# Optima batteries **URL:** \ **Category:** PittSpeed Off Topic\ **Created:** [December 22, 2008, 9:18am UTC](https://forums.speedlife.net/t/optima-batteries/201189 "2008-12-22T09:18:52Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![77rednecktruck](https://yyz2.discourse-cdn.com/flex034/user_avatar/forums.speedlife.net/77rednecktruck/32/5966_2.png) [@77rednecktruck](https://forums.speedlife.net/u/77rednecktruck)\ **Post date:** [December 22, 2008, 9:18am UTC](https://forums.speedlife.net/t/optima-batteries/201189/1 "2008-12-22T09:18:52Z")
Are they worth the money? I was looking at the red top for my vic, it doesn’t like to start in the cold anymore. ☹ ---
**Author:** ![bgblockelcamino](https://yyz2.discourse-cdn.com/flex034/user_avatar/forums.speedlife.net/bgblockelcamino/32/5997_2.png) [@bgblockelcamino](https://forums.speedlife.net/u/bgblockelcamino)\ **Post date:** [December 22, 2008, 9:26am UTC](https://forums.speedlife.net/t/optima-batteries/201189/2 "2008-12-22T09:26:54Z")
save your money. i have more problems with those than anything. better off with cheap battery. ---
**Author:** ![Jeff95TA](https://yyz2.discourse-cdn.com/flex034/user_avatar/forums.speedlife.net/jeff95ta/32/5935_2.png) [@Jeff95TA](https://forums.speedlife.net/u/Jeff95TA)\ **Post date:** [December 22, 2008, 9:27am UTC](https://forums.speedlife.net/t/optima-batteries/201189/3 "2008-12-22T09:27:10Z")
I’m with you. GP was dead this morning. I’m just going with the Advance Auto battery. ---
**Author:** ![77rednecktruck](https://yyz2.discourse-cdn.com/flex034/user_avatar/forums.speedlife.net/77rednecktruck/32/5966_2.png) [@77rednecktruck](https://forums.speedlife.net/u/77rednecktruck)\ **Post date:** [December 22, 2008, 9:40am UTC](https://forums.speedlife.net/t/optima-batteries/201189/4 "2008-12-22T09:40:46Z")
🆒 thanks for the input ---
**Author:** ![SoLow](https://yyz2.discourse-cdn.com/flex034/user_avatar/forums.speedlife.net/solow/32/6001_2.png) [@SoLow](https://forums.speedlife.net/u/SoLow)\ **Post date:** [December 22, 2008, 10:09am UTC](https://forums.speedlife.net/t/optima-batteries/201189/5 "2008-12-22T10:09:35Z")
i bought a Napa Dry Cell battery back when my truck was on the road…had good luck with it…great warranty on it too…it was like 100.00 ---
**Author:** ![OLDS\_ROCKETMAN](https://yyz2.discourse-cdn.com/flex034/user_avatar/forums.speedlife.net/olds_rocketman/32/5942_2.png) [@OLDS\_ROCKETMAN](https://forums.speedlife.net/u/OLDS_ROCKETMAN)\ **Post date:** [December 22, 2008, 11:24am UTC](https://forums.speedlife.net/t/optima-batteries/201189/6 "2008-12-22T11:24:22Z")
i noticed an instant difference with my red top but that was because i had a system. ---
**Author:** ![flyinglow57](https://yyz2.discourse-cdn.com/flex034/user_avatar/forums.speedlife.net/flyinglow57/32/5978_2.png) [@flyinglow57](https://forums.speedlife.net/u/flyinglow57)\ **Post date:** [December 22, 2008, 1:32pm UTC](https://forums.speedlife.net/t/optima-batteries/201189/7 "2008-12-22T13:32:46Z")
yeah go advanced battery for like 75 bucs. i got them in most of my shit that i have ever owned. and i always recommended them over our AAA batteries. ---
**Author:** ![imported\_Sleeper](https://yyz2.discourse-cdn.com/flex034/user_avatar/forums.speedlife.net/imported_sleeper/32/5939_2.png) [@imported\_Sleeper](https://forums.speedlife.net/u/imported_Sleeper)\ **Post date:** [December 22, 2008, 1:38pm UTC](https://forums.speedlife.net/t/optima-batteries/201189/8 "2008-12-22T13:38:10Z")
Waht CCA do you have in it now? Upgrade ---
**Author:** ![Jeff95TA](https://yyz2.discourse-cdn.com/flex034/user_avatar/forums.speedlife.net/jeff95ta/32/5935_2.png) [@Jeff95TA](https://forums.speedlife.net/u/Jeff95TA)\ **Post date:** [December 22, 2008, 2:41pm UTC](https://forums.speedlife.net/t/optima-batteries/201189/9 "2008-12-22T14:41:39Z")
On a side note, changing a battery should not involve 5 sockets, 2 extensions, a wrench, a pair of channel locks, a razor blade, and electrical tape. But yet it did. ---
