Optima Red Top -- still the best option?
#31
Anyone considering an Optima, consider these guys. Great customer service.
http://www.1st-optima-batteries.com/
http://www.1st-optima-batteries.com/
#32
Anyone considering an Optima, consider these guys. Great customer service.
http://www.1st-optima-batteries.com/
http://www.1st-optima-batteries.com/
Even if I did it blow it up, I don't have a problem sending it back under warranty as my last Optima, a yellow-top, lasted precisely 1 month longer than the warranty.
I think it is good that they are reaching out on the web forums, but if the batteries are this sensitive, perhaps they should put the charging info right on top the battery.
I plan to use a CTEK on the new one to keep it charged up.
#33
Hi Indycam, the 75/25 & 75/35 are the same battery, but may be labeled differently, depending on the retailer.
cwrm4, a high-current charger such as the one you mentioned, should actively monitor battery temperature. Did it indicate at anytime that the temperature exceeded 125F? If the battery was gassing, its likely that temperature was exceeded and some damage has been done, although its difficult to determine how much.
Viggo, were pretty familiar with the charger you mentioned and we havent seen them stick at half-full. Something doesnt sound right with either the charger or the battery. Can you check the voltage of the battery, use a different charger and monitor the battery to see if it gets too hot to rest your hand on it? After the charging is complete, leave the battery disconnected from everything for two days and check the voltage again. If it drops below 12 volts, there is a problem with the battery. Please keep me posted on your findings.
Jim McIlvaine
eCare Manager, OPTIMA Batteries, Inc.
www.facebook.com/optimabatteries
cwrm4, a high-current charger such as the one you mentioned, should actively monitor battery temperature. Did it indicate at anytime that the temperature exceeded 125F? If the battery was gassing, its likely that temperature was exceeded and some damage has been done, although its difficult to determine how much.
Viggo, were pretty familiar with the charger you mentioned and we havent seen them stick at half-full. Something doesnt sound right with either the charger or the battery. Can you check the voltage of the battery, use a different charger and monitor the battery to see if it gets too hot to rest your hand on it? After the charging is complete, leave the battery disconnected from everything for two days and check the voltage again. If it drops below 12 volts, there is a problem with the battery. Please keep me posted on your findings.
Jim McIlvaine
eCare Manager, OPTIMA Batteries, Inc.
www.facebook.com/optimabatteries
#34
I really hate the Optima Red Top. They suck. I've been through multiple Red Tops on my two 993's and I'm generally getting maybe 2 years out of each. It's really ridiculous. I always use my smart charger (not set on AGM/gel despite some sources saying to use AGM setting). Occasional deep discharging, but that's just a fact of life due to being human.
That said, I keep buying them because I don't want battery acid in my front trunk.
That said, I keep buying them because I don't want battery acid in my front trunk.
#35
Hi Indycam, the 75/25 & 75/35 are the same battery, but may be labeled differently, depending on the retailer.
cwrm4, a high-current charger such as the one you mentioned, should actively monitor battery temperature. Did it indicate at anytime that the temperature exceeded 125F? If the battery was gassing, its likely that temperature was exceeded and some damage has been done, although its difficult to determine how much.
Viggo, were pretty familiar with the charger you mentioned and we havent seen them stick at half-full. Something doesnt sound right with either the charger or the battery. Can you check the voltage of the battery, use a different charger and monitor the battery to see if it gets too hot to rest your hand on it? After the charging is complete, leave the battery disconnected from everything for two days and check the voltage again. If it drops below 12 volts, there is a problem with the battery. Please keep me posted on your findings.
Jim McIlvaine
eCare Manager, OPTIMA Batteries, Inc.
www.facebook.com/optimabatteries
cwrm4, a high-current charger such as the one you mentioned, should actively monitor battery temperature. Did it indicate at anytime that the temperature exceeded 125F? If the battery was gassing, its likely that temperature was exceeded and some damage has been done, although its difficult to determine how much.
Viggo, were pretty familiar with the charger you mentioned and we havent seen them stick at half-full. Something doesnt sound right with either the charger or the battery. Can you check the voltage of the battery, use a different charger and monitor the battery to see if it gets too hot to rest your hand on it? After the charging is complete, leave the battery disconnected from everything for two days and check the voltage again. If it drops below 12 volts, there is a problem with the battery. Please keep me posted on your findings.
Jim McIlvaine
eCare Manager, OPTIMA Batteries, Inc.
www.facebook.com/optimabatteries
#36
My last one had a factory sticker on it that said 75/35
my new one has a factory sticker on it that says 75/25 .
Why did the factory change the printing on the sticker from 75/35 to 75/25 ?
#37
Did you purchase the battery from a different retailer? 75/25s usually come from Autozone, while 75/35s or those with 75/35 in the part number are usually from Advance Auto Parts, Pep Boys, CSK or O'Reilly's.
Jim McIlvaine
eCare Manager, OPTIMA Batteries, Inc.
www.facebook.com/optimabatteries
Jim McIlvaine
eCare Manager, OPTIMA Batteries, Inc.
www.facebook.com/optimabatteries
#38
Professor of Pending Projects
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Joined: Nov 2001
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From: Orlando, FL
Looks like I jinx myself, #$%$%... My Optima battery is below 9 Volts and would not charge... I put it on a older charger at 2amps for full day and nothing and then for the last 12 hours at 10amps and still would not charge...
Off to the Autoparts to get a new one...
Off to the Autoparts to get a new one...
