Battery charger choice for Optima type battery?

Doug Domm · 03-24-2012, 11:29 AM

What are the negatives to using a non AGM type charger on an Optima battery? What is a suitable charger for between round charging car battery and a seperate charger for trailer battery maintenance? The trailer charger will operate every time the generator is run. Both car and trailer batteries will likely be Optima type.

442OLDS · 03-24-2012, 11:50 AM

I've used a Red Top Optima battery for years and never used a "special" battery charger.Never had a problem either.

magnumv8 · 03-24-2012, 12:34 PM

While it may not be common,I, DO NOT recommend using a regular battery charger on any type of AGM battery.....I was bench charging one of my Optimas and was gone for a few minutes and when I came back there was a flame coming out of the vent a good 6 to 8 inches high (it was set on low).....I am glad it was on the bench and not in the car, there would have been nothing left......

D L Rambo.....

gsa612 · 03-24-2012, 12:39 PM

Can. tire had a nascar (schumacher) m/prossesor charger on sale last week 40% off,for 70.00. Has agm, deep cycle, etc. good charger. Sometimes they will give last weeks sale price. gsa612

Alan Roehrich · 03-24-2012, 12:43 PM

CTEK is supposedly what Optima recommends.

Lew Silverman · 03-24-2012, 12:44 PM

Optima has their own charger coming out this Spring, here's a link to it -

http://www.optimabatteries.com/optima_products/charger/

Here's some charging information on the Optima/AGM batteries -

http://www.optimabatteries.com/produ...t/charging.php

Good Luck!

Lew

442OLDS · 03-24-2012, 01:13 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by magnumv8

While it may not be common,I, DO NOT recommend using a regular battery charger on any type of AGM battery.....I was bench charging one of my Optimas and was gone for a few minutes and when I came back there was a flame coming out of the vent a good 6 to 8 inches high (it was set on low).....I am glad it was on the bench and not in the car, there would have been nothing left......

D L Rambo.....

Might be a good idea to get that charger checked out.

magnumv8 · 03-24-2012, 01:29 PM

Not an issue with the charger, the charger couldn't sense the charge condition of the battery and because of that didn't "back down" the charge rate....I install charging systems in emergency vehicles that are connected 24/7 and you need a system that can sense the charge and roll it back so as not to cook the battery but still left on the battery so it maintains it's full charge....

D L Rambo.....

treessavoy · 03-24-2012, 01:33 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Lew Silverman

Optima has their own charger coming out this Spring, here's a link to it -

http://www.optimabatteries.com/optima_products/charger/

Here's some charging information on the Optima/AGM batteries -

http://www.optimabatteries.com/produ...t/charging.php

Good Luck!

Lew

Lew,

Thanks for the good info.

JimR

Doug Domm · 03-24-2012, 02:28 PM

Yes Lew thank you for the info. If I'd had my thinking cap on I should have went to the Optima site in the first place! Having said that this has provided some technical dialogue. Bonus! Doug

03-24-2012, 11:29 AM	#1
Doug Domm Member Join Date: Apr 2006 Location: canada Posts: 251 Likes: 28 Liked 84 Times in 21 Posts	Battery charger choice for Optima type battery? What are the negatives to using a non AGM type charger on an Optima battery? What is a suitable charger for between round charging car battery and a seperate charger for trailer battery maintenance? The trailer charger will operate every time the generator is run. Both car and trailer batteries will likely be Optima type.

03-24-2012, 11:50 AM	#2
442OLDS VIP Member Join Date: Sep 2004 Location: Elgin,IL Posts: 1,339 Likes: 5 Liked 282 Times in 103 Posts	Re: Battery charger choice for Optima type battery? I've used a Red Top Optima battery for years and never used a "special" battery charger.Never had a problem either.

03-24-2012, 12:34 PM	#3
magnumv8 Member Join Date: Feb 2009 Location: Coraopolis, Pa. Posts: 172 Likes: 0 Liked 0 Times in 0 Posts	Re: Battery charger choice for Optima type battery? While it may not be common,I, DO NOT recommend using a regular battery charger on any type of AGM battery.....I was bench charging one of my Optimas and was gone for a few minutes and when I came back there was a flame coming out of the vent a good 6 to 8 inches high (it was set on low).....I am glad it was on the bench and not in the car, there would have been nothing left...... D L Rambo.....

03-24-2012, 12:39 PM	#4
gsa612 Senior Member Join Date: Jan 2008 Location: 100th Meridian Posts: 569 Likes: 116 Liked 280 Times in 139 Posts	Re: Battery charger choice for Optima type battery? Can. tire had a nascar (schumacher) m/prossesor charger on sale last week 40% off,for 70.00. Has agm, deep cycle, etc. good charger. Sometimes they will give last weeks sale price. gsa612

03-24-2012, 12:43 PM	#5
Alan Roehrich Veteran Member Join Date: May 2006 Location: Murfreesboro TN Posts: 5,105 Likes: 1,561 Liked 1,788 Times in 408 Posts	Re: Battery charger choice for Optima type battery? CTEK is supposedly what Optima recommends. __________________ Alan Roehrich 212A G/S

03-24-2012, 12:44 PM	#6
Lew Silverman VIP Member Join Date: Mar 2010 Location: Newport News, VA Posts: 1,435 Likes: 371 Liked 129 Times in 59 Posts	Re: Battery charger choice for Optima type battery? Optima has their own charger coming out this Spring, here's a link to it - http://www.optimabatteries.com/optima_products/charger/ Here's some charging information on the Optima/AGM batteries - http://www.optimabatteries.com/produ...t/charging.php Good Luck! Lew __________________ Lew Silverman #2070 "The Wagon Master" N/SA

03-24-2012, 01:29 PM	#8
magnumv8 Member Join Date: Feb 2009 Location: Coraopolis, Pa. Posts: 172 Likes: 0 Liked 0 Times in 0 Posts	Re: Battery charger choice for Optima type battery? Not an issue with the charger, the charger couldn't sense the charge condition of the battery and because of that didn't "back down" the charge rate....I install charging systems in emergency vehicles that are connected 24/7 and you need a system that can sense the charge and roll it back so as not to cook the battery but still left on the battery so it maintains it's full charge.... D L Rambo.....

03-24-2012, 02:28 PM	#10
Doug Domm Member Join Date: Apr 2006 Location: canada Posts: 251 Likes: 28 Liked 84 Times in 21 Posts	Re: Battery charger choice for Optima type battery? Yes Lew thank you for the info. If I'd had my thinking cap on I should have went to the Optima site in the first place! Having said that this has provided some technical dialogue. Bonus! Doug