Charging Optima battery

[Ryan Singh]

Anyone know of a place that knows what they're doing with these?

These batteries are crazy robust and I know it can't be garbage. Have done lots of reading up on it and there's a way to properly charge them however, I don't want to sped the money to get a volt meter and a secondary battery to trick the charger in doing so. I'm wondering if anyone has dealt with a shop that is familiar enough with these to charge it properly?

Thanks,
Ryan

[Marke Bailey]

You need a ctek charger to do it right. They are not too expensive and can get them at scrappy tire I think

[Ryan Singh]

Thank you sir! I will check today.

[Brett Haviland]

yeah pretty much any gel cell you don't want charge at over 14.5 ish volts, or it can cause damage to the battery.  We have the newer style chargers at work that limit the voltage output to protect AGM and gell cell batteries from overcharge condition.

[John Hartman]

Shumacher chargers will also do it.  many ones like the ctek and Shumacher etc.  Just a good modern "smart" charger.

one with manual settings for agm, gel and regular lead acid.  one with manual voltage settings and a good charge indicator are helpful. 

I think I payed the princely sum of $35 from walmart.  Had it for 5 years or so and its fine.  It also has polarity protection etc.

[Ryan Singh]

Thanks John,

Yeah I bought the one that Marke was talking about but still no dice. Got it up to a 10v charge but it cannot hold it. Dropped to around 9.1v the next day, then 8v that same day. Also, it got pretty hot during charging (not warm but hot), the manual says that if it gets hot there is most likely a short in the battery. I tried doing the second battery trick on the charger also but it did not help.

Sitting on it for now since it's been parked for a while anyway.

[John Hartman]

if it won't hold a charge, it won't hold a charge.  its pooched. 

a battery getting warmish during a charge is normal and ok, as long as its not hot. 

[Ryan Singh]

Yeah, I figured it's most likely dead...does not hold a charge and gets hot while charging.