Questions about my Optima red top battery and stored for the winter!

[N8Miller]

Ok,
this battery is 2 years old, i threw the charger on it the other day knowing the weather is gonna break soon. So, when i took the cables off it, it read 13.1 volts, this was like 10 days ago. So i checked it tonight and it read 11.1 volts. Shouldnt it be higher? It is stored in my basement which is like 60ish degrees on the regular.
I can trade it in on the pro-rate, but if it just needs to be ran a bit, i can do that too, I just dont want to throw it in and have it not start on me one day.

 

[cevtv]

From what I have been hearing, the Optima does not like to be discharged - it most likely won't take a full charge again after a total discharge.



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[N8Miller]

what is considered to total discharge?

 

[FORCED2DV8]

Optima has 2 battery's the yellow and the red. On is meant to be charged and discharged frequently, usually used in audio applications, the other one is just a standard dry cell performance battery. I would charge your battery on the car with more amperage going to it other than the 1 amp batt charger.
let it run or drive around for 20 min, then take it out test voltage in a day or so..

 

[fordman54935]

If the battery is only reading 11.1 volts it is probably toast. You could take it in to just about any chain parts store to get it tested for free to make sure.

 

[soylentgreen]

From what I have been hearing, the Optima does not like to be discharged - it most likely won't take a full charge again after a total discharge.

I don't know of any automotive batteries that like to be completely discharged. However, the Yellow Top (and various marine batteries ) are "deep cycle" which would give you better performance in this instance. Have a look at their web site...there is a TON of info on there...(and some nice Mustang photos).

http://www.optimabatteries.com/publish/optima/americas0/en/config/product_info/automotive.html

 

[SwAmPf0x]

I had the same problem with the red, if it goes dead its done, at least mine were.

 

[fastfive0]

nate the red top in my stang usually just needs to be run on the car like said in above post. But every year or two I just take it back to advanced and tell them its not holding a charge. I believe that the optima's are not pro-rated. They are direct replacements. I am on my 3rd and only ever paid for one. NO PRORATION!!