How to Charge an Optima AGM Battery
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- Опубликовано: 8 фев 2017
- An AGM battery can be charged without using an AGM specific charger. But if you want your battery as perfect as possible, its much better to use the proper one.
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This five year old video just taught me something I did't know about all my red top batteries. Thank you!!
Great video!!!👍👍👍 It totally makes since, if you don't have the right equipment for certain products you will not get good results!!! And that's the case with OPTIMA BATTERIES!!! I have owned two of them and they have lasted me well over three years!!! Part of the secret to their long time life span is to maintain them properly charged with an AGM OPTIMA CHARGER!!! That's very simple but many people don't want to invest the money in a proper AGM charger to charge the battery when it needs to be charged!!! Once again great video it was very informative especially for those of us who like to spend the extra money to buy an OPTIMA BATTERY!!! To me they are one of the best in the market!!! If you want good quality stuff you have to spend the extra money for it!!! Plain and simple!!!💰💰💰
Thanks for the comments Jose!
Thumbs up for the sneaky magpul sticker.
;-)
Awesome tip. Would have never thought of doing that.
Thanks for the comment Mikey! Exactly why I made this vid. I found out about it, felt like more folks could use it!
I had an Optima yellow top in my caravan and it was allowed to discharge down to 4.5 volts (I didn't understand batteries). Tried the two battery jumper leads trick and it got to 5 volts (got quite warm). Couldn't save it, bought another one and a modern two stage charger which I've hooked up in my caravan permanently (when I have mains power anyway). Have a dcdc charger in my jeep on another yellow top in the back. Installing a solar panel on the roof of my van for when I don't have mains power. I know a lot more about battery care thanks to youtube videos like this one. I hope I know enough.
Thanks for the Story David. (resisted the 'cool story bro) My best method of learning is thru experience and researching what I need to do to solve my problem. I'm no guru, just learned something cool. Do you still have the old yellow top? Unless it's shorted out, I'd be interested to see what that modern charge (AGM compatible) could do with it.
Thank you! Im finally convinced to get the Optima charger.
Appreciate the video. I'm not much of a mechanic. But like to keep my stuff in good condition.
For me this was helpful. Appreciate it.
Exactly why I started doing these. I enjoy learning about this stuff but can't alway find all the information I would have like to have. I'll have another one out soon.
Good stuff. Glad I watched. Gonna buy one. Thanx!
Beautiful Trans Am
Just got a cheapo china AGM battery charger but definetely will get this optima battery charger, thanks for the video
Nice Firebird Trans Am.
I just got a new Red Top Optima that came 80% charged. I have a Schumacher 2/5/15 amp charger that has an agm setting and it charged it 100% and showing 12.9 volts in about 3 hours. Let it sit for 24 hours and still measures the same.
I also have a 7 year old Exide group 24 agm battery that was still going strong but went down to 5% charge for a couple days because i left the interior dome light on. Hooked it up to my charger and it charged it back up to 100% at 12.6 volts and is now going strong again.
Until something better comes along, i will always get an agm battery. There is zero corrosion and acid buildup at the terminals. Also because i believe it's less prone to explode from an accidental spark. Though it may be rare, i witnessed a battery explode upon starting the engine. It sounded as loud as an m80. Luckily the hood was down but battery acid was all over the place. Had you been looking at the engine with the hood up your eyes probably wouldn't have stood a chance.
Thanks for the comments Marvin. I find myself liking them more and more. I've just had so many lead acid batteries die with no resurrection available. Even if an AGM sits for a long time you can bring it back to nearly 100%.
Nice FBird. Like earlier 80’s models of the T Top Mustangs which are way more rare. You don’t need a license to drive her but you do need a mullet 🍻
Nice video. I'd lose the background music, though.
I had 1 of Optima 400 . Like what you said . Deltran charger shown 100 % fully charged
When I connected Optima 400 it’s green light indicated show 75% . For a while until the
Green light 100 % lit . I trusted Optima 400 more than Deltan or Schumacher . Thanks
Very useful information; thank you!
Thank you for your video you just convinced me to buy the optima 400 recharger. Was about to get rid of my YellowTop battery.
Mine is still running strong and now I hardly keep it on the charger. Who knows how long it will last but so far its just as new.
My optima would only go to 75% the battery wouldn’t hold charge. The new optima battery is no good.
