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Optima #2930457
06/06/21 10:00 AM
06/06/21 10:00 AM
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Mesa, Arizona
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dart4forte Offline OP
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Have a new Optima Redtop. I know that Optimas are sensitive to charging. During the hot summer months down here in the desert SW I like to keep my battery on a battery tender. Anyone have experience with this?


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Re: Optima [Re: dart4forte] #2930474
06/06/21 11:30 AM
06/06/21 11:30 AM
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Michigan
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BlueRacer69 Offline
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I'm in Michigan, have the same Red Top battery as you in my BB Dart. Its now 4 yrs old and still cranks over like the first day I got it. I keep mine on a Battery-Minder charger at all times, unless the car is going to be driven some place. Hope this answers your question.

Last edited by BlueRacer69; 06/06/21 11:34 AM.
Re: Optima [Re: BlueRacer69] #2930521
06/06/21 02:02 PM
06/06/21 02:02 PM
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So Near, Yet So Far
topside Offline
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Schumacher tender works fine on them.

Re: Optima [Re: topside] #2930706
06/06/21 11:29 PM
06/06/21 11:29 PM
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BloFish Offline
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I was under the impression that they had to be charged a special way.


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as long as you look good doing it!

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‘69 ‘Cuda
‘73 Vega GT
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Re: Optima [Re: BloFish] #2930725
06/06/21 11:50 PM
06/06/21 11:50 PM
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SomeCarGuy Offline
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When they get really low the charger doesn’t sense them. Have to hook at regular battery up to it so it will take charge. As long as they aren’t way low they take charge.


I want my fair share
Re: Optima [Re: SomeCarGuy] #2930732
06/07/21 12:14 AM
06/07/21 12:14 AM
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topside Offline
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The last few Schumacher tenders I've bought worked fine on an Optima.
Maybe 10 years or so ago, yeah, AGM batteries needed a "regular" battery between them and a non-compatible charger.

Re: Optima [Re: topside] #2930749
06/07/21 02:05 AM
06/07/21 02:05 AM
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BloFish Offline
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Good to know,,, thanks


It really doesn't matter whether you win or lose…
as long as you look good doing it!

‘65 A100
‘69 ‘Cuda
‘73 Vega GT
‘06 Mega Cab
‘14 Mercedes SLK
Re: Optima [Re: BloFish] #2930754
06/07/21 06:20 AM
06/07/21 06:20 AM
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Tulsa OK
Bad340fish Offline
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Whatever charger you use make sure it has a setting for AGM batteries and use that setting.

The 4amp Optima charger is a great value at around $100. It can charge 4 amps and it is a maintainer as well, it also tells you what it is doing on this display which is nice. I have never used the larger optima charger but I am sure it is good as well.


68 Barracuda Formula S 340
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Re: Optima [Re: Bad340fish] #2930815
06/07/21 10:46 AM
06/07/21 10:46 AM
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Round Lake Beach, Illinoisy
Rhinodart Offline
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I put a lead acid battery in series with the Optima then it charges just fine. That way you also have two charged batteries!


The funny thing about science is that if you change one miniscule parameter you change the entire outcome to the way you want it.

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Re: Optima [Re: Rhinodart] #2930829
06/07/21 11:21 AM
06/07/21 11:21 AM
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Kirkland, Washington
Pacnorthcuda Offline
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Originally Posted by Rhinodart
I put a lead acid battery in series with the Optima then it charges just fine. That way you also have two charged batteries!


Important correction: You put a lead acid battery in PARALLEL with the Optima.....

Re: Optima [Re: Pacnorthcuda] #2930933
06/07/21 03:20 PM
06/07/21 03:20 PM
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RJS Offline
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I have a yellow top that I just charged on my 25 year old Sears charger on the 2amp. setting.
It took about 12 hours but worked great.
Ron

Last edited by RJS; 06/07/21 03:21 PM.
Re: Optima [Re: dart4forte] #2931090
06/07/21 09:27 PM
06/07/21 09:27 PM
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J_BODY Offline
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I hate Optima’s.... but just because of the price. 11 year old blue top I just retired from the boat, but still use it in the car trailer for the winch and between round cool downs on the race car. The one in my 96 daily driven XJ is dated 2-13. The two in my pickup are 2-18 and 4-19. One was in my daughters Chrysler 200 I snagged before we traded it, the other was in my Duster. Reason they’re in there is that my 2 year experiment with sams club duracell AGM failed so they gave me my money back. Regular wet cell batt I had laying around in the racecar failed at my last race. Borrowed an optima from the pickup. Got home and bought a new one for the racecar and put the borrowed one back in the pickup.

Batteries are a hard game to play in the desert. I’ve made thousands over the years repairing damage from wet cell batteries. To me the initial cost of the red tops has to be considered for the fact of how clean they stay. The battery cables in my 01 Cummins equipped pickup look like new still.

Re: Optima [Re: SomeCarGuy] #2932007
06/10/21 02:50 PM
06/10/21 02:50 PM
Joined: Nov 2012
Posts: 86
Alabama
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WarEagle1 Offline
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Alabama
Originally Posted by SomeCarGuy
When they get really low the charger doesn’t sense them. Have to hook at regular battery up to it so it will take charge. As long as they aren’t way low they take charge.

Concur with this. ^^^
I have a 6 yr old RedTop in my Cuda (seldom driven). It used to run down from sitting and had trouble getting it to take a charge. I keep a Schumacher tender on it now (for several years) and it keeps it topped off. No issues.

Re: Optima [Re: WarEagle1] #2932060
06/10/21 05:44 PM
06/10/21 05:44 PM
Joined: Nov 2004
Posts: 16,450
On the run…
BloFish Offline
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It really doesn't matter whether you win or lose…
as long as you look good doing it!

‘65 A100
‘69 ‘Cuda
‘73 Vega GT
‘06 Mega Cab
‘14 Mercedes SLK






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