battery question
Melting Slicks
Joined: Nov 2001
Posts: 3,122
Likes: 2
From: MCO
Since my original AGM died Saturday in a parking lot less than a mile away from Advanced Auto, I walked the distance to and from, and installed the new Optima right on the spot ---- no trickle charger. The Optima is operating fine so far.
Manufacture date stamp on the Optima is 02/2006 ($109)
Manufacture date stamp on the Optima is 02/2006 ($109)
Race Director
Joined: Oct 2002
Posts: 11,945
Likes: 12
From: Vancouver
2015 C5 of Year Finalist
St. Jude Donor '05-'06-'07-'08-'09-'10
It's always a great idea to charge a new battery before installing it. There are some places that will charge then discharge and recharge before putting a battery into service. The reasoning is that the battery will attain full operational capacity after doing this and will have a much improved service life. My .02 
Thread Starter
Advanced
Joined: Jun 2005
Posts: 93
Likes: 0
From: NE Ohio
I was always under the impression that you should put a slow charge on a battery before installing, but wasn't sure with the otima? It's still cold here in OH so I'm concerned that if I install it and then don't get a chance to take the care out for a couple of weeks that the battery may never have it full power output? I guess I'll just keep it in the house until the weather gets better then just install it and drive. Thanks for the input
Administrator
Joined: Mar 2001
Posts: 368,075
Likes: 24,732
From: In a parallel universe. Currently own 2014 Stingray Coupe.
C7 of the Year - Modified Finalist 2021
MO Events Coordinator
St. Jude Co-Organizer
St. Jude Donor '03 thru '25
NCM Sinkhole Donor
CI 5, 8 & 11 Veteran
I didn't trickle charge my Optima battery when I first got it. Just placed it in the car, hooked up the cables and hold down clamp, and drove off. Won't hurt it to trickle charge it, but may not be necessary.
Race Director
Joined: Jul 2004
Posts: 16,795
Likes: 62
From: Lake Havasu City, AZ
IF the battery was made in The last 4 months. It is fresh and there is no need to charge it before use.
It won't hurt anything, but it won't help anything either.
If it is older than four months, it likely is not at peak, charging will restore it to peak, but it still should have sufficient charge to start the car and let the charging system top it up.
IF you have a trickle or float charger and you don't need to drive the car right away.... then use it. It won't hurt anything, it will restore the battery to peak and you will reduce the load on your alternator.
It won't hurt anything, but it won't help anything either.
If it is older than four months, it likely is not at peak, charging will restore it to peak, but it still should have sufficient charge to start the car and let the charging system top it up.
IF you have a trickle or float charger and you don't need to drive the car right away.... then use it. It won't hurt anything, it will restore the battery to peak and you will reduce the load on your alternator.
Last edited by rws.1; Mar 2, 2006 at 08:32 AM.
Corvette Stories
The Best of Corvette for Corvette Enthusiasts
Top 10 Most Explosive Corvettes Ever Made: Power-to-Weight Ratio Ranked!
Joe Kucinski
150 hp to 1,250 hp: Every Corvette Generation Compared by the Specs That Matter
Joe Kucinski
8 Coolest Corvette Pace Cars (and Replicas) of All Time
Verdad Gallardo
Top 10 Corvette Engines RANKED by Peak Torque (70+ Years of Muscle!)
Joe Kucinski
Corvette ZR1X Will Be Pacing the Indy 500, And Could Probably Race, Too!
Verdad Gallardo
Top 10 Corvettes Coming to Mecum Indy 2026!
Brett Foote
Top 10 C9 Corvette MUST-HAVES to Fix These C8 Generation Flaws!
Michael S. Palmer
10 Revolutionary 'Corvette Firsts' Most People Don't Know
Joe Kucinski
5 Reasons to Upgrade to an LS6-Powered Corvette; 5 Reasons to Stay LT2
Michael S. Palmer
Team Owner
Joined: Jan 2006
Posts: 58,551
Likes: 95
From: The warm part of Anger Island
St. Jude Donor '09
They are ready to go off the shelf. If they have bene sitting there for a long time (You can ask the vendor what the sticker or code on the side means to find out) I would trickle charge it.
I put mine in right off the shelf and it was fine. Of course the sticker on the side fromt he manufacturer stated it was only a month old.
If you want peace of mind, charge it and install. It can't hurt anything.
I put mine in right off the shelf and it was fine. Of course the sticker on the side fromt he manufacturer stated it was only a month old.
If you want peace of mind, charge it and install. It can't hurt anything.
Racer
Joined: Mar 2005
Posts: 499
Likes: 0
From: Chambersburg, Pa.
Originally Posted by T1000
I just bought a new optima 34/78 battery for my car, I was wondering if I needed to trickle charge it overnight prior to installing it?
I just installed a 34/78 in my car. When I bought the battery it had a 1/06 sticker on it. And although it looked dirty and seemed to be sitting somewhere for a long time, it was fully charged. I left it on a trickle over night but I'm sure it didn't take any juice.