@@B2stunt1 Don't get rid of it. When you can, leave it on the charger for a long time.
@@thegarageclinic3161 I had it on for almost a week. Wont get past 75%. I'll try again
800 MH worked great for my 8 YO red top. Was about 9 now reading 13.9 and it’s green on the charger. Keeping a close eye on it. It’s been 3 days. First it charged up to 12.4 then shut off then two days later I see green light and now charge up to 14. It’s the battery tender jr.
the beauty of AGM
Ok trickle finishing this AGM, it sat dead at copart in like 2018 its still going good.
I had 3 Trans Ams 2 Gold 1 black built a 403 292 COMP cam Radical . I have a 73 blue formula 🦅🕊 . U.S. Polo 🇺🇸
🔥🐔
You did not increase internal resistance by paralleling another battery, you reduced resistance. But you gave the charger a reference voltage it could recognize. Many chargers, automotive and others, will not start if the initial battery voltage is too low.
Thanks!
Damn. I need an electrical engineering degree to understand if a new $400 Optima is better than my old traditional battery. Fuck this.
Buyer be aware!! Just to let everyone to now this. I have the digital 1200 battery charger. It fell of the stand the other day and the plastic handle broke. I called optima to buy a new handle and they DO NOT SELL PARTS FOR for me to fix it. It's so great having a expensive charger and can't fix it!
I'm having this issue with a red dot optima.I bought the charger that was recommended but every morning I have to recharge,battery is only 6 months old.Can I just hook up jumper cables from 1 car from another over night with vehicles turned off of course .Like to hear from you thanks.
Today you purchase a Noco Genius 5 or 10 and it will recover AGM flooded or lithium without issue down to zero volts.
Hello, thanks for the video. I have read bad reviews about the display that goes bad. Have you experienced anything wrong with the display? Thanks
I've not had any malfunctions with the display, however I do find it a little hard to read sometimes but that is more a function of my eyes than the screen.
how did it go. mine die at about 6V I was working on my van and let the ACC ON over night. I hook up this small viking charger it went up to 10.15 when It give me. failure sing in the status LCD. I was using the AGM mode at 8 Am. I may take remove it and take it to the auto parts..
It lasted for years afterwards until I replaced it chasing another issue. It was not the battery, but I have a new one now.
Great video.
Another Pontiac guy. Nice
Hell yeah!
I love your Trans Am
Thanks '87
I have a yellow top optima I got it on Craigslist 11 years ago for $100 never have a problem I use the car every day now with the quarantine i did not start the car for 3 weeks started right up my car shows the battery voltage on the dashboard (Deville 95) when the car seats for couple days voltage shows 12 V every day drive parked 12.2 engine running voltage move between 13.5V and 14V is there something wrong with the battery any suggestions much appreciate it thank you
great video sir thk u
I hope it helped.
MY AGM has depleted. So i have a stinger battery charger. It has the option for AGM. That said after i connect the good battery to the AGM battery via charger cables do i set my battery charger on AGM setting or conventional battery being the jumper cables are also hooked up to my good car battery which is a conventional battery?
I would try charging with the AGM setting first. This is all about using a non AGM charger to charge a very dead AGM battery. In THAT case you have to hook it up to a lead acid style battery to get the charger to work.
I disagree. I've done all of this, and even Optima's bigger, top of the line charger couldn't see my yellow top at all. I needed to buy a cheapo 4A slow charger to even be able to charge it at all, which is ridiculous. Their own top of the line charger couldn't see their own yellow top battery, not even giving me the option to override that and set that a yellow top is in fact connected.
this is the first time I've heard that. I believe I'd put a call in to Optima...
Hello again. Optima manual claims this charger does battery conditioning as one of the last stages. Do you know what is "conditioning"? Is it some sort of pulse charge desulfator stage? Thanks
Quick answer: Yes. If my memory serves, it has to be used as a maintainer, left on permanently. I believe if it is left on, then every 30 days it goes thru the process to remove the sulfates. Great for winter storage.
The only negative thing about the Optima 400 charger I've encountered is that the insulation on the wire leads will crack when subjected to below freezing temperatures! especially at the strain relief grommets near the unit!
Thanks for the comment. I haven't experienced that. Then again, I only use it in my garage that stays fairly temperate.
