Hot rodders have always paid close attention to auto-related technical developments and that includes Optima batteries in both Redtop and Yellowtop varieties. I replaced it with an Optima red top. For some reason, many of us overcomplicate our solutions and diagnosis of problems (We do it here at Roundforge too!). For a better experience, please enable JavaScript in your browser before proceeding. The voltage on your Optima should read 9.5-10.5 volts for at least 30 seconds. Youll need a tow, a friend nearby to get you and some extra cash for a new battery when that happens. Hook the Optima battery to the charger and charge as normal. I keep expecting it to fail, but it doesn't. We've found that some of the cheaper multimeters out there aren't always very accurate (like that free one from Harbor Freight) so keep that in mind if your readings are right on the edge of a zone. . Deep cycle batteries are designed to be discharged a lot, then charged up. I guess only the future will tell if the redtop is junk as well, Had red top for 2 years now with zero problems, only had it die once but that was after 5 hours of the radio blaring with sub going without the truck running (kinda a test to see how long it'd last) other than that holds up well considering 4-5 times a week im using it to jump start tractors and combines on the farm, ive been very happy with it. There is no definite amount of time that batteries last, but an average of three to five years is what technicians estimate. The PC1500? When that happens, the battery comes to the forefront and you're suddenly faced with having to make an expensive choice. I bought it in December 1997 and replaced it in January 2007. We then create one easy-to-understand review. For an extended life battery, take a look at the Odyssey Automotive & LTV Car Battery. The terminals are easy to clean and it will extend the life of your battery. The deciding factor may be as simple as having an alarm system in a city street environment that sees a lot of triggering overnight, a stereo system that generates a high sound pressure level (SPL) at car shows for hours on end, or an off-road 4x4 that regularly uses a winch to pull disabled vehiclesor itselfout of the mud. To begin, switch your multimeter to 20VDC or whatever will get your multimeter reading somewhere in the range of 12 volts DC. The cold-cranking amps is especially important to those operating a vehicle in frigid temperatures. (positive to positive, negative to negative). I think Odyssey either suck or the supposedly great die hard platinum is a huge piece. The regular battery has a higher voltage, but still needs to be charged - the charger will want it to be at least 12.7 volts. Lastly, you should have a charger that charges AGM batteries. Which model do you like for the 06 Tundra's? The negative and positive lead plates turn into lead sulfate when the battery discharges. Some users have struggled to get the battery to fit snugly in their cars battery box. During the charging process, the positive plate of lead dioxide and the negative plate of lead interact to give the electrolyte back its acidity. Why did they fail? We appreciate your input. What modle year did TOYOTA Factory Red Long Life Fluid First Arrive on North American Destination Market Shores ? Want to see how long the Sears/Odysseys last. 33x10.5 BFG KM2/3" CCOT HFS/Dual Optima/Alum Rad/Custom Rack/Warn 8274-50/Points Gone, 285/75 R16 BFG AT/OEM Lockers/OME 2.5" 850-860 Springs/ARB Non Winch Bar+Receiver/Airflow Snorkel/Power Tank/CDL switch/Custom Tire Carrier+Rack/Dual Optima. If your vehicle only sees occasional or weekend use, a battery tender or maintainer is an excellent investment, which will help extend the life of your battery. If you buy your car used, make sure the battery that is in it is the appropriate size for the vehicle. Take a moment to imagine the worst conditions that made your battery fail in the past. Short trips around town will really tax your car battery because they dont give it a long time to charge. Low water levels can damage your battery, as well as intricate mechanical audio or video enhancements in the car. This is probably one of the most common problem people have with batteries, but it's often not checked. At that point, the electrolyte is depleted in sulfuric acid and becomes almost entirely water. Off-roading, refrigerators, winches, lights, big stereos, alarms, and satellite-based systems pushed normal SLI batteries and even the Optima Redtop beyond the limit. As most batteries do, a car battery stores energy for your car. Tyler came out of the womb with a Birfield in one hand and a stick of 6010 in the other, ready to weld any piece of trail-busted steel back together. There are some additional benefits: This is the easiest way to charge or maintain an AGM battery like an Optima. As most batteries do, a car battery stores energy for your car. In this article, we'll take a look at how to determine whether your Optima is bad, whether it's salvageable, and why you might need a special charger or traditional battery to recharge it. The key to long battery life, regardless of brand, is maintaining 12.4 volts whenever possible. When you get your car maintenance, ask the mechanic to clean those for you. There is a cleaning kit you can buy for those as well, so you can clean it on your own. SLI batteries are by far the most common type of OE battery, and they are designed to maintain a charge that's near full and that seldom reach a discharge state greater than about 3 percent. The previous Interstate battery lasted a little over 3 years, the orginal a little less than 3 years but this was entirely in Arizona. Touch the red probe to the positive terminal on the Optima and touch the black