I have been using Optima Red Top size 34/78 starting batteries in my coach and after 57 months they were getting weak. Initial CCA for this battery is 800. Load test for one was 278 CCA and 128 for the other after 6 weeks of being on a float charger and a Whizbang Plus attached to each battery and batteries wired in parallel. I thought maybe I was doing something wrong so I emailed Whizbang and here is my email and the answer.
I have 3 Whizbang plus desulfators. I have two sets of batteries in my motorhome and both are two batteries wired in parallel. One set is Optima redtop size 34/78. Does each battery need its own desulfator or is one enough? I had 2 desulfators on the Optimas (one per battery) for 6 weeks and they have not improved much. Load test is about 25% of rated cranking amps for both.
Same question for the house batteries which are MK 8G8D, a much larger gell battery. I have not used a desulfator on the house batteries yet as they seem to be very good for 5.5 years of age, and I am waiting to see if there is any improvement with the start batteries.
The Optima's are typically not very good candidates for recovery due to the method they are constructed with. When lead sulfate is formed between the layers of the glass mat material it will cause cracking/tearing within the mat material. The lead sulfate has very likely been removed from your batteries after 6 weeks of application, however the internally short glass mat material is not repairable. I would also search the web for "Optima Red leakage" as so many of these batteries are catching fire and leaking around the terminals that so many people have posted pictures of the damaged caused by these batteries. (some are rather expensive cars as well)
The 8D's are a very robust battery and they recover very well with the use of a desulfator. As long as your batteries are wired in parallel and are next to each other one desulfator will work up to about 1000 amp hours of battery storage. You can attach more than one desulfator to a large bank of batteries with[out] risking damage to either the desulfator or the batteries. Our product is designed to automatically adjust to the demand of lead sulfate within your battery and provide the best pulse needed to remove the lead sulfate.
The gel or flooded batteries will work the best at recovery, with the glass mat design results are rather hit or miss with the very common type of damage that occurs within. I hope this information has helped.
Since I sent the email, I have also discovered that my MK house batteries are not 8G8D gell, but 8A8D AGM. They have no label with a model number, but the AGM has a black top and the Gel a grey top. Discovering this is a bit of a bummer, but they seem to be okay after 5.5 years.
I now have to buy 2 new starting batteries. I think I should stick with a Gel or AGM battery so that the charging is similar to the house batteries I have. I'm leaning toward Optima Yellow Top. Any suggestions will be appreciated.
Jerry,
I recently replaced our starting batteries with the Optima D34 Yellow Tops. When we purchased our coach from Foretravel in July 2013 it had three Walmart flooded batteries for the starting batteries. According to the specification sheet, our coach, when new, came from Foretravel with three D34 Optima batteries.
Larry
Jerry, thanks for sharing. I put in new red tops and new battery minder . (Combination desulfator and maintainer). If I keep them up with maintainer, hope sulfate not a problem for 5 plus years. BTW battery minder 1500 temp compensated and per batteryminder, suitable for optima red tops. One battery minder across the three red tops, to manage all three, again as approved by batteryminder. About $70 on the web.
Have 8g gell house (3), which were tired @ 5 years. Put a whiz bang on each per Wyatt's instructions (did not shorten leads that came on whiz bang which would increase their effectiveness). Plugged in an FL and on charger for 6 months with whiz bangs doing their thing, based on your email hoping for improvement in spring. Whiz bangs about $25 each on web and 5 minute install each. Emit high pitched "whine" when connected
RE: BTW battery minder 1500 "temp compensated"
In my opinion Battery Minder tries to mislead with the above statement. Their charger's temp compensation does not measure the battery temp and change the charge voltage to keep from charging at a too high voltage for a hot battery. Temp compensation in Battery Tender speak means they have an simple temp sensor at the charger to keep the charge voltage consistent at different ambient temps.
Actually, check the spec, the unit is temp compensated to ambient at the unit, with option (extra cost) to attach battery temp sensor to the battery.
I didn't choose this option, but it is there if desired. Confirmed in product specification and just called tech support at the factory
Prior model did not have this feature. Mounted under bed, so exposed to ambient external temp, (protected from moisture) so decided not to bother with temp sense to optimas
I am aware of the optional remote temp cable, but it still does not change charge voltage based upon temperature sensed, even if at battery. The optional cable could be considered an additional erroneous implication that the charger is similar to chargers that lower charge voltages for high battery temps, (& raise charge voltage for cold batteries).
Barry, agreed, you are way smatter than me.
I lost 2 sets of 3x optima red tops based on using a trick l start and xantrax echo charger. bought something I think is better.
If you have a better idea how I shold protect my Red tops, let me know, I am all ears, stupid and willing to listen to advice from smart guys like you,
wish I had your experience and acumen.
Hello. Optima Digital 400 12 volt performance maintainer & battery charger will take care of all of your optima problems. 109.00 Jegs to your house. 3 yellow starting, 4 yellow coach,2 blue fountain boat, 1 red top Opel Gt Pro Street. Patrick
I am not against using small chargers on start battery, just don't like how they market them and that is why I made my posting. They work and you should be ok. I was not implying they will damage a battery.
For 20 years we have used diode based connection, like Trik-L-Start to connect house battery positive to start battery positive. We have never lost a start battery. There are limits on how well they work in 100 degree battery temps with a Xantrex or other temp compensated charger, but Trik-L-Start has always been my first choice. A small battery chargers also work.
I don't know how echo or Trik-L damaged red tops. We have only used red tops. I assume you will be ok.
There are really few perfect choices when charging start batteries without having a dedicated 3-stage temperature compensated start battery charger.
Understand Barry.
Had two Trik - L Starts die - and each time my Mom was in FL for 6 months plugged in - thought Start batteries were being kept charged, but weren't , lost one set of red tops on the U-270.
Had echo charger when I bought the U-320. Either defective of installed incorrectly, but same issue - left coach in FL, came back 6 months later to ruined Red Tops.
Had really bad luck with Diode based chargers, have had really good luck with maintainers like battery tender and battery minder on other vehicles over the years, so went away from diode based charges. And, Diodes chargers don't to my knowledge desulfate,.
Wish I had good luck with Trik L Start.
YMMV
Thanks Tim. I see what you went through and remember reading about your Mom. I agree that small 120-volt battery chargers are a good choice to save start batteries. You probably will not benefit from the optional remote temp sensor cable.
We recently had starting issues and one of the many things we did on the journey to get the starting problem solved was swap our home-made diode charger with Trik-L-Start, and to add a third RedTop, since the battery tray could hold it. We are happy to have 3 start batteries, but the final solution was to install a new Delco Remy starter. We now start strong, something that evaded us for over a year.