Optima battery
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Heel & Toe
Joined: Mar 2007
Posts: 17
Likes: 0
Optima battery
HI , I recently purchased an Optima battery , its the red one , but its yellow inside .."LEMON". lolI bought it new and it was only puttin out 10.5 v , I am returning it 4 a different one tomorrow .. MY question ? is it ok to put it on a 2amp trickle charge overnight .... thx
Tech Contributor
Joined: Dec 2003
Posts: 19,384
Likes: 87
From: Horncastle Lincolnshire, England
2023 C5 of the Year Finalist - Unmodified
The Red Top has a 3 year return guarantee
I'd take it back if its been discharged and get a new one. Once these batteries are dischrged they can be tempramental. You may just be saving up a problem for the future.
I have a battery tender and I keep my Yellow Top hooked up when the car's not in use. Works just fine.
My Red Top worked great when I was using the Vert as a DD. It sat for 2 months not being used in transit to England and never recovered.
I'd take it back if its been discharged and get a new one. Once these batteries are dischrged they can be tempramental. You may just be saving up a problem for the future.
I have a battery tender and I keep my Yellow Top hooked up when the car's not in use. Works just fine.
My Red Top worked great when I was using the Vert as a DD. It sat for 2 months not being used in transit to England and never recovered.
Instructor
Joined: Apr 2006
Posts: 122
Likes: 0
From: Central CA
My experience with Optima has been this:
If you let a Red Optima drain totally its a goner. IE: Leave your radar detector on and don't drive your car for 2 weeks. There is no getting it back from that.
I bought a Yellow Optima a couple months ago and accidently left the detector on for a week or so again. Battery went dead but was able to charge it up again with no problems.
One more thing. Don't charge the Optima's with more than 10 amps.
If you let a Red Optima drain totally its a goner. IE: Leave your radar detector on and don't drive your car for 2 weeks. There is no getting it back from that.
I bought a Yellow Optima a couple months ago and accidently left the detector on for a week or so again. Battery went dead but was able to charge it up again with no problems.
One more thing. Don't charge the Optima's with more than 10 amps.
Le Mans Master
Joined: Aug 2004
Posts: 9,420
Likes: 8
From: Southern New Jersey, The wet part at the bottom
St. Jude Donor '08-'09-'10
A tender is a "float charger" Do a search. I also use a tender whenever the car is parked. Your electronics will be happier for it.
Tech Contributor
Joined: Dec 2003
Posts: 19,384
Likes: 87
From: Horncastle Lincolnshire, England
2023 C5 of the Year Finalist - Unmodified
Many of the Forum vendors sell them
Here's one from Jim at Southern Auto Parts as an example:
http://www.southerncarparts.com/corv...25a-p-190.html
Well worth the investment.
Here's one from Jim at Southern Auto Parts as an example:
http://www.southerncarparts.com/corv...25a-p-190.html
Well worth the investment.
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Intermediate
Joined: Apr 2005
Posts: 44
Likes: 0
From: Bel Air Maryland
Optima Battery
My suggestion is, do not use a "trickle" charger. They have a tendency to overcharge and damage a battery. Its best to use a "battery minder" which will monitor your battery and only charge at about 1amp until it comes up to float voltage. Vector Model VEC080 is a good unit. It is suppose to work with gel type batteries also (i.e. Optima), but when I use it on my Optima, it continuosly cycles from "charging to not charging" every 45 seconds. It works best on my Delco Professional 7 Year battery, which is an acid type. I only keep the Optima around for emergency situations....... "When I want to ride, I want to ride!!!!!" 
Burning Brakes
Joined: Apr 2006
Posts: 940
Likes: 0
From: Surprise Arizona
My suggestion is, do not use a "trickle" charger. They have a tendency to overcharge and damage a battery. Its best to use a "battery minder" which will monitor your battery and only charge at about 1amp until it comes up to float voltage. Vector Model VEC080 is a good unit. It is suppose to work with gel type batteries also (i.e. Optima), but when I use it on my Optima, it continuosly cycles from "charging to not charging" every 45 seconds. It works best on my Delco Professional 7 Year battery, which is an acid type. I only keep the Optima around for emergency situations....... "When I want to ride, I want to ride!!!!!"
Last edited by zTrek; Apr 8, 2007 at 01:16 PM. Reason: grammer
