Optima batteries

Both optimas are under the bonnet. The yellow top and blue top are both deep cycle batteries but one of the very few batteries you can use as a cranking battery. They will quite happily go down to 10.5 volts and recharge fully.

Was using lead acid and calcium batteries prior to optimas and they were only lasting 18 months. Since replacing with optimas have had no problems. Now run two blue tops under the bonnet.

that's fantastic!

Obviously they're being charged by the alternator only, or do you give them an occasional boost charge with a mains charger?
Do you happen to know what your alternator voltage looks like?
What model car/truck?

Best, Peter

Peter,

I have been at work for the last week and we have problems replying to each other, without worrying about the outside world.

I might be able to answer some of you questions.

I run a red top and a yellow top in parallel with a simple old isolation switch between. I start on both and if I require isolation of the yellow top I just throw the switch to run the fridge at night.

Now to get down to the nitty gritty about charging and conditions.

Both battery's under bonnet, with the 6.5l chev the temp is cooler than a 2h engine, with the 2h and a yellow top under the bonnet(ex winder radio battery, that was used on a winder skip for 2 years, then changed out, because it is a critical piece of equipment) it lasted another 6 years with only the engine alternator charging it. That battery finally died when a post broke of in extreme corrugations (one of their failings)

Another yellow top used, I retired it due to it's age (8yrs), about 12months later I jump started the son's car with it (5L brock motor). I had kept it charged on a smart charger, charging it about every 4 or 5 months. I still have this battery sitting in the shed and use it now and then.

Now to the present, again I have a used yellow top winder skip battery, this is what you require.

Battery spent 2yrs on a smart charger (winder skips) + 60 degrees C (sun) to 0 degrees C.

Then into vehicle, Alternator charge voltage 14.2v
Smart charge once every every day for 1 hour in the early morning. (13.8v set on gell cell). I am away a lot and this is the eason for the charger.

I live in central QLD where the temps are always high in the summer months, this doesn't seem to have affected the battery's. The first 2 years of the yellow top lives are subjected to extreme temps, plus vibration during the skip landing, about 400 times in 24 hours.

Hope this has helped, it is not a scientific evaluation, just nuts and bolts.

Have a good one