken-rx

I use a tender on a Diehard and leave it for MONTHS, no problem. Optima is overrated, all I hear is "replaced by warranty, blah,blah,blah"
I have batteries last years just sitting, I think an Optima is a red piece of c#ap.

FKING1

I keep a Tender on my 70 whenever not driving it. The Optima is only 3 months old ,but, Not taking any chances.

Fred

Shylor

You have to remember the main reason to get an Optima,the fact that it doesn't have a liquid in it, so you don't have to worry about the acid spilling out because it doesn't have to be mounted horizontally.

mrm1149

The red top is NOT a gell battery, it is simply spiral wound.
I keep mine on a phase charger when it sits or will be sitting for more than a day or so.........no problems going on 5 years down the road.

EHS

Now there's a statistical sample worth noting.

I've never used a battery tender, starting with a '69 Camaro in '69, and never had an issue.

More batteries blow when a battery tender/charger is connected, than when not.

hotwheels57

...can you cite your source of information for that?
I've been using OPTIMA red top batteries before they were even available to the public in "company" vehicles. The vehicles might be used 24/7 or sit for two weeks and they always started. The vehicles had a lot of electrical components to maintain.
In my personal vehicles with OPTIMA red top batteries, I've always used a BATTER TENDER PLUS if the cars sit for long periods of inoperation. Those vehicles included classic hotrod cars w/o electrical components to maintain and later model vehicles with electrical components to maintain ('55 and two '57 Chevy cars, '96 Impala SS and '04 Z16).
I've never had an OPTIMA fail with or without the BATTERY TENDER PLUS. I've used ten different OPTIMA red top batteries on ten different personal vehicles...of that number four were constantly on the BATTERY TENDER PLUS. The longest lasting OPTIMA battery in my personal experience was just over seven years in my '55 Chevy on a BATTERY TENDER PLUS. To my knowledge the new owner of that car is still using the same battery with a BATTERY TENDER PLUS.

EHS

zozmanZ06

DeeGee

Lots of discussion on how bad Optima Red Tops are. I ran a poll and of the 95 that voted only 5 members reported Optima problems.

http://forums.corvetteforum.com/show....php?t=1469503

RedRider98

I looked at your poll and that is why I started this thread! There has been bad press about the Red Tops lately, but according to your poll only a small percentage have had issues.

EHS

And I just voted in that poll that my Red Top Optima has also given me no problems, and all without a battery tender.

DeeGee

My two Red Tops have been great unlike the AC Delcos they replaced.

I guess you can only go by your own experience. you have a bad battery of any type and it colors your judgement.

BTW I never use a battery tender but both mine are DDs