Charging a Battery

[dksix]

I haven't started my car in 8 or 10 months and the battery has discharged too low to start the car. I took the battery off to put it on the charger but I'm not sure how much charging I should do. It's an Optima Red Top. I set the charger on 10 amps and the timer for 3 hours. Is that too much amperage for a long charge? Should I go down to 2 amps? I normally just charge enough to start the car then let the alternator take care of the charging but I don't really plan on driving the car, so I need the charger to do the whole charge. The OEM alternator is 140 amp output.

 

[mjgnslngr]

I haven't started my car in 8 or 10 months and the battery has discharged too low to start the car. I took the battery off to put it on the charger but I'm not sure how much charging I should do. It's an Optima Red Top. I set the charger on 10 amps and the timer for 3 hours. Is that too much amperage for a long charge? Should I go down to 2 amps? I normally just charge enough to start the car then let the alternator take care of the charging but I don't really plan on driving the car, so I need the charger to do the whole charge. The OEM alternator is 140 amp output.

2 amps for 12hrs. this way you dont boil it!I:I open area with good ventilation is a Must!!!

 

[dksix]

No openings on these battery's. It's one that looks like a 6 pack, they can be mounted in any orientation. I'll go back out and switch it to 2 amps and just keep resetting the timer. I normally use my charger at 200amps just long enough to start something.

 

[mjgnslngr]

No openings on these battery's. It's one that looks like a 6 pack, they can be mounted in any orientation. I'll go back out and switch it to 2 amps and just keep resetting the timer. I normally use my charger at 200amps just long enough to start something.

yeah, i forgot the optimas have the 2 vent holes. a slower charge is the way to go. ive had guys here at the shop put batts on 10amps and within an hour theyre smoking!!! 2 amps, 12 hrs....

 

[Blaaster]

If the battery has been sitting in a low state for a long period of time, I don't like its chances of holding the charge for long.

The plates of a battery sitting for a long time, with little charge, will sulphate and seriously affect its charging capacity.

If the battery does recover, it would be a good idea to give it a little recharge often.

 

[dksix]

Thanks guys. I set it on 2 amps and I'll just have to remember to reset the timer a few times. I think the battery would likely be still under warranty. That battery was about $200 and I don't think I've had it 2 years yet. I think the kid opened the door an d didn't get it shut back at some point and the car has like 8 different interior lights when the door is opened, I would have thought some kind of timer would have been in there to turn them off before discharging the battery.

 

[blasterBruce]

Careful once you drain an optima they will never fully recharge , Had it happen to 2 different yellow tops , I'm my opinion if it does hold a charge afterwords , Get rid of it fast , that $200 battery will be junk in less than 4 years from being New I Promise that

 

[dksix]

I thought the purpose of a deep cycle battery was so it could be depleted and recharged multiple times. My dad always ran them on his boats. I've seen his battery's be so dead that the trolling motor wouldn't even click and they would be right back as good as new the next weekend. I stopped and looked at new cars today, thinking about trading for something better on gas. I thought it would be a good idea to check the car out before it was time to drive it to the dealer, make sure there was no rats nest and such.

 

[blasterBruce]

I thought the purpose of a deep cycle battery was so it could be depleted and recharged multiple times. My dad always ran them on his boats. I've seen his battery's be so dead that the trolling motor wouldn't even click and they would be right back as good as new the next weekend. I stopped and looked at new cars today, thinking about trading for something better on gas. I thought it would be a good idea to check the car out before it was time to drive it to the dealer, make sure there was no rats nest and such.

Nope deep cycle battery is to try and keep your battery from dieing , once its dead , its dead , I have a yellow top here that wont take any more than 4V , even if i leave it on a trickle charge at 1 amp for a very long time it wont make more than 4 volts, its a yard ornament now

 

[dksix]

Nope deep cycle battery is to try and keep your battery from dieing , once its dead , its dead , I have a yellow top here that wont take any more than 4V , even if i leave it on a trickle charge at 1 amp for a very long time it wont make more than 4 volts, its a yard ornament now

Oh, I can't blame anyone but myself if I have to replace it. I mean to start it regularly but I'm bad to do weeks, sometimes months and not even go out into the shop. If it doesn't hold a charge til I get off work tomorrow, after 12 hours at 2 amps, I'll go get a new one I guess.

 

[blasterBruce]

Don't buy a Optima Again

 

[Blaaster]

Any lead acid battery which is left in a discharged state over a long period of time will never reach its full charging potential.

Deep cycle batteries too, will fail if left discharged for a period of time.

 

[dksix]

All seems to be fine. The battery starts to car right up after being installed for 3 days. I haven't driven it yet but just sitting for a couple of days and it spins the engine without hesitation.

 

[Blaaster]

Keep the charge up to the battery.

You may no be so lucky the next time it goes flat!