Why Does my OPTIMA Battery Keep Dying?
Tips & Support
- Sponsor
- OPTIMA Chargers
- Location
- Glendale, WI
Does your OPTIMA battery keep dying and you're not sure why? We may be able to help. OPTIMA's REDTOP batteries measure about 12.6-12.8 volts when fully charged and YELLOWTOP batteries measure about 13.0-13.2 volts (BLUETOPs are the same, except for the 34M, which would be about 12.6-12.8V). We start this explanation of why OPTIMA batteries keep dying with voltage, because car battery voltage is really where many battery problems and their ultimate solutions can be found.
Most folks don't realize their 12-volt battery is probably about 60% discharged, if it only measures 12.0 volts. It may still be able to start an engine, even if it has been discharged below 12.0 volts, but batteries that have been that deeply discharged need to be fully recharged with a battery charger as soon as possible. The problem is that most people who are encountering problems with their OPTIMA battery dying never bring a battery charger into the equation. Instead, many just jump-start the vehicle with another battery or a jump pack.
That vehicle's charging system is then put under tremendous stress as it is asked to recover a deeply discharged battery before the engine is turned off again. That 15-minute drive is simply nowhere near long enough for that alternator to put enough current back into the battery, but it is long enough to superheat the alternator and cause permanent damage, that could shorten the lifespan of the alternator.
Because many of these batteries have never been properly recharged since the last time they were deeply discharged and needed a jump start, that same scenario ends up repeating itself over and over again, until eventually the battery needs to be replaced (expensive) or the alternator needs to be replaced (even more expensive). What can you do to break this cycle of your OPTIMA battery dying? Fully recharge it with a battery charger as soon as possible!
When your car runs out of gas and you put a gallon into the tank, what do you do next? You go find a gas station before you run out of gas again, right? If you do, then you should take the same corrective action with your OPTIMA battery when you jump-start your vehicle- Find a place that can fully recharge your battery with a battery charger as soon as possible!
OPTIMA offers a full line of battery chargers and maintainers, but most other battery chargers will work just fine as well. We recommend a maximum charging rate of 10 amps and we suggest avoiding "gel" or "gel/AGM" battery charger settings, as they may not fully charge non-gel batteries and could damage them over time. Regular or deep cycle charger settings will generally do just fine, but AGM-specific settings are preferred, if available.
Most folks don't realize their 12-volt battery is probably about 60% discharged, if it only measures 12.0 volts. It may still be able to start an engine, even if it has been discharged below 12.0 volts, but batteries that have been that deeply discharged need to be fully recharged with a battery charger as soon as possible. The problem is that most people who are encountering problems with their OPTIMA battery dying never bring a battery charger into the equation. Instead, many just jump-start the vehicle with another battery or a jump pack.
That vehicle's charging system is then put under tremendous stress as it is asked to recover a deeply discharged battery before the engine is turned off again. That 15-minute drive is simply nowhere near long enough for that alternator to put enough current back into the battery, but it is long enough to superheat the alternator and cause permanent damage, that could shorten the lifespan of the alternator.
Because many of these batteries have never been properly recharged since the last time they were deeply discharged and needed a jump start, that same scenario ends up repeating itself over and over again, until eventually the battery needs to be replaced (expensive) or the alternator needs to be replaced (even more expensive). What can you do to break this cycle of your OPTIMA battery dying? Fully recharge it with a battery charger as soon as possible!
When your car runs out of gas and you put a gallon into the tank, what do you do next? You go find a gas station before you run out of gas again, right? If you do, then you should take the same corrective action with your OPTIMA battery when you jump-start your vehicle- Find a place that can fully recharge your battery with a battery charger as soon as possible!
OPTIMA offers a full line of battery chargers and maintainers, but most other battery chargers will work just fine as well. We recommend a maximum charging rate of 10 amps and we suggest avoiding "gel" or "gel/AGM" battery charger settings, as they may not fully charge non-gel batteries and could damage them over time. Regular or deep cycle charger settings will generally do just fine, but AGM-specific settings are preferred, if available.