Optima Batteries

[Lockjaw]

Will my engine be able to charge one? They want alternator output of 13.8 volts or something like that.

I am looking a blue top for cranking and running the accessories on my boat.

[ChampioNman]

Yep should be fine it's not the voltage it is the amperage the stator puts out.

[Bassin Billy]

Haven't gotten a cranking yet, but now have 2 of my 3 trolling batteries in the Optima blue top. The big ones at that!! I HAVE noticed a difference in the life of my batteries. Bad part is they are $202 a piece...

[Go Hogs]

When I bought my '96 Stratos 201 this past March it had a brand-new blue Optima cranking battery. Some combination of my Evinrude 225 Vindicator and Dualpro charger killed it and I replaced with a conventional Interstate battery a few weeks ago. Not sure why it died, but that's my experience. New battery has charged and ran well so far.

[KellyJoe]

<TABLE WIDTH="90%" CELLSPACING=0 CELLPADDING=0 ALIGN=CENTER><TR><TD>Quote, originally posted by Go Hogs &raquo;</TD></TR><TR><TD CLASS="quote">When I bought my '96 Stratos 201 this past March it had a brand-new blue Optima cranking battery. Some combination of my Evinrude 225 Vindicator and Dualpro charger killed it and I replaced with a conventional Interstate battery a few weeks ago. Not sure why it died, but that's my experience. New battery has charged and ran well so far.</TD></TR></TABLE>

I went to replace my batteries a few months ago and just on a whim called DualPro before doing so. I wanted Optimas but the nice lady told me that my particular charger for my trolling batteries would have to be upgraded to charge the Optimas properly. She recommended the absorbed glass mat (AGM) batteries so that's what I bought. Maybe your charger wasn't up to the task like mine. This was for trolling batteries only.

[RGK]

Uh, I thought Optima was AGM batteries

http://www.1st-optima-batterie...y.asp

[KellyJoe]

<TABLE WIDTH="90%" CELLSPACING=0 CELLPADDING=0 ALIGN=CENTER><TR><TD>Quote, originally posted by Z21ROD &raquo;</TD></TR><TR><TD CLASS="quote">Uh, I thought Optima was AGM batteries

http://www.1st-optima-batterie...y.asp

</TD></TR></TABLE>

Maybe I got confused between gel and agm. When I specifically said Optima to the lady at Dualpro, she said go w/ agm so I did w/ Deka. Hell I don't know.

[jimh]

Optima-brand batteries are valve regulated lead-acid absorbent glass mat batteries. They are very sensitive to the charging voltage applied to them, just like all VRLA AGM batteries. Too much voltage during charging leads to loss of electrolyte from venting. Optima-brand are of special construction to give lighter weight and immunity to damage from penetration (as from a bullet or projectile). My local battery retailer that sells Optima brand batteries told me the price has risen in part due to very high demand by the United States military.

Advice given in this thread that the voltage is not important is very misleading. Too much charging voltage and an AGM battery will be forced into venting and loss of electrolyte, which will lead to very reduced capacity and life span.

[Lockjaw]

I think my charger puts out 12.8 or so. All I know is it has a setting for regular/agm, and some other kind of battery.

But, if the battery is as good as people say, I feel certain my engine would keep it fairly topped off. All it really will be running is a recirculation pump/aerator, and depth finders, and of course lights at night. I have a nucli-eye night light, so its no big power drain.

Edit, Charger puts out 14.6, then drops to 13.3 for float.




Modified by Lockjaw at 6:18 AM 10/20/2007