Can i charge it on manual mode on my charger? I don't have another battery to do this. But my optima is dead dead
I would contact Optima for their recommendations on that situation
The Optima Digital 400 may not be a good choice for all battery types though as I had found out via Optima representative over the phone. I told the rep that I wanted to try to resurrect a REDTOP 78 as well as recharge the current one (that's dying) in my vehicle he immediately recommended the Optima Digital 1200. The 400 is for smaller batteries.
Thanks for the comment DarcvexiS. I know the 1200 had a few more functions but the 400 has setting specifically for these batteries and has done a fantastic job at resurrecting this battery. I'll have to look in to that.
The 400 works for large batteries as well. It just takes longer. The Optima Digital 1200 is faster as it can deliver 250W of power, which is around 20 amps, almost 5x that of the 400. The 400 is probably not something you want to use in an emergency, but I think it's great if you want to resurrect the battery.
Actually, the 1200 is 12 amps. I guess the numbers name sense now. lol. 1200 for 12 amps and 400 for 4 Amps. Lol
Still, it's 3x faster. The 1200 would charge a fully depleted redtop in under 5 hrs while the 400 would take 15 hrs to achieve the same result.
@@joemann7971 Thanks joemann7971
I realize that this video is now 5+ years old but if you happen to see this comment what was the final resting voltage after being 100% charged?
Unfortunately I don't recall
what should I set my aims inverter charger to. boost 14.1 float 13.4 or boost 14.6 float 13.7 ???? thanks
Thanks for the note. I will say I am not an engineer, but I alternated boost with longer stints of trickle (float). There is a voltage (I think its 13.4) when the sulfate begins to break up, but I stayed and monitored it. If it starts to vent, its hot. It takes time. Safest thing to do is leave it on the low trickle charge for a long time. I would probably choose 13.4.
I have an old Sears battery charger with manual and automatic settings. I'm charging my Redtop at 2amps and 6volts on the manual setting. Will this work or do I need to kick the amps and volts up?
Thats what I was using. It's just a matter of how long it will take. I'm not an engineer, this is just a problem I ran into and researched how to solve. I've seen the Optima charger at 4amps, then drop to 2 amps when it gets fairly close to being full. Then it will drop to a maintenance level.
@@thegarageclinic3161 I successfully recharged my Optima Redtop Battery using an older Sears Diehard charger. Once I goosed it with a 6 volt 2amp on manual charge for 30 minutes I switched it to 12 volts 2amps automatic and let it charge for 24 hrs. Using the formula of 2amps per hour to achieve 48amps. The battery is good as new now. Ran my 06 Z06 for over an hour today, no problems.
@@edmusick7794 EXCELLENT!
Ed Musick I bought a Diehard battery Gold version few years ago even went with a bigger size and CCA. Had an accord i4, fitted a v6 size battery. The Diehard crapped out within 3 years. Got it at Sears went out of my way. Never again Diehard batteries are overrated. Maybe in the 90s they were good. Not anymore
The best way is from another full charge AGM battery and have a charger on the battery that is giving the charge to the dead battery or the one that needs to charge that's the best way
Does your AGM battery fully charge with the vehicles old school charging system?
Thanks for the question. That is the reason I got the Optima brand charger, to check that very thing. And the answer was NO. It did not. It made the battery very usable, but the dedicated charger took it to a full charge.
How do you know your chargers "fully charged trip point" is correct? A fully charged battery should be drawing around 200 to 300 milliamps when fully charged. I saw your charger trip at over 4 amps. I have checked several generic bulk chargers and they are not calibrated tightly enough. They are generally set to reach around 90 to 95 % to meet average tolerances for mass production units. The last 10% of recharge takes a long time for lead acid technology batteries.
You really don't. The original reason to do the video is because many people don't realize that using a regular charger on a depleted AGM will make it appear like the charger or the battery are bad. You can use this method to get it to a charged state. However, when I began using the OE charger, it showed the battery as not nearly fully charged. Over the next few months, the AGM came back strong and has been working perfectly ever since! Thanks for the comment!!
The thing that I don't understand is why they don't tell you that you need a special charger when buying these batteries! I guess they only see that $300 they are about to get.👿👿👿👿👿
Can u connect them together to run dauls or do they have to match
thats above my pay grade....
My fully charged AGM KINGS battery from Australia is fully charged at 13v and sometimes I get it to 13.2v
I charged my Red Top with a Canadian Tire moto master charger it took over 24 hours for fully charge .