**Author:** ![danhr](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/f4b2a3/32.png) [@danhr](https://forums.speedlife.net/u/danhr)\ **Post date:** [December 22, 2008, 2:56pm UTC](https://forums.speedlife.net/t/optima-batteries/201189/10 "2008-12-22T14:56:53Z")
I have a dead optima in my garage I have to take it to an authorized dealer to get it recharged… normal auto parts stores can’t do it. ---
**Author:** ![fmfkid250](https://yyz2.discourse-cdn.com/flex034/user_avatar/forums.speedlife.net/fmfkid250/32/5973_2.png) [@fmfkid250](https://forums.speedlife.net/u/fmfkid250)\ **Post date:** [December 22, 2008, 3:35pm UTC](https://forums.speedlife.net/t/optima-batteries/201189/11 "2008-12-22T15:35:13Z")
I have had good luck with Optimas, I would rock a redtop. ---
**Author:** ![Sight\_N\_Sound](https://yyz2.discourse-cdn.com/flex034/user_avatar/forums.speedlife.net/sight_n_sound/32/5950_2.png) [@Sight\_N\_Sound](https://forums.speedlife.net/u/Sight_N_Sound)\ **Post date:** [December 22, 2008, 3:40pm UTC](https://forums.speedlife.net/t/optima-batteries/201189/12 "2008-12-22T15:40:50Z")
I have used Optimas for various things, In my old car, I have used them at the flying field along with a lot of other guys to charge our radio equipment all day with out an issue. As for taking them to an autherized dealer to have them recharged what are you talking about? Guys that compete at car shows use there batteries specifically to show off their A/V stuff without needing a power converter. After they discharge them they take them home and charge them up. Winter time for storage all you need is a trickle / Float Charger and it will keep the battery fresh. If you shop around you can usually find them cheaper than trying to pick it up directly in a store like Advanced. Just my .02 ---
**Author:** ![danhr](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/f4b2a3/32.png) [@danhr](https://forums.speedlife.net/u/danhr)\ **Post date:** [December 22, 2008, 4:33pm UTC](https://forums.speedlife.net/t/optima-batteries/201189/13 "2008-12-22T16:33:21Z")
Most present day chargers won’t charge a completely dead optima, b/c there is very little resistance through the battery. So it will think there is no battery at all. If you call Optima’s tech line they say to parallel the optima with a good battery and hook it up to the charger. Or buy their own special optima charger or take it to an authorized optima dealer (usually interstate batteries or batteries plus) to have it recharged if you think i’m lying i’ll bring you my yellow top for proof. ---
**Author:** ![Silver\_WS6](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/c0e974/32.png) [@Silver\_WS6](https://forums.speedlife.net/u/Silver_WS6)\ **Post date:** [December 22, 2008, 5:03pm UTC](https://forums.speedlife.net/t/optima-batteries/201189/14 "2008-12-22T17:03:29Z")
walmart n call it a day ---
**Author:** ![Douche](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/b5ac83/32.png) [@Douche](https://forums.speedlife.net/u/Douche)\ **Post date:** [December 22, 2008, 5:10pm UTC](https://forums.speedlife.net/t/optima-batteries/201189/15 "2008-12-22T17:10:06Z")
^^im with him. Have a wally world battery in my Jetta and i havent had a problem starting it at all in the cold weather. ---
