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Optima battery - a miracle!!

Submitted: Monday, Jul 03, 2006 at 23:31

Bilbo

Hi all (again),

When I got back from my last expedition the other night, I was absolutely kernackered and inadvertently left the van plugged into the truck - with the van fridge still switched on. I remembered the next morning, shot oustide and pulled the plug and then checked the battery voltage - 4.6 volts!!

That's it I thought, a brand new Optima AGM battery kernackulated. It'll never recharge. But I gave it a go and wonder of wonder it came back up to 12.6 volts in 6 hours charging and has held 12.32 volts ever since!!

I don't ENTIRELY trust it (YET) and I'll be watching it closely until I go bush again in a few weeks time. But it's been holding charge so far and has been starting the V8 no probs fer the last 48 hours or so. I reckon that's flamin' miracle!!

Bilbo
Remember - "Tomorrow is todays best labour saving device!"
ThreadID: 35504 Replies: 5
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AnswerID: 181701   Submitted: Tuesday, Jul 04, 2006 at 00:17

Richard Kovac replied:

Hi Bibo

Good to hear all is going well.

We picked up the CV last weekend 11.5" Supreme Getaway check out PostID: 35272

Have you got a bp-60 battery Protector fitted to your Supreme or is it a new gismo?

I've settled down since the last post but also have not seen it for a week LOL

Richard
Camped under Mt Leisler
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FollowupID: 438010   Submitted: Tuesday, Jul 04, 2006 at 00:33

Bilbo posted:

Richard,

I'm not sure what the van has. The van fridge doesn't run off the van battery - your's will be the same. The fridge - on 12 volt - runs off the truck's cranking battery. Dangerous. Especially when, like me, I didn't have time to fit a low voltage cut out and relied on memory!

I'll check the van low voltage cut out and let ya know what it is.

Bilbo
Remember - "Tomorrow is todays best labour saving device!"
FollowUp 1 of 1
AnswerID: 181722   Submitted: Tuesday, Jul 04, 2006 at 08:34

Geoff (Newcastle, NSW) replied:


Bilbo,
If you look at the Optima specifications it'll probably show a certain number of 100% discharge cycles. If you've only done it once and then got the charge back in fairly quickly which it sounds like you've done then the battery will probably be Ok.

Geoff.

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Geoff,
Landcruiser HDJ78,
Grey hair is hereditary, you get it from children. Baldness is caused by watching the Wallabies.
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AnswerID: 181724   Submitted: Tuesday, Jul 04, 2006 at 08:40

Darian (SA) replied:

Hmmm....good one.....did you use one of those la-de-da 3 stage chargers or a low amp Kmart special ? and......... I have suggested MacQuarie Dictionary list your "kernackulated" for the next edition - very Oz that.

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By the time I'm too old to go bush, I'll have all my gear set up just right !
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AnswerID: 181751   Submitted: Tuesday, Jul 04, 2006 at 12:25

Member - Jeff M (WA) replied:

12.32v sounds a little low? It should be at LEAST 12.5v I should think, and that's after a 12 hour rest period... Perhaps a good 3 stage charger on it (as suggested) might be the go...

Surley if the Optima in the patrol was 4.6v, wouldn't the battery in the van be the same voltage (it would have to be wouldn't it?) so maybe worth a look at that one too.

Good luck with it, they are not a cheap battery to have to replace (even under warranty if it's over 12 months old).

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AnswerID: 181865   Submitted: Tuesday, Jul 04, 2006 at 22:18

Member - Phil G (SA) replied:

Hi Bilbo,
I think any lead-acid battery will do the same. But you must be relieved given the price of an Optima.
12.32v is low. May need to keep charging it for sometime to get it back to its best. A lot of that voltage may be surface charge.
Mt Finke
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