Santos Jerez it took a while for the Optima charger to finish off the charge, even after I had it charged with the LA battery.
Great batteries in deed I had my Red top since 08, only had to charge it twice in my Nissan 350Z which is a summer vehicle. Today I bought the yellow top wow what a difference, I have a killer stereo system and my stereo play louder , honestly .
Just wonderful, I've been looking for "car battery dead cell repair" for a while now, and I think this has helped. You ever tried - Ammaceen Reconditioning Rabblement - (do a google search ) ? Ive heard some pretty good things about it and my cousin got amazing success with it.
@@santosjerez1586 Yellow top is specifically made for hugh drain systems.
cool bird!
Thanks P Bob!
Primitive Bob cool chicken on fire
Can I use an agm battery to jump start a regular flooded battery?
Yes
@@thegarageclinic3161 thank you for your response.
@@scottgardner5918 no worries, sorry it was so short, didn't mean to be curt. Thanks for the question.
£65 for that red top $'s sorry that is Cheap as chips i paid £180 for my over 14 years ago and i am experiencing the same problems but mine is reading 7volts and my charger was not up to the job. i just bought a 1.5 amp charger and i am hoping that it works otherwise i will have to get the optima charger. I tride the good battery bad battery in parallel and attached the charger to the good battery done this for two days but it keeps dropping back down to 7 volts.
+BlackJedi169 thanks for the comments. I suppose how rapidly it goes back to 7 volts will be the tell. The fun part to me is learning something I didn't know before. I got the screaming deal because the battery had been on the shelf for some time.
You probably have a lot of sulfation formed on the negative plates. You can try to keep repeating the charging / apply load over and over to try and loosen it up, but it's going to be a lot more difficult to get working again.
Junk that thing
I have a yellow top 51R in a '09 Honda Fit. It is the 7th battery I put in it and the 3rd Optima yellow top already. I bought the CTEK US 7002 and (according to the charger) it was completely charged but when I put it today back in the Fit it wouldn't start. I heard starting "electrical" noise but no cranking, it sounds like the starter is messed up... Right?
Some help please, kind of frustrated here :) HAPPY 2018 TO EVERYONE!!!
Hello Jose, thanks for the comment. There are too many variables in a system to possibly diagnose something over comments, but if you've replaced 7 batteries, (not sure the time frame), I don't think its a battery issue. You need to check all your connections, grounds, make sure any equipment isn't drawing current. I'd suggest a video that teaches how to use a multimeter to check your circuits.
Good luck!
Thanks for replying, today it started with a jump start from a tow truck. I guess I was too impatient and I didn't charge the battery to its full capacity. I will definitely check as much as I can with the multimeter and also take it to the Honda dealer. Thank you for your videos, keep it up!!!
Damn near a battery a year to start a 4 banger!!!! Hopefully u figured out where u are loosing power before u sacrifice another 10 batteries
Were you in the military?
unfortunately no. I grew up during the Vietnam war so all I knew was my mom talking about us moving to Canada when I was little. She was just scared, she lost her dad during WWII. From what I learned later in life, it probably would have been a great move for me. LOADS of respect for those that serve, served.
Just curious. Your garage looks incredibly clean. Traits of a marine....nice job.
@@raymerritt788 or a sick mind! I appreciate the compliment!
So, did it go to 100% or not, if not, then your other chargers did the job just as well......wasted money on a new charger.....also with your new charger. you don't know if it's 76% fully charged or 99% fully charged unless it goes to 100%, which i believe those AGMs never fully recover from total discharge, i mean, 9 volt is pretty flat in battery terms...
It did take it to 100%. However the battery would still discharge if off the maintainer for 4 or 5 days for a while. Leaving it on the Optima Charger recovered the charge completely. I can now leave it off of the maintainer for a month and it’s fine! Most certainly recovered the battery.
@@thegarageclinic3161 thanks...good result...all the best..
Shit video short on real info.
An AGM is a good choice, but Optima batteries have been way overpriced low quality Mexican junk since 2009.
I haven't got any experience with them prior to this one, but this one was on the shelf for a very long time which is why I got it so cheap. Since I made this video, it has completely recovered and is working perfectly. We'll see how long it will last. Thanks for the comment.
I have 2 of the redtops 34 and going on 6 years,....not a single problem