Saturday, Jul 28, 2012 at 16:06
Bill,
I will answer you about the batteries.
I had a top run out of both yellow top and red top Optima batteries for many years. We also have had a good run at work. These 10 year old batteries were in the same vehicle and under the same conditions as the ones that failed. One lot 10 years and the new ones haven't lasted 2.
The last redtop read fully charged voltage wise with a capacity of 1%. No need to tell you what that meant.
I have had 2 red tops fail now and have been away with no way of looking at any sort of warranty as my receipts were at
home 6000 kilometres away. I did kill another battery when I accidentally knocked the switch on the battery charger to power supply which I knew caused the failure and did not blame the Optima.
When the last redtop went the same age yellow top was only showing 60% capacity even though it had been on a staged charger 15 hours +.
I don't think I will be using them again because that little lot have cost me $900 so I can't risk it. Sorry once a product fails on me more than once I walk away.
The failed batteries were float charged every night for 1/2 an hour on a time clock so they were
well looked after. My alternator has no problems at all and charges at 14.2 volts.
FollowupID:
767420