Battery Recomendations

[treessavoy]

Originally Posted by Mark Ugrich

I've run an Optima yellow top for years. One of the best batteries I've tried, albeit somewhat heavy. It may have been wrong, but I always used a standard charger on it. Never had a problem.

What's the proper way to charge an Optima if not with a standard charger?

JimR

[SGSST109E]

The key with an Optima battery is the voltage. You don't want the volt. during a charge to exceed 14.5V. You could put 1000 amps thru it and not hurt it, but to high a voltage will. I work for the company that owns Optima. The Optima charger or a Battery tender. I have always used yellow tops in my race car and trailer. I used a Battery Tender 5amp charger. If you charge it over night you will be good to go. If you have an alternator you can race a whole nat. or div. race without touching it. If you use a big sears charger just watch the voltage.

[Doug Domm]

Originally Posted by SGSST109E

The key with an Optima battery is the voltage. You don't want the volt. during a charge to exceed 14.5V. You could put 1000 amps thru it and not hurt it, but to high a voltage will. I work for the company that owns Optima. The Optima charger or a Battery tender. I have always used yellow tops in my race car and trailer. I used a Battery Tender 5amp charger. If you charge it over night you will be good to go. If you have an alternator you can race a whole nat. or div. race without touching it. If you use a big sears charger just watch the voltage.

Is any charger that is rated for AGM good to use on Optima batteries?

[Mark Ugrich]

Originally Posted by Tim H

Likely referring to a slow charge on 2 amp or similar ?

I usually slow charged the week before I went to the track. I don't run an alternator, so there was more than one time between rounds when I'd put the thing on kill until I had a fully charged battery.

[2021STK]

With the higher end "S" brand charger I've noticed a voltage creep going beyond the normal 13.2-14V up to and over 16V at times with 2 different chargers. If I catch it, unplug the charger and plug it back in it'll stay at less than 14V from then on. I mentioned this situation to a couple of other racers and they found they had same creeping problem. This also happened on lead acid batteries that I was charging over night and the acid was boiling by morning. Now I won't leave a charger running, only a battery tender. Please stay aware!

[Ed Fernandez]

I bought an Optima red top for my gremlin about 6-7 years ago.If I wasn't racing for a few weeks or more I hooked it to a Battery Tender.In the winter it stayed in the car in my trailer hooked to the BT.Eric M.still has it in the car.Keep it trickle charged Eric,it will go for a few more years.

[Rusty Davenport]

Chuck........keep the Honda battery in the front and the regular battery in the rear like it is....better measure those battery boxes before you jump on some of these suggestions.............get the Optima Red Top and forget it.

[Rory McNeil]

I must be a rare exception, I have had great luck with plain old wet batteries, my favorite being a DieHard., although the Interstate in my Mustang has been working great for 5 years. I just put the battery on a 2 amp charge the night before leaving home, and I`m good for the weekend. Both my cars do have functioning alternators. Ans speaking of DieHards, I installed a new 27 series DieHard under the hood on my F350 in May 1999, and the damn things still in there. Even after being parked outside all winter, in the spring it has always started the engine without a charge, although I can`t imagine it can last too much longer.

[442OLDS]

Originally Posted by Rusty Davenport

Chuck........keep the Honda battery in the front and the regular battery in the rear like it is....better measure those battery boxes before you jump on some of these suggestions.............get the Optima Red Top and forget it.

BATTERIES
Must remain in stock location and be of sufficient capacity to start
car at any time. Second battery permitted if securely mounted in
trunk. Must be automotive type. Both batteries must be same type,
size, and weight. See General Regulations 8:1.

[Mark Ugrich]

I tried deep cycle marine Die Hard batteries. They would last a year or so. Again this is with no alternator. However when used with an alternator they're hard to beat. All four of my street cars have one. I've had a couple last over 5 years!