Optima life span?
 

I have a red top Optima which I installed in 1-01. It shows signs of
diminished capacity. Is 3 yr. the normal life of these guys?

Re: Optima life span?
 

>I have a red top Optima which I installed in 1-01. It shows signs of
>diminished capacity. Is 3 yr. the normal life of these guys?

There are many variables that affect battery life (heat, cold, the number of
times the battery has been discharged due to voltage drains, method of
charging, etc.)

I have heard of Optima's lasting 5 years+, but the longest any of mine have
lasted is 4 years.



Robert Bills
KG6LMV
Orange County CA

http://www.outdoorwire.com/4x4/jeep/...p-l/billsr.htm
http://www.RobertBills.com

Re: Optima life span?
 

>I have a red top Optima which I installed in 1-01. It shows signs of
>diminished capacity. Is 3 yr. the normal life of these guys?

There are many variables that affect battery life (heat, cold, the number of
times the battery has been discharged due to voltage drains, method of
charging, etc.)

I have heard of Optima's lasting 5 years+, but the longest any of mine have
lasted is 4 years.



Robert Bills
KG6LMV
Orange County CA

http://www.outdoorwire.com/4x4/jeep/...p-l/billsr.htm
http://www.RobertBills.com

Re: Optima life span?
 

>I have a red top Optima which I installed in 1-01. It shows signs of
>diminished capacity. Is 3 yr. the normal life of these guys?

There are many variables that affect battery life (heat, cold, the number of
times the battery has been discharged due to voltage drains, method of
charging, etc.)

I have heard of Optima's lasting 5 years+, but the longest any of mine have
lasted is 4 years.



Robert Bills
KG6LMV
Orange County CA

http://www.outdoorwire.com/4x4/jeep/...p-l/billsr.htm
http://www.RobertBills.com

Re: Optima life span?
 

Seems to be.

Mine that was made in 00 won't hold a charge overnight anymore.

I was thinking on seeing if it had just boiled dry and trying to
re-hydrate it.

They are lead acid, but all the acid is held inside the plates. I
figure if they get cooked by an over charge, the plates will likely dry
out the same as any lead acid battery.

I am going to try pouring some distilled water in the vents and see what
happens.

Mike
86/00 CJ7 Laredo, 33x9.5 BFG Muds, 'glass nose to tail in '00
88 Cherokee 235 BFG AT's

Dalewhite wrote:
>
> I have a red top Optima which I installed in 1-01. It shows signs of
> diminished capacity. Is 3 yr. the normal life of these guys?

Re: Optima life span?
 

Seems to be.

Mine that was made in 00 won't hold a charge overnight anymore.

I was thinking on seeing if it had just boiled dry and trying to
re-hydrate it.

They are lead acid, but all the acid is held inside the plates. I
figure if they get cooked by an over charge, the plates will likely dry
out the same as any lead acid battery.

I am going to try pouring some distilled water in the vents and see what
happens.

Mike
86/00 CJ7 Laredo, 33x9.5 BFG Muds, 'glass nose to tail in '00
88 Cherokee 235 BFG AT's

Dalewhite wrote:
>
> I have a red top Optima which I installed in 1-01. It shows signs of
> diminished capacity. Is 3 yr. the normal life of these guys?

Re: Optima life span?
 

Seems to be.

Mine that was made in 00 won't hold a charge overnight anymore.

I was thinking on seeing if it had just boiled dry and trying to
re-hydrate it.

They are lead acid, but all the acid is held inside the plates. I
figure if they get cooked by an over charge, the plates will likely dry
out the same as any lead acid battery.

I am going to try pouring some distilled water in the vents and see what
happens.

Mike
86/00 CJ7 Laredo, 33x9.5 BFG Muds, 'glass nose to tail in '00
88 Cherokee 235 BFG AT's

Dalewhite wrote:
>
> I have a red top Optima which I installed in 1-01. It shows signs of
> diminished capacity. Is 3 yr. the normal life of these guys?

Re: Optima life span?
 

"Dalewhite" <dalewhite@aol.com> wrote in message
news:20031204081100.07996.00000099@mb-m16.aol.com...
> I have a red top Optima which I installed in 1-01. It shows signs of
> diminished capacity. Is 3 yr. the normal life of these guys?

I had one of these in my '94 YJ for 5 years and it was still going strong
(replaced by yellow top). I put it in my neighbors old daily driver CJ in
'01 and it's still going strong.

Re: Optima life span?
 

"Dalewhite" <dalewhite@aol.com> wrote in message
news:20031204081100.07996.00000099@mb-m16.aol.com...
> I have a red top Optima which I installed in 1-01. It shows signs of
> diminished capacity. Is 3 yr. the normal life of these guys?

I had one of these in my '94 YJ for 5 years and it was still going strong
(replaced by yellow top). I put it in my neighbors old daily driver CJ in
'01 and it's still going strong.

Re: Optima life span?
 

"Dalewhite" <dalewhite@aol.com> wrote in message
news:20031204081100.07996.00000099@mb-m16.aol.com...
> I have a red top Optima which I installed in 1-01. It shows signs of
> diminished capacity. Is 3 yr. the normal life of these guys?

I had one of these in my '94 YJ for 5 years and it was still going strong
(replaced by yellow top). I put it in my neighbors old daily driver CJ in
'01 and it's still going strong.