Optima Battery Warning!

[SVXyGirl]

Originally Posted by svxfiles

To make a long story shorter, Optima paid about $2900.00 to Rebecca for damages caused by their unexplained battery failure.

Fixed it for you. I need to replace my red top (too soon I feel) and I may go with another battery.

[svxcess]

Originally Posted by SUPER

I wonder if Boeing 787 uses Optima red top batteries.

The Maryland State Police, as well as the Howard and Carroll County EMS vehicles use the Optimas.

.

[svxfiles]

I am not saying that is a bad battery, but two smoking Optima batteries in my limited experience is a concern.



PS. My only battery explosion was early in my automotive career.
1974, Big Ford, EA Motors, Bridgeville PA, completely my fault.



One battery explosion,
one gas tank explosion,
one ball joint explosion,
lots of close calls.
sigh...

[dcarrb]

I've been driving for over 40 years, have always bought low to mid-priced Brand X batteries, and have never had a single one exhibit untoward behavior. (A pause to rap my knuckles on my desk.) To my mind, paying two or three prices for a "premium" brand is more about cachet than anything else, and speaks volumes about the power of marketing.

dcb

[svxfiles]

Originally Posted by dcarrb

I've been driving for over 40 years, have always bought low to mid-priced Brand X batteries, and have never had a single one exhibit untoward behavior. (A pause to rap my knuckles on my desk.) To my mind, paying two or three prices for a "premium" brand is more about cachet than anything else, and speaks volumes about the power of marketing.

dcb

The reason that I bought the Optima was for the safety of the gel technology since I had to mount in the trunk.
Having had a wet cell blow up on me in74, I did not want that to happen inside the car!

[INVADR]

Finally, an excuse to get rid of the red-top in my car. It's getting kinda old, anyway. I guess the acid steam would be my last straw.

I'm going to put a Die Hard platinum in the spaceship. Apparently, it's a re-skinned Odyssey (EnerSys). I've had tremendous success with the one in my F-150. Cranks the truck FAST, and got rid of nearly all the dimming issues I have with my stereo (still on stock 110a alt).

[benebob]

Originally Posted by svxfiles

The reason that I bought the Optima was for the safety of the gel technology since I had to mount in the trunk.
Having had a wet cell blow up on me in74, I did not want that to happen inside the car!

Maybe you should solve your luck problems for good and buy yourself a dashboard Budda and dashboard Jesus just like I just installed on the bike.

Everytime you turn the key you rub the belly

Stll looking for the dashboard Mohamad and dashboard sacred cow to cover all my bases.

[dannmarr]

So these batteries are Gels? I work with batteries on power industrial equipment. We have wet cell chargers, Gel chargers and AGM chargers. Gels and AGM batteries charge at a slower rate and are charged in pulses rather than a continuous charge. I wonder if the alternator had something to do with your problem?

[dragoontwo]

Optimas are AGM not Gel.

[svxfiles]

Originally Posted by dragoontwo

Optimas are AGM not Gel.

You are correct Michael.
Since they are advertized as "NONSPILLABLE" I assumed incorrectly.

This is a charging warning from Optima;
"Deeply Discharged Battery
If an Optima is deeply discharged (below 10.5 volts) most basic chargers
will not supply a charge. OPTIMA Chargers are designed specifically
to recover batteries discharged as low as 1.25v. To charge the battery,
you can can wire a second fully charged automotive battery (12V+) to the
discharged AGM in parallel(+ to + and - to-). Then hook up the charger
to the discharged battery, setting the charger to 10 amps. Leave for 2 hours,
monitering periodically. When the discharged battery reaches 10.5 volts or
above, remove the 2nd battery and continue charging the AMG untill fully
charged. In most cases the AMG battery will be recovered.
It's ok for the AGM battery to get slightly warm during the charging
process. Hot to the touch means there's a short and the process should be
discontinued. Have your alternator checked immediately."

[svxfiles]

For the record;
What is an agm battery?

Glad you asked...
An AGM (absorbed glass mat) battery refers to a specialty battery that has the electrolyte on the glass mat. They make recharging more efficient and are high performing.

[bwb3]

An AMG battery. This was my stupid question about the smell when things are going wrong. I understand lead acid batteries and the smell like when my dog farts, or it's time to change your underwear but, I thought this was a different technology?

Gene