**Author:** ![Sight\_N\_Sound](https://yyz2.discourse-cdn.com/flex034/user_avatar/forums.speedlife.net/sight_n_sound/32/5950_2.png) [@Sight\_N\_Sound](https://forums.speedlife.net/u/Sight_N_Sound)\ **Post date:** [December 23, 2008, 4:23am UTC](https://forums.speedlife.net/t/optima-batteries/201189/16 "2008-12-23T04:23:06Z")
> [@Top 10 worst cars of the last 25 years](https://forums.speedlife.net/t/top-10-worst-cars-of-the-last-25-years/39153/2): > > Most present day chargers won’t charge a completely dead optima, b/c there is very little resistance through the battery. So it will think there is no battery at all. If you call Optima’s tech line they say to parallel the optima with a good battery and hook it up to the charger. > > Or buy their own special optima charger > > or take it to an authorized optima dealer (usually interstate batteries or batteries plus) to have it recharged > > if you think i’m lying i’ll bring you my yellow top for proof. Never said you were a liar, that is why I asked what you were talking about. I also told you what others have done over and over again which I have seen and/or done. I unfortunatly do not have my charger anymore, I only have my maintenance charger for my motorcycle which is hooked up now. This is directly from the site. Yes I know it doesn’t say from a completely dead battery (no charge whatso ever), but this is basically the same information echoed throughout looking it up. > QUESTION > > Can you trickle charge an OPTIMA? And what type of charger can I use? > > ANSWER > > Yes and you can use any charger on an OPTIMA as long as the voltage is regulated properly. If your charger will remain on indefinitely, the voltage should be at 13.8 volts maximum with a one amp maximum current. So I’m not sure what people are telling you or how this differs from your situation. :dunno: ---
**Author:** ![flyfishing3](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/f/aca169/32.png) [@flyfishing3](https://forums.speedlife.net/u/flyfishing3)\ **Post date:** [December 23, 2008, 7:52am UTC](https://forums.speedlife.net/t/optima-batteries/201189/17 "2008-12-23T07:52:58Z")
i’m using a red top and people marvill how quickly my car starts for a VOLVO(generally a longer start) i’m also using a MSD ing. 8.5mm plug wires, new plugs and cap but putting in the red top just made it that much better. i’ll continue using one. ---
**Author:** ![Blackbelt](https://yyz2.discourse-cdn.com/flex034/user_avatar/forums.speedlife.net/blackbelt/32/5998_2.png) [@Blackbelt](https://forums.speedlife.net/u/Blackbelt)\ **Post date:** [December 23, 2008, 8:13am UTC](https://forums.speedlife.net/t/optima-batteries/201189/18 "2008-12-23T08:13:33Z")
> [@FIOS cost savings?](https://forums.speedlife.net/t/fios-cost-savings/39154/6): > > walmart n call it a day Ah yes, the good old (n)everstart! ---
**Author:** ![SixSpeed454SS](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/e19adc/32.png) [@SixSpeed454SS](https://forums.speedlife.net/u/SixSpeed454SS)\ **Post date:** [December 23, 2008, 6:42pm UTC](https://forums.speedlife.net/t/optima-batteries/201189/19 "2008-12-23T18:42:52Z")
An Optima may work fine for a DD, but for something that sits, they are junk IMO. I wasted $$ on two redtops for my truck & I know other’s that have had the same bad luck with them. An Optima RedTop will be junk in a year. Don’t ever let it go completely dead, either. It’s life will be drastically shortened after 1 or 2 full discharge cycles. I wouldn’t waste my $$ on an Optima, especially at twice, sometimes 3 times the price of an auto parts store battery. I’d rather take my chances & possibly buy 2 or 3 batteries than spend $180 on an Optima. ---
**Author:** ![fah\_quad](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/f/ac91a4/32.png) [@fah\_quad](https://forums.speedlife.net/u/fah_quad)\ **Post date:** [December 23, 2008, 7:17pm UTC](https://forums.speedlife.net/t/optima-batteries/201189/20 "2008-12-23T19:17:32Z")
Red top shaved like 20 lbs from stocker for me. A little weight here and little there, and it helps. [Next page](https://forums.speedlife.net/t/optima-batteries/201189.md?page=2)