Optima Battery, battery tender Question
Thread Starter
Drifting
Joined: May 2004
Posts: 1,917
Likes: 18
From: Tulsa OK
Optima Battery, battery tender Question
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
Bryan
Last edited by RedRider98; Aug 16, 2006 at 10:28 PM.
Team Owner
Joined: Mar 1999
Posts: 22,025
Likes: 192
From: At the beach in little Rhody
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).
Drifting
Joined: Dec 2001
Posts: 1,426
Likes: 0
From: Canton Michigan
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.
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.
Instructor
Joined: Mar 2006
Posts: 193
Likes: 0
From: Peru IL
Tender The Optima
Originally Posted by 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
Bryan
2002Z + Optima Red Top + Battery Tender = No problems.
1993 Z28 + Optima Red Top + No Battery Tender = Failure (Two week old battery)
No brainer.
Randy
Le Mans Master
Joined: Jul 2004
Posts: 5,865
Likes: 6
From: Saraland Alabama
St. Jude Donor '11-'12-'13-'14-'15-'16
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.
Burning Brakes
Joined: May 2002
Posts: 970
Likes: 3
From: brooklyn ny
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.
I have batteries last years just sitting, I think an Optima is a red piece of c#ap.
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Le Mans Master
Joined: Nov 2001
Posts: 6,984
Likes: 0
From: Central Coast CA
Originally Posted by ken-rx
Optima is overrated, all I hear is "replaced by warranty, blah,blah,blah"
Le Mans Master
Joined: Oct 2004
Posts: 9,369
Likes: 4
From: Zephyrhills, Florida
St. Jude Donor '06-'07-'08-'09-'10-'11-'12-'13
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.
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.
Race Director
Joined: May 2000
Posts: 14,542
Likes: 5
Originally Posted by 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
2002Z + Optima Red Top + Battery Tender = No problems.
1993 Z28 + Optima Red Top + No Battery Tender = Failure (Two week old battery)
No brainer.
Randy
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.
Last edited by EHS; Aug 19, 2006 at 12:37 PM. Reason: Spelling
Race Director
Joined: Jan 2006
Posts: 10,554
Likes: 33
From: Not on either liberal coast.
More batteries blow when a battery tender/charger is connected, than when not.
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.
Tech Contributor
Joined: Dec 2003
Posts: 19,384
Likes: 87
From: Horncastle Lincolnshire, England
2023 C5 of the Year Finalist - Unmodified
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
http://forums.corvetteforum.com/show....php?t=1469503
Thread Starter
Drifting
Joined: May 2004
Posts: 1,917
Likes: 18
From: Tulsa OK
Originally Posted by 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
http://forums.corvetteforum.com/show....php?t=1469503
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.
Race Director
Joined: May 2000
Posts: 14,542
Likes: 5
Originally Posted by 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.
Tech Contributor
Joined: Dec 2003
Posts: 19,384
Likes: 87
From: Horncastle Lincolnshire, England
2023 C5 of the Year Finalist - Unmodified
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
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
