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Re: Optima battery charging
[Re: Bryx512]
#820255
10/03/10 09:51 AM
10/03/10 09:51 AM
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Joined: Jan 2003
Posts: 9,996
Frostbitefalls MN (Rocky&Bullw...
gregsdart
master
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master
Joined: Jan 2003
Posts: 9,996
Frostbitefalls MN (Rocky&Bullw...
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BRYX512, so if i can't (or won't) run an alternator, and have a 110 reserve bluetop, I would like to come up with a plan that can get me through later rounds, which are back to back.
To give you an idea of the draw on the battery for a run, I use an MSD digital seven, CCI command center, and run the mezier water pump only, no fan needed. I have a belt type fuel pump. The injection system takes a lot of cranking to get it going, and I start the motor about five times at about five seconds cranking each time. So the draw on the battery would be per round-
Water pump..... 5 min...7 amps
Ignition....... 5 min...2.5 amps avg
Starter..five starts at 5 sec each at 150 amps
Command center. 5 min .5 amps
(I will look up the draw for the pump, ign and command center and edit)
So my question is, to keep the battery at 12.75 volts or higher through out the run, what percentage of charge will it take and what is the best way to keep it there. Max draw during the run is 15 amps.
This is what I am thinking;
First off, I assume I should purchase the right charger to top off the battery before starting for the day, which will give me extra reserve. Then early rounds, where I have more time, use the good charger. Later rounds at a certain charge loss and beyond, use the bigger charger on start to give me enough reserve to get by?
Can I use my other charger on high during warm up to keep the battery charge high? Warm up takes about five to seven minutes with alky.
A battery does not charge in a linear manor, correct? Meaning, it restores less and less of the reserve as it approaches full charge? That is what I see with the gauge, at least.
Last edited by gregsdart; 10/03/10 10:02 AM.
8..603 156 mph best, 2905 lbs 549, indy 572-13, alky
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Re: Optima battery charging
[Re: Bryx512]
#820264
10/03/10 02:49 PM
10/03/10 02:49 PM
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Joined: Jan 2003
Posts: 5,989
Anoka County, MN
Leigh
master
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master
Joined: Jan 2003
Posts: 5,989
Anoka County, MN
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Quote:
Properly maintained and in a good environment (no corrosion)a performance battery, that is proper for the situation, can last as long as 10- 12 years.
This is true. I use two Red tops, and they turned 10 this year. I rotate all my batteries to my Deltron Battery Tender Plus each week. (A great product) I'm always amazed how little time it takes to get to "maintain" with those Optima's. Every once and awhile, I'll crank the car with each one individually, just to make sure I'm not crazy. I have read internet stories about the company being purchased, and that the new product isn't as good? Any truth, or just another internet rumor?
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Re: Optima battery charging
[Re: Bryx512]
#820265
10/03/10 03:43 PM
10/03/10 03:43 PM
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Joined: Jan 2003
Posts: 1,369
Ohio
3404
pro stock
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pro stock
Joined: Jan 2003
Posts: 1,369
Ohio
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Quote:
I teach battery technology so I think I can bring some light to this subject. Bear with me, the explanation is long...
Optima batteries are designed in a way that they should not receive greater than 7 amps of charge. They will deal with a greater amount for a SHORT period of time but is NOT recommended! The reason for the limit on charging is due to it's construction. Each spiral cell is a continuous roll of perforated lead covered on both sides as it's rolled up with fiberglass matting and paste. Once they are installed in the case and connected to the posts, a specific amount of water and acid is added. The solution is absorbed by the matting and held next to the rolled lead plates. Now, the reason for the limiting of charging is due to potential evaporation of the water in the solution. If over charged, the water evaporates and once the pressure in the case reaches a certain pressure, the release valves in the top of the case (the two "stone" looking things) open. Once the pressure is released, and an amount of water leaves with it, the life of the battery is done (the valves do NOT reset).
There are now chargers that are designed for AGM (Absorbed Glass Material) batteries.
I hope this helps 
Great info here, I use a "automatic" charger and one year I had one (I run two red tops)get so hot while charging that it was puffing smoke out of one the top vents. It was running at around 20 amps when I first turned it on and normally it drops down pretty fast but sometimes these take can take a while to charge to 100%. The battery is still working fine but that one really scared me when it got that hot, it was pretty much at a boil.
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Re: Optima battery charging
[Re: Leigh]
#820266
10/03/10 04:59 PM
10/03/10 04:59 PM
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Joined: Sep 2007
Posts: 50
Lincoln, NE
Bryx512
member
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member
Joined: Sep 2007
Posts: 50
Lincoln, NE
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Quote:
I have read internet stories about the company being purchased, and that the new product isn't as good? Any truth, or just another internet rumor?
Optima was purchased by Johnson Controls (Interstate batteries) in 2000. I personally am not aware of any issues. Any time I have had someone complain about them getting a "bad" battery, it ends up being an alternator that is too small, over charging or corrosion in the wiring.
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Re: Optima battery charging
[Re: 3ddart]
#820267
10/03/10 05:23 PM
10/03/10 05:23 PM
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Joined: Nov 2007
Posts: 21,822
Kirkland, Washington
Pacnorthcuda
Too Many Posts
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Too Many Posts
Joined: Nov 2007
Posts: 21,822
Kirkland, Washington
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Quote:
i think hot rod magazine did an article on charging agm batteries a couple of months ago. iirc it said something about hooking a flooded battery up beyond the agm to trip & trick the agm to take a charge. i skimmed over the article so i may have missed something lol.
That technique is for charging a deeply discharged Optima with a conventional charger. You're not tricking the battery but rather the charger into giving a charge.
A deeply discharged Optima has very high internal resistance, some 'ordinary" chargers see this (or more precisely DON'T see it) and fail to provide current. The parallel battery serves as a load so that the charger works, once the Optima is no longer deeply discharged (and its internal resistance drops) it can be removed from the circuit and the charger will charge the Optima.
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Re: Optima battery charging
[Re: Bryx512]
#820269
10/03/10 07:46 PM
10/03/10 07:46 PM
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Joined: Jan 2003
Posts: 6,314
The Swamp
MegaDart
master
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master
Joined: Jan 2003
Posts: 6,314
The Swamp
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Quote:
If we are still talking about Optima's only, the starting/ charging Red top can be used as a deep cycle. The same in reverse the Yellow and Blue tops can be used with an alternator. They will handle it better than most others but you will remove a certain amount of life.
So with that said you would be better served to run the red tops for more CCA's right?
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Re: Optima battery charging
[Re: MegaDart]
#820270
10/03/10 08:28 PM
10/03/10 08:28 PM
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Joined: Sep 2007
Posts: 50
Lincoln, NE
Bryx512
member
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member
Joined: Sep 2007
Posts: 50
Lincoln, NE
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Quote:
So with that said you would be better served to run the red tops for more CCA's right?
If you are running without an alternator, run a Yellow or Blue top. You are looking for reserve capacity not CCA. Just my 
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