#39
Hi Jaime, I'm sorry to hear about the problems you've been having. I know you mentioned earlier in this thread that you kept your battery on a maintainer. What brand of maintainer is it and what settings were you using? Did your battery discharge below 9 volts while it was on the maintainer?
As I indicated earlier, many chargers will not recognize or charge any battery that has been discharged below a pre-set voltage threshold (usually around 10.5 volts). When this happens, you can connect a charger at any amperage setting for any length of time and it simply will not put any charge to the battery, because the voltage is too low to begin with. This is why we suggest the parallel charging technique as an option for recharging your deeply-discharged battery.
Jim McIlvaine
eCare Manager, OPTIMA Batteries, Inc.
www.facebook.com/optimabatteries
As I indicated earlier, many chargers will not recognize or charge any battery that has been discharged below a pre-set voltage threshold (usually around 10.5 volts). When this happens, you can connect a charger at any amperage setting for any length of time and it simply will not put any charge to the battery, because the voltage is too low to begin with. This is why we suggest the parallel charging technique as an option for recharging your deeply-discharged battery.
Jim McIlvaine
eCare Manager, OPTIMA Batteries, Inc.
www.facebook.com/optimabatteries
#40
You want one of these:
http://www.porsche.com/uk/aboutporsc...=2009-11-23-02
You don't want to know the price...
http://www.porsche.com/uk/aboutporsc...=2009-11-23-02
You don't want to know the price...
New Lightweight Battery Option for the Porsche 911 GT3, 911 GT3 RS, and Boxster Spyder.
Dr. Ing. h.c. F. Porsche AG, Stuttgart, is the first car maker in the world to offer a starter battery in lithium-ion technology. Weighing less than 6 kg or 13 lb, the new battery is more than 10 kg or 22 lb lighter than a conventional 60 Ah lead battery.
The new lithium-ion battery will be available as of January 2010 for the 911 GT3, 911 GT 3 RS, and Boxster Spyder as an option delivered with the car, selling at a price in the German market of Euro 1,904 including 19 per cent value-added tax.
The battery is delivered as a separate unit together with the car and may subsequently be fitted as an alternative to the regular, conventional starter battery.
Dr. Ing. h.c. F. Porsche AG, Stuttgart, is the first car maker in the world to offer a starter battery in lithium-ion technology. Weighing less than 6 kg or 13 lb, the new battery is more than 10 kg or 22 lb lighter than a conventional 60 Ah lead battery.
The new lithium-ion battery will be available as of January 2010 for the 911 GT3, 911 GT 3 RS, and Boxster Spyder as an option delivered with the car, selling at a price in the German market of Euro 1,904 including 19 per cent value-added tax.
The battery is delivered as a separate unit together with the car and may subsequently be fitted as an alternative to the regular, conventional starter battery.
#41
Professor of Pending Projects
Rennlist Member
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Joined: Nov 2001
Posts: 9,891
Likes: 23
From: Orlando, FL
Hi Jaime, I'm sorry to hear about the problems you've been having. I know you mentioned earlier in this thread that you kept your battery on a maintainer. What brand of maintainer is it and what settings were you using? Did your battery discharge below 9 volts while it was on the maintainer?
As I indicated earlier, many chargers will not recognize or charge any battery that has been discharged below a pre-set voltage threshold (usually around 10.5 volts). When this happens, you can connect a charger at any amperage setting for any length of time and it simply will not put any charge to the battery, because the voltage is too low to begin with. This is why we suggest the parallel charging technique as an option for recharging your deeply-discharged battery.
Jim McIlvaine
eCare Manager, OPTIMA Batteries, Inc.
www.facebook.com/optimabatteries
As I indicated earlier, many chargers will not recognize or charge any battery that has been discharged below a pre-set voltage threshold (usually around 10.5 volts). When this happens, you can connect a charger at any amperage setting for any length of time and it simply will not put any charge to the battery, because the voltage is too low to begin with. This is why we suggest the parallel charging technique as an option for recharging your deeply-discharged battery.
Jim McIlvaine
eCare Manager, OPTIMA Batteries, Inc.
www.facebook.com/optimabatteries
Looks like it was my fault. I forgot to plug it in... - dead battery, cold weather, would not charge. I used the old style charger (Sears unit) in 2amp, 10amp... should have tried your recommendation before buying the new one... I was just frustrated that day, nothing worked and I needed to hear the car turn on to feel good again
The maintainer/charger I have is the Porsche unit (older style).
#42
Cold weather in Orlando, is that like 45 degrees? Cold weather isn't as hard on batteries as hot weather, but the damage done in hot temperatures usually manifests itself in cold weather. If you still have the battery, it may be worth parallel charging, to see if you can revive it.
Jim McIlvaine
eCare Manager, OPTIMA Batteries, Inc.
www.facebook.com/optimabatteries
Jim McIlvaine
eCare Manager, OPTIMA Batteries, Inc.
www.facebook.com/optimabatteries
#43
FWIW ive been quoted £185.61 for the Red Top 4.2R which Optima Batteries UK state is the correct choice for my '91 964 C2 Tip, which gets weekend/weeknight use during non-winter months (aka 7-8 months of the year) and is garaged in between.
I have no real knowledge other than what I read above but seems excessive £££'s, any other UK-ers recommend a cheaper alternative?
I have no real knowledge other than what I read above but seems excessive £££'s, any other UK-ers recommend a cheaper alternative?
#44
Something like this might be a good alternative?
http://www.eurocarparts.com/ecp/c/Po...ad4cfcdaf&BATT
http://www.eurocarparts.com/ecp/c/Po...ad4cfcdaf&BATT