I have had to jump my rig a couple days ago from the cold cause my battery was weak. I trickle charged it last night and was wondering. If since it is still -12 outside should I trickle charge it every night after all day outside when it only has been reaching about 6 degrees? Or will that ruin my battery?
Battery Charging question
- Thread starter CruisinMT
- Start date
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If the trickle charger has a shutoff like a "float charger" it'll top off the charge and shut itself off until it needs more charge....That is a battery tender type situation that keeps it at optimal charge.....
A trickle charger without a shutoff really shouldnt hurt the battery but to be safe you could put a timer on that will turn on the charger a few hours before you need to crank....
A trickle charger without a shutoff really shouldnt hurt the battery but to be safe you could put a timer on that will turn on the charger a few hours before you need to crank....
You could also get a battery blanket style warmer. keeps the battery from dying in the cold. I suggest getting a block heater as well if you don't already have one. Both block heaters and battery warmers are pretty popular on base here in Great Falls.
If it's a gell cell battery (Optima or similar) then a "standard" charger may not provide a full charge. There are chargers with gell cell specific settings.
x2 on the battery blanket. Also, prior to charging: bring the battery into a suitable ventilated and heated work area; Allow ample time for the core temperature to acclimate; Charge while in this environment.
FYI: Seems kinda weird giving cold weather advice from Hawaii! Had to did back through the memories to the days of northern Michigan life!
Merry Christmas
x2 on the battery blanket. Also, prior to charging: bring the battery into a suitable ventilated and heated work area; Allow ample time for the core temperature to acclimate; Charge while in this environment.
FYI: Seems kinda weird giving cold weather advice from Hawaii! Had to did back through the memories to the days of northern Michigan life!
Merry Christmas
what about using a marine optima ( costco $159-) would that work better ?
I highly suggest staying away from Optima batteries.
whats wrong with gel batteries ? there just as recycleable....
Why stay away from Optimas? Because of the cold? Please elaborate.
I use Batterytender.com - Home of All Your Charging Needs Battery Tender Plus
A true float-type charger and my batteries are always 100%
+ they come with quick connect fittings making it easy to hookup every night
I went through 3 optimas in 3 years, and my squadron has gone through dozens of them.
My first one went dead after I was away for a month. Wouldn't hold a
charge after that, brought it to AutoZone where I purchased it and they
said it was done. My second one went dead as well after being away for
a while and it had been disconnected. I tried to trickle charge it. Nothing.
My last one I also had it disconnected and had it on a battery tender.
While I was away my wife informed me that the tender was blinking
fault. I had her reset it and it went straight to fault. The tender was
working fine but the battery was done.
As for my squadron's vehicles, they all have battery kill switches that
are switched off after every use. Most of the optimas were lasting about
2-3 months and would even crap out on vehicles that would be used regularly. In my
experience, they were a very unreliable battery.
The Air Force has since black listed the Optima brand from the air force inventory and my squadron now uses DieHard platinums. These batteries have proven to be very reliable so far. The DieHard platinum will most likely be my battery of choice when I have to replace the one in my Titan.
My first one went dead after I was away for a month. Wouldn't hold a
charge after that, brought it to AutoZone where I purchased it and they
said it was done. My second one went dead as well after being away for
a while and it had been disconnected. I tried to trickle charge it. Nothing.
My last one I also had it disconnected and had it on a battery tender.
While I was away my wife informed me that the tender was blinking
fault. I had her reset it and it went straight to fault. The tender was
working fine but the battery was done.
As for my squadron's vehicles, they all have battery kill switches that
are switched off after every use. Most of the optimas were lasting about
2-3 months and would even crap out on vehicles that would be used regularly. In my
experience, they were a very unreliable battery.
The Air Force has since black listed the Optima brand from the air force inventory and my squadron now uses DieHard platinums. These batteries have proven to be very reliable so far. The DieHard platinum will most likely be my battery of choice when I have to replace the one in my Titan.
Wow!
It may seem obvious but under what environmental conditions were these optimas used?
I have to admit that at work & play the only optimas we had go bad were disconnected/shelf spares! However, I would fall short of condemning all gell cells. Gell batteries do require different charging equipment to obtain a "full" charge. there in may be part of the cause.
