Optima Batteries-Good or Bad

Gary_in_Indiana · Aug 18, 2003

There was a thread I started quite a while ago when I was trying to decide what kind of battery I needed for my trailer wherein someone touted Optima batteries. I was interested enough to call the local Optima distributor since my regular battery supplier doesn't handle them. I told the Optima distributor who I was and that, while I was a truck dealer, I was interested in one of these for my tilt bed trailer and possibly another one later for my tractor.

He gave me a price on one but cautioned me that he thought I was wasting the extra money buying one over a more conventional battery. I went with a conventional deep cycle/starting battery and have been very, very pleased with it.

Understand here that I'm not saying Optima's are good or bad. I'm only telling you what I was told. They didn't say they were bad, either. They merely told me they thought they were overpriced and that they thought I'd be happier with something else.

WVBill · Aug 18, 2003

We've had the same problem with Fed-ex ground - they can't seem to remember how to get to our place. Each of three deliveries now, they've sent us a card asking us to CALL THEM and give them directions. The last time I called, as soon as they heard my voice they said "Oh! we remember now!". During this same period, Fed-Ex Air and UPS have delivered with no problem.

Fed-Ex ground is franchisees who may have nothing more than a magnetic stick-on Fed-Ex sign for their minivan. The Post Office is more reliable around here.

slowrev · Aug 18, 2003

were these 3 batteries all in the same vehicle ? If so it might be the vehicle.

timb · Aug 18, 2003

Don,

I too would like to know what happened to your Optima's.

I have personal experience with only one, no one else I know has ever bothered. But mine's been fine (actually ordered it throught Summit Racing) and I've never heard a discouraging word on Optima's (outside of price) anywhere.

I hope your experience was an unfortunate fluke - since otherwise I've had the Optima's on the short list of preferred upgrades.

Tim

GreenMtnMan · Aug 18, 2003

I'm curious about the comment that

"another almost exploded in the car" 

How does a battery "almost" explode? /forums/images/graemlins/confused.gif

Docsknotinn · Aug 18, 2003

Easy, Its an Iraqi Knock off. lol, just kidding of course !

slowrev · Aug 18, 2003

One time I had a battery almost explode. Was driving thru Kansas in my old Van and kept noticing my AMP gauge keeping creeping up, well it was 4:00 AM so I started looking for a place to stop. Found an exit and a K-Mart with Auto service. Stopped in the parking lot, by this time the AMP gauge was reading almost 60 Amps. !!! Opened the hood and the battery was smoking and extremely hot. I am sure one small spark and it would have gone up. Slept in the van until K-Mart opened the next morning, got a battery and went on my way. I guess the battery developed a short.

GreenMtnMan · Aug 18, 2003

I'm not sure if that's an almost explosion or an almost meltdown /forums/images/graemlins/smile.gif

dmftoy1 · Aug 18, 2003

( One time I had a battery almost explode. Was driving thru Kansas in my old Van and kept noticing my AMP gauge keeping creeping up, well it was 4:00 AM so I started looking for a place to stop. Found an exit and a K-Mart with Auto service. Stopped in the parking lot, by this time the AMP gauge was reading almost 60 Amps. !!! Opened the hood and the battery was smoking and extremely hot. I am sure one small spark and it would have gone up. Slept in the van until K-Mart opened the next morning, got a battery and went on my way. I guess the battery developed a short.
)

If your Ammeter was showing 60 amps, that's not the batteries fault that's a failure of the regulator in your alternator and the alternator overcharging the battery. (You were boiling the acid in the battery). The battery can't "increase" it's power output, it actually decreases with usage. (at least it can't increase it's output significantly . not sure what effect ambient heat/cold have on it)

Just my .02

Regards,
Dave

5030 · Aug 18, 2003

Actually, I read directions before I use something, that's a concept isn't it.

Before I put the Optima in the battery compartment of the Lance I read the directions and it stated the if you improperly charged the battery, it would get hot and gas off. The charger in my cmaper is designed for deep cycle batteries and taper charges them. I installed the battery and checked it after about an hour and it was all right.

The papragraph about improper charging procedures was full of cautions about possible hazards. I wonder if maybe the charging system that the fellow posted with the negative comment is overcharging the battery or putting too many amps into the battery causing it to heat up and gas off ?