same experience here
Optima Yellowtop Trickle Charge Problem
Thread Starter
Advanced
Joined: Jul 2002
Posts: 55
Likes: 0
From: Roanoke TX
Optima Yellowtop Trickle Charge Problem
I replaced the 7 year old optima red top battery and with a deep cycle yellow top battery it was supposed to be better in a sitting vehicle.
First after being on the battery tender for a couple of months the battery went bad and they replaced it but the new one won't trickle charge even with a new battery tender specifically programed for gel cells.
I did some digging and it seems that optima fellow tops are primarily designed for marine use and now I'm stuck with a battery that I can't use in the manner that we use our 2003 it sits for months at a time.
Has anyone else run across this?
If not here it is for future reference
First after being on the battery tender for a couple of months the battery went bad and they replaced it but the new one won't trickle charge even with a new battery tender specifically programed for gel cells.
I did some digging and it seems that optima fellow tops are primarily designed for marine use and now I'm stuck with a battery that I can't use in the manner that we use our 2003 it sits for months at a time.
Has anyone else run across this?
If not here it is for future reference
Racer
Joined: Apr 2009
Posts: 488
Likes: 2
From: Myrtle Beach SC
I have an Optima Yellow Top. I use a CTEK-3300 battery charger/tender and I have not had a single issue in the last 3 years.
What brand/type of trickle charger are you using? Are you sure that it is compatible with AGM batteries?
Based on your post, I would suspect that your battery is completely discharged to the point of being unrecoverable. My suggestion is to have the battery tested at your local AutoZone, Advance, etc. If it fails, have them replace it. It is still under warranty, correct?
Once you have a new battery, I highly recommend using the CTEK mentioned above. Set it up and operate it according to their instructions and you'll be good to go.
Hope this helps
What brand/type of trickle charger are you using? Are you sure that it is compatible with AGM batteries?
Based on your post, I would suspect that your battery is completely discharged to the point of being unrecoverable. My suggestion is to have the battery tested at your local AutoZone, Advance, etc. If it fails, have them replace it. It is still under warranty, correct?
Once you have a new battery, I highly recommend using the CTEK mentioned above. Set it up and operate it according to their instructions and you'll be good to go.
Hope this helps
Thread Starter
Advanced
Joined: Jul 2002
Posts: 55
Likes: 0
From: Roanoke TX
Thanks for the response my yellow top actually is at about 12.4 volts and I'm using a "Batter Tender" brand tender that I just bought specifically programed for gel cell batteries.
But I think Iill look at the ctek as the car sits for months at a time and I'd really feel more comfortable with it on a tender
Thanks Again
But I think Iill look at the ctek as the car sits for months at a time and I'd really feel more comfortable with it on a tender
Thanks Again
Drifting
Joined: Sep 2009
Posts: 1,862
Likes: 594
From: Prescott, Arizona
You can download the Optima User's Guide from the Optima site. Optima recommends an automatic maintainer to make sure the charge never drops below 12.4 volts.
Even older type battery chargers should charge the yellow top if it is still at 12.4 volts. The user's guide notes that if the battery has fallen below 10.5 volts, most basic chargers will not recognise the battery or supply a charge. In that case, place a charged battery in parallel with the discharged battery and the older style charger will see the higher voltage of the charged battery and supply a charge. Once the discharged battery is above 10.5 volts, the parallel battery can be removed from the circuit.
I have a red top in the Corvette with a maintainer and a yellow top in my ranch truck without a maintainer, both perform perfectly, although neither sit for long periods.
Even older type battery chargers should charge the yellow top if it is still at 12.4 volts. The user's guide notes that if the battery has fallen below 10.5 volts, most basic chargers will not recognise the battery or supply a charge. In that case, place a charged battery in parallel with the discharged battery and the older style charger will see the higher voltage of the charged battery and supply a charge. Once the discharged battery is above 10.5 volts, the parallel battery can be removed from the circuit.
I have a red top in the Corvette with a maintainer and a yellow top in my ranch truck without a maintainer, both perform perfectly, although neither sit for long periods.
Racer
Joined: Sep 2004
Posts: 324
Likes: 2
From: Rogersville TN
Yellow top
I've had a yellow top in my C5 for over five years with a Battery Tender on it all the time and sometimes the car has sat for over a month while working on it.
Never have had a problem. I just drove it 750 miles to TPA and it sat for ten days and it cranked up and I drove it home. Great Battery IMO.
