kinda OT: what battery keeps the charge best?

[karl h]

acid filled or gel? want to load it with a solar panel and be able to start the car after months
thanx

[DKK Ted]

Gel, Optima, Red Top is what I use without failer. Drive my car almost once a month, starts like I just charged it.

Ted

[karl h]

thanx ted, i have a red top i can use
anyone else? maybe from a camper that sits over the winter?

[BeetleBug]

If you`re after a battery that will keep the charge for as long as possible and also have no problems with charging I would not consider the Optima Red Top. They do not store power for a long period and they do not handle charging well eiter. As a matter of fact I do not have any positive feedback at all on the red top. If you want a Optima battery I would rather look at the blue top deep cycle battery.

Some additional info about charging the Optimas;

Charging an Optima battery;

After handling the Optima product for 15+ years we would like to share the following:

See our NEW line of OPTIMA recommended Chargers (Battery Accessories)

Facts:
- Batteries are designed to store electricity.
- Batteries do not make electricity.
- Batteries must be charged before any testing is accurate or effective.
- Alternators ARE NOT battery chargers!
- Seldom to batteries discharge / re-charge on their own.
- Deep Cycle batteries will take much longer to charge.
- Battery chargers need to be tested and amperage and the voltage checked manually.
- Sitting a battery on concrete does NOT discharge it!

Battery charging instructions:

* Voltage at the battery terminals when vehicle is running should Be from a minimum of 12.8 volts to < 15.0 volts
* Battery chargers should charge 13.8 ? 15.50 volts,

Never charge a battery at > than 15.6 volts.

We recommend the following charging procedure for a 34, 34/78, 75/35, and 6v:

1) Charge the battery A MINIMUM OF 100 amps for 15 mins ( @ 14.5+ volts)
a) Let battery and charger cool for 15 mins
2) Repeat step one at least four times - after letting battery cool 15 mins after each charge
3) Charge at 2-10 amps (trickle / automatic) for 24 hours minimum
4) Test the battery
5) D31 batteries: repeat each step again

--> WE ALWAYS RECOMMEND CHARGING TWO BATTERIES AT A TIME- CONNECT THEM POSTIVE POST TO POSITIVE POST ? negative post to negative post) AND PUT THE CHARGER NEGATIVE CABLE ON ONE BATTERY AND THE POSITIVE ON THE OTHER BATTERY! (and DOUBLE CHARGING TIMES)

ALL Optima's need Charged up if they have been discharged, before testing!

We compare charging an Optima to waking a teenager up on Saturday morning, or filling an empty 55-gallon drum with water ? it?s going to take some work! 

Charging 10 amps on a drained 31 series battery is like filling a 55 gallon drum with an eye dropper!
Charging 10 amps on a drained 34/78 sries battery is like filling a 55 gallon drum with a 10oz cup - it can be done; but why?

Your alternator will not (and should not be used to) charge an OPTIMA up - unless you have a 100 amp alternator and less than 100 amp draw, and charge it for A long period of time with the car running. (and this will only ruin your alternator)


Experience indicates most batteries thought to be defective may have been discharged, and just need woke up ? and recharged,
Questions to ask before having battery tested:
How many amps is the alternator charging at full output?

How many volts is the alternator charging at full output?

How many amps draw is there on the battery, when application is NOT running?
(Put an amp meter between (+) cable and the (+) post of the battery)

Always use a voltage regulated battery charger with limits set to the above ratings. Overcharging can cause the safety valves to open and battery gases to escape, causing premature end of life. These gases are flammable! You cannot replace water in sealed batteries that have been overcharged. Any battery that becomes very hot while charging should be disconnected immediately. If the safety valaves have popped, warranty is void!
Thank you,
Technical assistance

If you want a really good battery I would look at the Genesis. They are light and far superior to any Optima battery I have tried. Search for Enersys Hawker Genesis.

Best rgs
BB

[karl h]

thanx, thats good info
maybe i should post the question more precisely: i want to trickle charge a battery with a solar panel to keep it charged for a startup for about three months. this solar panel is exposed to the sun in the mediterranean (lots a more sun the here in vienna). i got two gel type racecar batteries and an acid filled normal bug battery. which one to use?

[SteveW]

I know this is not strictly the answer you are after but a good battery shouldn't loose it's charge, I bought my Odyssey 925 battery a year before I fitted it in the car and it then started up first time with it. Over this winter I hadn't put it on charge since the last race meet in September and last week the car started up no problem!

