Charging an Optima Battery

jkcrosson

Well-known member
I've read that in order to charge an optima battery with a standard charger, you must charge through a standard battery to "fool" the charger. ie charger hooked to a standard battery and then jumpered over to the optima. Does this battery need to be a 6 volt also or will a 12 volt work. I have charged straight to the optima battery for several hours and only show a 25% charge.
 
I'm thinking about going this way, which Optima battery is recommended for our Model As? both 6 & 12 volt.
 
Mike is correct( actually Bruce Adams). You should use the same voltage battery 6v to 6v... 12v to 12v. I read that deeply dissed Optima can be hooked up to just another good battery and the voltage in the good will travel to the weak battery and equalize. Also don't use a charger over 10amp... Optimas tend to repel "hot" quick boosts. Advice: once the battery is charged at a usable point switch to a trickle charge, ie, 1 or 2amps and leave it. Charging units like Battery Tender are great for that AND maintaining full charge between long storage. Ron
 
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