FYI: No affiliation whatso ever with the Optima brand other than purchasing/running them in several vehilces. Interestingly enough, none with battery isolation switches(that are routinely shut off).
It may seem obvious but under what environmental conditions were these optimas used?
I have to admit that at work & play the only optimas we had go bad were disconnected/shelf spares! However, I would fall short of condemning all gell cells. Gell batteries do require different charging equipment to obtain a "full" charge. there in may be part of the cause.
FYI: No affiliation whatso ever with the Optima brand other than purchasing/running them in several vehilces. Interestingly enough, none with battery isolation switches(that are routinely shut off).
Temperate climate. Montana, low 100s in the summer/-40 winter. Most battery issues were in the winter, but some were in the summer as well.
Right. There have been some evidence that Optimas need to be charged a special way an this and that on line, but the rep told us that that is not the case. Sure there have been a lot of people that have had no issues with their Optimas, but the company's overall reliability marks were low enough for the contract to be terminated and the product black listed from our inventory.
With my experience, I would just suggest that people look for another reliable brand of battery. Though my experiences are mainly on the red tops, I don't see how the other models (yellow, blue) would be any different in terms of reliability when they are pretty much munufactured the same. I could be wrong though.
There is a lot of mixed opinions about these batteries if you happen to search the net, but there are a lot of negative comments about them regarding them keeping charge or just plain dying unexpectedly.
PabloCruise
SILVER Star
Does your carb cooling fan still function?
The battery in my 40 is always more fickle than in my Pig (3FE) or in my Honda for starting in the same conditions.
I have my carb cooling fan still working in the 40 and it comes on, even in the winter, after a run at full temp.
I am convinced it is less than optimal for the battery to be discharged by the fan after shutting off the engine (and charging system)
I do not pull my battery and let it warm up before charging. I simply put the trickle charger on. I wonder if I am harming the battery?
The battery in my 40 is always more fickle than in my Pig (3FE) or in my Honda for starting in the same conditions.
I have my carb cooling fan still working in the 40 and it comes on, even in the winter, after a run at full temp.
I am convinced it is less than optimal for the battery to be discharged by the fan after shutting off the engine (and charging system)
I do not pull my battery and let it warm up before charging. I simply put the trickle charger on. I wonder if I am harming the battery?
PabloCruise
SILVER Star
Never mind about the fan - just saw you are probably writing about a '67...
Bodean
Hot Damn
I can also say that we have had terrible luck with optimas in all of our squadron vehicles. We probably have to jump off several vehicles a week. Several have battery shut off switches. As posted above our unit has gotten away from them as well. I can say that I have a red top (that was free) in my 40 that has been in there for 2 years with no problems. Won't buy one whe I replace though. Just my .02.
Later,
Later,
I went through a few Optimas in a short period of time, gave up and went to Exide Orbital from Napa.
Just as expensive as Optima, only marginally more reliable.
The regular lead-acid Interstate that came in my '93 when I bought it in 2004 (and it was old then) is still going strong after bouncing around 3 different trucks.
The un-spillability is the only reason I still consider spiral-wound gel cell batteries.
I've noticed that my 40, which can sit for 1-2 months at a time seems to kill Optimas and Exide Orbitals frequently. Seems like the gel-cells just don't like to sit for awhile unused.
Just as expensive as Optima, only marginally more reliable.
The regular lead-acid Interstate that came in my '93 when I bought it in 2004 (and it was old then) is still going strong after bouncing around 3 different trucks.
The un-spillability is the only reason I still consider spiral-wound gel cell batteries.
I've noticed that my 40, which can sit for 1-2 months at a time seems to kill Optimas and Exide Orbitals frequently. Seems like the gel-cells just don't like to sit for awhile unused.
I used to do that with a spare battery, carry it out, hook up jump leads and carry it back into the shed.
Anyone use the small jump start "power packs" they seem to do the job if fully charged, not much in them if it doesn't go quick there no good but if it's a good starter just cold that might work.
I have had the same Optima red top in my cruiser for 8 years and it still starts fine. I have never had any significant problems with any other batteries, even the cheap ones, but I was looking for a gel cell battery for the cruiser in case it went rubber side up.
YMMV
YMMV
