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Which Optima Battery

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mjobrien

mjobrien

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Folks,

Cold weather in Tampa got the best of my old battery - OK not that cold, but need a new battery and was thinking of using a Optima, any experience or suggestions on which model?

A Happy and safe - New Year to all
Michael.
 
Michael.


I do not have the model number handy but get the yellow top it will cost you a penny or two more but it is worth it because the Optima deep cycle batteries are multi-purpose, meaning that they function excellently for starting as well as for deep cycle use.--Keoke-- :drive

.
 
Keoke said:
Michael.


I do not have the model number handy but get the yellow top it will cost you a penny or two more but it is worth it because the Optima deep cycle batteries are multi-purpose, meaning that they function excellently for starting as well as for deep cycle use.--Keoke-- :drive

.
Click to expand...

:iagree:

I started out with a red top which worked great until I accidentally discharged it completely 2 times. It was incapable of taking a charge after the 2nd time that I accidentally discharged it all the way.
That is when I learned the difference between the yellow top and the red top optima. The yellow top is OK if you accidentally discharge it completely. Optima has a good warranty. I got full credit on the price I paid for the red top when I upgraded to the yellow top Optima at Pepboys.

Ed
 
And happy new year to you. Refresh my memory...
Optima's are better why?

Because they are gel filled and won't release gases that corrode metal?
 
did my time with Optimas(red & blue)
once the discharge(-10 amps) they are worthless for starting after 10 days of setting disconnected from my car (even brought back w/slightest trickle charge)

odyssey is the way to go..
 
You want a

PC925c will fit into the battery tray of 100 no problem you just need to mod the holder'

Well yes Mark: it is small however, electrically IMOP it is nothing to write home about I would want at least 550 or more CCA----Keoke-- :driving:
 
Johnny said:
And happy new year to you. Refresh my memory...
Optima's are better why?

Because they are gel filled and won't release gases that corrode metal?
Click to expand...
Actually, they are AGM, not gel. You are correct, they don't release gases under normal conditions. If they are overcharged (not usually a problem) they won't release gases for long and will be ruined.

If a PC925c will fit in a tray, you could put one in the other tray and wire them in parallel (NOT SERIES) and double the CCA.
 
Hey, you guys with the high dollar Optimas that no longer take a charge.
Try putting the battery in parallel with another battery that is partially charged and then try your charger with both hooked up. It has tricked my cheesey charger into action when the completely flat battery would not. It's worth a shot.
 
Yes Roscoe, that may work:

What it does is fool your charger in to thinking it no longer sees the low internal resistance of the AGM battery.
This is because the parallel combination of the batteries produces a higher looking internal resistance than would be seen by the Optima battery alone even though it is dicharged.---Fwiw--Keoke
 
I have had a couple of Optima batteries (red top, 6V) and have little good to say about them. Mine worked OK for a couple of months but then started losing their charge when sitting rather quickly (in a week or two). They appeared to charge up quickly, but then had had no real hard cranking power. Optima was good about replacing them on their two year warranty, but I finally got tired of trying to figure out how to use them properly. They are sure not cheap, and I can't understand the rave reviews I keep hearing about them.
 
Healey 100 said:
I have had a couple of Optima batteries (red top, 6V) and have little good to say about them. Mine worked OK for a couple of months but then started losing their charge when sitting rather quickly
I finally got tired of trying to figure out how to use them properly. They are sure not cheap, and

I can't understand the rave reviews I keep hearing about them.
Click to expand...

I have no real answer to this either :confuse:

. However, it may be due to the user's charging method.
Preferably a Battery Tender type charger [ There are several on the market ] probably should be used when they are being idled
.'
These chargers:
Have a microprocessor that will correctly charge a battery then automatically switch to a maintenance/float mode.

On the other hand, they will also prolong the life of a conventional lead acid battery and for much less total initial cost.???--Keoke
 
I was able to keep a Red Top Optima battery alive for about seven (7) years, and much of this time was during LONG periods of disuse (car wasn't put back together yet).

I still have it in the garage, and use it ocasionally to power up BMW seats, when I have them removed from the car, and want to service or lube the mechanisms.

I have no gripe about them.
 
:savewave:

Randy:
You mustah!! got the only good one in the bunch----Keoke-- :laugh:
 
I've had an Optima Red Top in my E-type for 6 years. The car sits idle for months at a time. I've never used a trickle charger on it, unlike my Healey battery. The Optima holds a charge beautifully and is as reliable as it could possibly be. When the Interstate battery in my Healey expires, it will absolutely be replaced by Optima. I love them!

Randy H
 
I've had bad luck with these (red top) batteries, once in a Healey & twice in a BMW, three different batteries. I was told since Johnson Controls bought them the quality has suffered.
 
Folks, great feedback and good information - I had to punt "time constraint" and pick up a small Die-Hard that fit the tray and good cranking amps.... So far so good but I'm sure like all die-Hards it will "DIE HARD" and I'll upgrade.


Getting the top put on for the first time since - well I have no idea, so I'll send some pics.

Michael.
 
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