Curt
Never have had a problem. I just drove it 750 miles to TPA and it sat for ten days and it cranked up and I drove it home. Great Battery IMO.
Curt
Safety Car
Joined: Sep 2000
Posts: 3,570
Likes: 420
From: Taildragers rule! USA1
Former Vendor
Joined: Nov 2009
Posts: 279
Likes: 20
From: Glendale Wisconsin
Great advice by everyone all the way around. As ztheusa indicated, gel batteries are very different from AGM batteries and have very narrow charging parameters that may not fully-charge non-gel batteries and could damage them over time. For that reason, we recommend avoiding any “gel” or even “gel/AGM” charger settings. Regular or even deep-cycle settings on chargers will generally work just fine.
YellowTops are dual-purpose batteries, designed for both starting and deep-cycle use and they work just fine in automotive applications. If someone is suggesting YellowTops are primarily for marine use, please post a link to that information, so I can post correct information. Thanks to everyone for choosing Optima!
Jim McIlvaine
eCare Manager, OPTIMA Batteries, Inc.
www.pinterest.com/optimabatteries
YellowTops are dual-purpose batteries, designed for both starting and deep-cycle use and they work just fine in automotive applications. If someone is suggesting YellowTops are primarily for marine use, please post a link to that information, so I can post correct information. Thanks to everyone for choosing Optima!
Jim McIlvaine
eCare Manager, OPTIMA Batteries, Inc.
www.pinterest.com/optimabatteries
Corvette Stories
The Best of Corvette for Corvette Enthusiasts
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
2027 Corvette vs The World: Every C8 vs Its Closest Competitor
Joe Kucinski
10 Most Common Corvette Problems of the Last 20 Years!
Joe Kucinski
5 MOST and 5 LEAST Popular Corvette Model Years in History!
Joe Kucinski
Safety Car
Joined: Nov 2002
Posts: 4,394
Likes: 6
From: Melbourne FL
Great advice by everyone all the way around. As ztheusa indicated, gel batteries are very different from AGM batteries and have very narrow charging parameters that may not fully-charge non-gel batteries and could damage them over time. For that reason, we recommend avoiding any “gel” or even “gel/AGM” charger settings. Regular or even deep-cycle settings on chargers will generally work just fine.
YellowTops are dual-purpose batteries, designed for both starting and deep-cycle use and they work just fine in automotive applications. If someone is suggesting YellowTops are primarily for marine use, please post a link to that information, so I can post correct information. Thanks to everyone for choosing Optima!
Jim McIlvaine
eCare Manager, OPTIMA Batteries, Inc.
www.pinterest.com/optimabatteries
YellowTops are dual-purpose batteries, designed for both starting and deep-cycle use and they work just fine in automotive applications. If someone is suggesting YellowTops are primarily for marine use, please post a link to that information, so I can post correct information. Thanks to everyone for choosing Optima!
Jim McIlvaine
eCare Manager, OPTIMA Batteries, Inc.
www.pinterest.com/optimabatteries
Former Vendor
Joined: Nov 2009
Posts: 279
Likes: 20
From: Glendale Wisconsin
CTEKs generally do a very good job charging our batteries. Doesn't your 3300 have an option for a battery that looks like one of our's? Either that or the car setting should work fine.
Jim McIlvaine
eCare Manager, OPTIMA Batteries, Inc.
www.pinterest.com/optimabatteries
Jim McIlvaine
eCare Manager, OPTIMA Batteries, Inc.
www.pinterest.com/optimabatteries
Safety Car
Joined: Nov 2002
Posts: 4,394
Likes: 6
From: Melbourne FL
CTEKs generally do a very good job charging our batteries. Doesn't your 3300 have an option for a battery that looks like one of our's? Either that or the car setting should work fine.
Jim McIlvaine
eCare Manager, OPTIMA Batteries, Inc.
www.pinterest.com/optimabatteries
Jim McIlvaine
eCare Manager, OPTIMA Batteries, Inc.
www.pinterest.com/optimabatteries
Melting Slicks
Joined: Dec 2003
Posts: 2,334
Likes: 11
From: las vegas nv.
OPTIMA batterys DO NOT require a special charger--They are all AGM batterys-NOT GEL--just use a regular charger maintainer as long as it doesn't go over 1 amp in maintance mode--and maintains a 13.20-13.80 volts--that's it!!