157dB

Mr. Optima
How do you charge a full discharged optima
with one of the new fangled switcher electronically
controlled battery chargers when the optima is
so dead that the new fangled charger does not even
recognize it as being hooked to the charger?

Get an old fashioned copper core transformer based
charger that dont contain the charging brains?
Just a transformer, a couple of diodes and a case
to contain them?

Optima Bill

Hi 157db,
My name is Bill, I certainly don't qualify to be Mr. Optima..haha
I didn't catch your name, so will address you by your usename. You don't have to use the newer battery chargers to recharge a deeply-discharged Optima. Here is a link to our youtube video that explains the correct way to recharge using your older style charger. Btw, as the video says, this method works for all AGM style batteries and it also says the more modern chargers, in general, with the AGM setting work fine. My personal experience has been my newer small charger does just fine. It may take 24 or more hours to recharge, don't be alarmed. We do like to caution people that do use the older style charger to be sure and keep the amperage to 10amps. More amps may damage the battery. AGM technology is different than the old batteries we have had for most of our lives and we want to make people aware of those differences. I do know our new Optima Battery chargers work great even with the deeply-discharged batteries too. They are new to the market but I am not here to sale anything.
I am not sure if your last paragraph was a question or answer. If it was an answer, it is your battery, charge it anyway you choose, however, I strongly suggest a charger with both amperage regulation and a timer so you don't overcharge or damage an otherwise recoverable battery. We see it all the time with returns that were overcharged by someone that thought they knew the correct way but didn't.
Thanks,
Bill Howell
eCare Manager, OPTIMA Batteries, Inc.

Nuke

After over 38 years of car, boat and camper ownership, I still can't bring myself to buy an AGM battery, Optima's in particular. I often get over 3 years from my lead-acid deep cycle batteries (and I used to tournament fish every month in addition to all the "other" fishing) and 6 years+ for almost all of my automotive batteries. Why I'd want to spend 2X the $$ for AGM is beyond me. Delco and Interstate are my go-to batteries...

157dB

I charge by voltage, not amperage.
I have custom turn-on and turn-off voltages
that are fully adjustable. 15 turn trim pots rule.
A couple of op amps and an opto isolator for
the 120V to the charger and it comes on
and goes off when I went it to.
Whats the correct turn-on/turn-off
voltages for a AGM battery?
And yes I do a 15V cell equalizer charge once
in a while.

07GrabU

Well I'm on my 5th year of my oem battery,Still going strong.but I use a battery tender for winter storage. I looked into pricing at the dealer and when you turn in the old one, you'll get $18 bucks off a new one, so basically $100 bucks for a new motorcraft battery. Not payin double that, plus a red or yellow battery wouldn't look right in a Grabber Orange car. Lol

Optima Bill

Hi dB157,

I'm glad to hear you have found a method of charging that works well for you. I cannot speak for other AGM manufacturers, but I did ask one of our engineers if we could go into more detail on our charging algorithms. He indicated that beyond the basic charging information we already provide, which can be found here, if someone would like more detailed information on the charging profiles we use on our charger, they are welcome to buy one of our chargers and analyze it for themselves. I hope this helps.
Thanks,
Bill Howell
eCare Manager, OPTIMA Batteries, Inc.

157dB

Pay for proprietary info?
I think not.
You guys are no smarter than I am.
Logarithms...

///Moose

Good choice, I got a red top when my battery was dying too and now I never have to worry

157dB

Except for that big ol MADE IN MEXICO stamp on it.

http://www.odysseybattery.com/
They even give you the charging profile of their chargers unlike Optima.
Made in the good ol USA by hard working people just like you who need the work.
Not farmed out to another country with no wage laws and cheap uneducated labor.
Lets keep our hard earned dollars in the USA folks.
They dont even pro-rate on their warranties. If it goes bad during the warranty
period, a free replacement is given no questions asked.
Ever looked at the country of origin stamped on the sides of your tires?