Maybe More Optima Stuff Than You Want to Know

Frank

I can only speak from my own experiece...owned 2 red tops first one for about 3 years vehicle was totaled in a crash..I've had my current one for about 5 years now with no problems on my SR. Have left the lights on a couple of times and drained 100%. Charged back up no problem after getting a jump. Winched my way out of pritchet canyon in the middle of the night with stock alt. as well. The biggest reason I went with the Optima was that I was tired of electrolyte leaking all over the place when at exteme angles on the trail. Been more than happy with mne and will replace with another when it dies.

deep cycle batteries have design characteristics that allow multiple discharge cycles. To get the cca they must have, starting batteries have a different design that will not tolerate repeated discharge cycles without giving up a LOT of design life. Can't 'member the exact diff, but think it has to do with thicker lead plates to combat flaking and shorting.

As for the slow discharge and recharge once a year, that's news to me.

Never done it.

lordtrunks's blue top optima is 8 years old and out here in the arizona desert batteries usually only last a few years,
thats why i bought my yellow top optima it's basically the same battery minus the marine terminals. Now PA_JERO has a bad redtop but he charges at the standard quick charge rate on his chargers 75amp?, which tends to blow optimas up <img src="/forums/images/graemlins/scared.gif" alt="" />.

From the alt. you mean?

I think that I am using the Duralast from Crappy Zone, it was an emergency and I had to go for it but I have always wanted to try one of those colorful top batteries. So far not bad but knowing that I tend to forget my lights on frequently and drain the battery <img src="/forums/images/graemlins/rolleyes.gif" alt="" />I built me a buzzer that goes off when the switch is in the off position and the lights on. It works great <img src="/forums/images/graemlins/kewl.gif" alt="" />

Javypro

i work at autozone and trust me your crappy duralast is a way better value than an optima everytime i sell an optima the guy comes back in about two months with a dead cell. i have one in my race car but that is because it is a race car and will vibrate a standard wet cell battery apart. they are not a very reliable battery here in michigan they dont take kindly to the cold. for about $100 less u can get a battery with a longer waranty and way more CCA. Ill be the first to tell u duralast is not the best but for the money I've yet to see a better one. I will always advise against an optima. just because it cost more does not mean its better if they had confidence in their product it would have a real warranty and not some two year joke. and no its not just because I work at autozone i dont care were you go just dont waste your money on an optima.

I worked at advance auto for almost 2 years until my new job. I can tell you those "dead cell" tests are usually not. a good trickle charge and 9 times out of 10 they are good to go again. <img src="/forums/images/graemlins/kewl.gif" alt="" />