[Harry/FDK]

thanx, thats good info
maybe i should post the question more precisely: i want to trickle charge a battery with a solar panel to keep it charged for a startup for about three months. this solar panel is exposed to the sun in the mediterranean (lots a more sun the here in vienna). i got two gel type racecar batteries and an acid filled normal bug battery. which one to use?

In that case, go for red Optima. My camper experience.

[dyno don]

After being introduced to the "optima" battery a number of years ago when they were first unveiled on the west coast i was at first impressed with the design/advertising/hard cranking amps..etc....BUT... after several years and many cars later and some knowledge after the fact from sources that have worked in the GEL battery ranks  i will probably never purchase another gel battery. Im sure there are those followers that use them where they were designed to perform well such as in confined areas or in an off road car where acid spill is critical but I have personally taken care of several car collectors prized collections and my biggest piss off is not being able to start,  move, or to be able to work on a car with  a dead battery...period..!!  More than enough times ive wrestled with electrical issues only to take the battery out..gel type..and have it tested for charge/and the machine will often read (false-positive) that indicates  it is suitable for recharge and reservice...only to my disappointment time and time again. I have since purchased over the many years a ton of rebuilt and or new batteries at a fraction of the cost(example 49.95) vs. 150++) ...that has a 1 year warranty and 500 cranking amps (which is more than enough) that have all worked flawless provided there is no residual battery drain off such as an electrical clock or other to interfere with the service of the vehicle while in non operational mode. The best advice to anyone when it comes to any battery and its storage/either disconnect while not in service/or use a battery switch to cut the power while not in use/use a trickle charger/or use a bitchin solar panel...with a good ol' fashion" acid infused "battery..!!  Good luck with whatever you do/its all good...solar rocks..!!

[danny gabbard]

WHAT !! They had beer at the rallies ?

[karl h]

thanx guys thats valuable info, especially from don. i habe made a special socket to plug in the solar panel (cheap alltogether with the relais that prevents overcharging - i know this is overkill, but i got it anyway) and disconect the battery from the car completely , but leave it in place. then i use two seperate lines from the socket to connect the battery to the panel. will see how this works over time

[Donny B.]

Years ago when I owned a watercooled VW I was talking with a service technician and was told that all VWs delivered to the dealership that they had a solar panel sitting on the dash with the other end plugged into the 12v outlet (cigarette lighter socket) to keep the batteries charged.  They just threw them away at that time.  I would sure like to get my hands on a couple. 

[dyno don]

how many do you want..??  well...last summer i was down at the docks and my friend came over to my boat with this sheepish grin on his face and i asked him what he was grinning about..? He knew i was into vw's so he took me back to his boat where in fact he unveiled a stack (8)of dealership plug in solar type chargers that he thought would be interesting for me to have so i brought them back and they sat for the last year or so until as of 3/16/10 I disposed of them to someone else. Darn..!! i knew i should have saved them as they were so cool how they were made...approx. 12"x12"/18"x18"..?? (about the size of a laptop pc) flat with a dash jack to plug into a cigarette lighter socket and took up very little space. If i can get a hold of any more i will be more than happy to post for anyone interested..!! They are bitchin'..!!

[Donny B.]

I will take one or two depending o demand and price.

[Gary Justus]

how many do you want..??  well...last summer i was down at the docks and my friend came over to my boat with this sheepish grin on his face and i asked him what he was grinning about..? He knew i was into vw's so he took me back to his boat where in fact he unveiled a stack (8)of dealership plug in solar type chargers that he thought would be interesting for me to have so i brought them back and they sat for the last year or so until as of 3/16/10 I disposed of them to someone else. Darn..!! i knew i should have saved them as they were so cool how they were made...approx. 12"x12"/18"x18"..?? (about the size of a laptop pc) flat with a dash jack to plug into a cigarette lighter socket and took up very little space. If i can get a hold of any more i will be more than happy to post for anyone interested..!! They are bitchin'..!!

Put me down for TWO!...............................I'll even come down and pick'em up.

[javabug]

I've had one for a few years now, and while I use it sparingly they do seem to work well.

[karl h]

i found some at ebay real cheap, but ended up buying one at the local enectronic shop with a a seperate relais for about 50€