Avarage life of a Yellow top Optima

[blazin_blazer]

supposedly they have new owner and they quit using virgin lead like original optimas

i have a minn kota gel cell charger that i use on mine if i leave lights on or sump'n else...its 1/2 amp trickle charge...2 1/2 amp on fast charge

 

[scotto0609]

I think the trick is really low amperage for a long time.

This is the ticket!!!!

 

[dyeager535]

And just as a note, not sure how widespread this is, but some "automatic" battery chargers will NOT start charging a battery if the voltage is too low. BTDT, noticed it wasn't actually kicking out a charge, but worked fine on batteries with a bit more voltage showing.

 

[Leadfoot]

I went through several red tops in a few short years. It was always due to be drained down to nothing (lights on, over the winter with a slow draw, etc). Cold weather seemed to hit them hard if they were drawn down. They were always replaced under warranty so I have stayed with them. When mine would die, I was able to fast charge them for a few hours, followed by a long slow trickle charge to bring them back to about 80%. As stated, when they were drained, my trickle charger wouldn't even touch them (that why the fast charge to get them going).

Last year I switched to a two battery setup (as I had one battery replaced, I bought another). They are hooked up without a switch (I believe they call it in Parallel), and have no issues to date....

 

[1978Blazerk5]

Ya i figure i still got the Optima sittin in my basement, so come this spring it will probaly become my auxillery battery and we will see how that works out.

 

[onetonbb74]

The only bad experience ive had with a red top was letting my boss borrow a battery for his spare work truck (ford ranger) and later on during the day i get a call from him saying that the truck burned to the ground (typical ford ingnition problem) and i owe you a battery. He almost **** his pants when i told him the battery was 130.00 bux.