So my 5 yr old Optima red top is failing, I think. It has a hard time keeping a charge during this last cold winter. I have a Schumacher SC-1200 automatic battery charger. The last couple of times I have stuck the charger on it has taken a very long time (12+ hrs) to get the battery back up to 100% from about a 50% charge. It usually has only taken about 2-4 hours to do this. How much longer can I expect the battery to last........? Trying to keep from buying a new one as long as I can as I am having some $ issues right now. Or is this maybe a charger issue?
Hard to tell how long a battery will last once it starts going south. Are there any odd things going on like the door locks seemingly having a mind of their own?
Which is least expensive, battery or rollback call out? I'm going on 7 years with my Advance Auto battery that's not showing any symptoms of failing.
I have heard, but not expierence myself, people haveing issue with Schumacher chargers with AGM "Optima" batteries. I had the same issue this past winter and got this NOCO Genius G7200 battery charger from AMAZON its freaking excellent. It brought my Red Top Optima back to life from the dead. [ame="http://www.amazon.com/NOCO-G7200-Automatic-Battery-Maintainer/dp/B004LWTHP2/ref=pd_sbs_auto_2"]Amazon.com: NOCO Genius G7200 12V/24V 7200mA Fully Automatic Battery Charger and Maintainer (Grey): Automotive@@AMEPARAM@@http://ecx.images-amazon.com/images/I/41IjTRBAPHL.@@AMEPARAM@@41IjTRBAPHL[/ame] Hope that helps you out. here are a few reviews: : NOCO Genius G7200 12V/24V 7200mA Fully Automatic Battery Charger and Maintainer (Grey) (Automotive) Made in China. OMG! This thing saved my 4.5yr old battery. I stupidly let my truck sit outside all winter without starting it or touching the battery and went to check/try to charge the battery this past month with my trusty Schumacher SSC-1500A. The best it could do was 80%/~12.4V. Tried my load tester on it. It was still showing as a bad batt. I picked up this G7200 as a hail mary. Tried the 13.6V Supply Mode first. Didn't help. Had to hit it twice w/the 16V Boost Mode and then it was able to charge it to 100%/12.9V! Hooked up my load tester and it passed as good. I did a few more Boost Modes over the next few days while checking along the way for progress with my battery analyzer. Resistance actually dropped from 11 to 5 (that's good as it's showing the lead plates de-sulfating)! Capacity went from nil to 90%! CCA went from nil to 600 out of 700 CCA's! Very impressive charger. : NOCO Genius G7200 12V/24V 7200mA Fully Automatic Battery Charger and Maintainer (Grey) (Automotive) I finally decided to purchase the G7200 after having to jump start my battery for the 3rd time. Had an old schumacher charger that can't charge a battery below 7 volts. Purchased the G7200 because of the supply function as it will charge a battery even down to zero volts! I know there are less expensive options out there, but for the features and functions of this charger, you can't beat the price. This review is from: NOCO Genius G7200 12V/24V 7200mA Fully Automatic Battery Charger and Maintainer (Grey) (Automotive) This charger is great with Optima batteries. Has a specialized charge mode just for AGM batteries. Also charges regular wet cell batteries too. I was also pleasantly surprised by the high quality of this charger. Very nice charger!
Sounds like I will get a new battery now and get a new charger later.....sheesh. Anyone else have any ideas?
Thanks Dave that looks like a nice charger. AGM batteries are very particular about how you charge them. Using the correct charger is important to their life expectancy. I have a Red Top in my MINI although as a daily driver the battery always has a charge. I have a Westco AGM in my Miata & use a Westco charger/maintainer. The Westco is 11 years old & going strong. CHARGR ACCUMATE
NOCO Genius also makes cheaper and more expensive chargers but this one met my needs and then some. :smile5:
The NOCO 3500 looks good too...........and more my price range right now. :biggrin5: Now about the battery. I am not dead set on another Optima, so what others would you recommend?
There are only a few battery manufacturer's. Any Group 34 battery from a reputable seller would work for me. Getting 5 years out of a battery is not bad. You might get more time out of it, & then again it may die at a bad time.
I have only used Optima Red tops and (1) Yellow top since the early 80's so I dont really know. Most times I would get a car but an Optima red top in and forget to remove it before I sold it. :mad2: I some friends of mine like Interstate and Sears DieHards.
I have heard of a few folks complaing about shorter redtop life since production moved to mexico from Colorado .... A different makes makes agm batts in the us....similar to optima... That will be my route...