probe to the negative Optima terminal. If you are religious about your car maintenance, make sure to always ask your technician to check the life of your battery when you bring it in for routine maintenance. Anything in this range means that you have normal charge and you're in the right range for an Optima. This battery has a 70% longer life in comparison to deep cycle batteries. Installation is quite complex, so beginners may find it difficult to fit. Similarly, terminal contacts can break or crack internally. So far, so good. The faster recharge of a full charge in 4-6 hours is an incredible feature as well. Do not slowly drain the battery. It will withstand hard launches, extreme corners and is race proven for every road every day whether its used as a truck battery, automotive battery, or for other applications. It depends a lot on how deeply it's been discharged. I may be needing to buy new, but am I hearing bad things about the new optimas? I bought a red top to replace and will back that up with a yellow in the near future. Maintenance-free is important and also pretty standard with todays best car batteries. All Rights Reserved. It is the measure of amps deliverable in temperatures below freezing. This site uses cookies to help personalise content, tailor your experience and to keep you logged in if you register. JavaScript is disabled. The charger sees the voltage in the Optima as too low to charge. YES! The big question is, should you get a Redtop or a Yellowtop? FJx3 USMC '61-'65; EDC 9m Ca. Between these episodes, batteries are stored for long periods and ignored for months on end. The faster recharge of a full charge in 4-6 hours is an incredible feature as well. How do you fix this? (Although repeated discharging a dark-cased RedTop or BlueTop is not good for longevity). Read more on that below. This is good for race cars as well, but always be sure to check your vehicles specifications in the manual to ensure a good match. This usually means that your battery is sulfated, which happens when it sits for a long time (not charging) or is deeply discharged when it shouldn't be. I was a fan of "Whatever Battery will fit". We also participate in other affiliate programs. Observation: There's less edge length available for out-gassing of hydrogen sulfide with spiral cells, and intuitively, spiral plates resist swelling better than stacked plates. This is your first reading - here's how to interpret it: 12.7 - 13.2 volts - NORMAL with 100% charge. This acid is very dangerous so always be sure to wear protective gear when dealing with batteries. Cleaning the terminals will also give your battery a longer life. The Diehard in my truck is less than 10 months old and won't hold a charge and it is the second one of these in 3 years the first died at 18 months. There are quite a few factors that contribute to battery life: weather, maintenance of the vehicle and frequency of use. In addition, when you take the precautions, you can shop for the battery you want without being in a rush. Sometimes they are bare wire. The DEAD have rights too.!!!! Once you have realized that you are going to need to replace your car battery, youll want to know how they work so you can buy the perfect one for you. Toyota 1965 F135 seized, It doesn't look good, Is this the End of it life. Look for the DWYM seal for products that are the best in the category. As Bergretter indicated, RedTops are not designed or warrantied for deep-cycle applications, including winching. By attaching the Optima to the regular battery, we can draw off some current to charge the Optima. We gave other AGM batteries a shot, they failed, so now this author is a fan of the Optima, barring any future technology breakthroughs. He likes doing long distance overland travel and would happily spend every night in the bed of a pickup under the stars. spun it like a top. This type of battery is spill-proof and resistant to vibration. It starts quickly and efficiently, even when the temperatures outdoors are not ideal. Most multimeters have a "20 VDC" position, and that's where you want to be. Cranking amps tells the consumer how much the batterys starting power is. Amazon, the Amazon logo, AmazonSupply, and the AmazonSupply logo are trademarks of Amazon.com, Inc. or its affiliates. 1948 bradley trailer. Normal chargers won't always work with an Optima battery. These units have digital processors that assess a battery's condition and select the proper rate of charge. Optima would not back up their warranty, so I went back to Sears (Platnum). And because all batteries are sealedas are most modern batteriesif they get overcharged, they'll vent electrolyte and once that leaves the battery it's never going back in, so the performance is reduced as a result.". The Optima RedTop Starting Car Battery is great for a vehicle with high-end audio systems with a 12-volt power cell. If a battery has been deeply-discharged while winching on the trail, its a good idea to make sure it is fully-charged before putting your vehicle away. But you dont have to experience this and can prevent it by taking several, easy precautions. It just died, mostly my fault. At this point you're going to start checking the Optima's voltage frequently for the next hour. If it is moving around, the circuits can short. If you said yes to the first question, we recommend an Optima Redtop, designed for high-amperage jobs like starting, lighting, and ignition (SLI). Not easy to install in cars that arent factory fit. The bigger the engine, the more powerful battery youll need. You can DIY a charging setup in a pinch. A dark-cased RedTop or BlueTop Optima is a starting battery. Inside the battery is acid that produces electricity when reacting with the lead plates.