Optima chargers.

[SteveL]

Anybody have any experience with the Optima digital 1200 charger? I've got a couple batteries that went dead from sitting and wondering if it's worth getting one.

 

[bigmuddy]

So I’m guessing they won’t take a charge?


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[SteveL]

I know one isn't charging in the bronco. I dont have a plug in charger so I was looking at the Optima unit since I have em in 3 trucks.

 

[bigmuddy]

Roger, I’ve never tried the optima charger?


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[Pops68]

I bought my father-in-law one for Christmas several years ago.......works great on 'dead' batteries, too. However, he had some that were beyond repair - couldn't take a charge.

So, if they can be charged physically, it should work. If they can't take a charge, most likely, nothing will help.

 

[399strokerEB]

I have the larger of the two, it's brought a couple back for me and it helps to throw it on the bronco every few months to refresh the two in it.

 

[BRONCOBERT]

Sometimes if they go dead during the winter they will freeze, not sure if they can be brought back after freezing

 

[Bronco4x4]

I think you can hook up a good battery in parallel with the dead battery and the charge can occur. Do a web search to confirm.

 

[Bronco4x4]

Forgot to mention this seems to occur with gel cell batteries.

 

[SteveL]

I think you can hook up a good battery in parallel with the dead battery and the charge can occur. Do a web search to confirm.

I've heard of doing it this way but I dont have any extra beside the 2 dead optimas and I also need to get a charger.

 

[Yeller]

Modern “automatic” chargers look at a battery under 7 volts as 6 volt. They need a charged battery in parallel to properly charge the battery. I use jumper cables and hook them to my truck and hook the charger up. If the battery is salvageable it will work

 

[Apache Bronco]

I think you can hook up a good battery in parallel with the dead battery and the charge can occur. Do a web search to confirm.

Yes, Hot Rod magazine had an article about it. I have a Black & Decker smart charger, which isn't so smart (but cheap), so if the battery to be charged is less than 10.5 volts I have to hook up a good one then the dead one in parallel after it. That does work though, but a pain. I like the recondition feature though, I think it has brought a few batteries back from the dead.

 

[NGABronco]

I called it "Tricking It" and the Optima guy on here got mad at me about that, but in fact that's what is needed. Hook up a good battery in line with the charger and it'll work!!! Thare's a guy on the net who picks up all the Optimas that have been turned in as bad and recycles them!!!
Good Luck!!!;D;D;D

 

[SteveL]

That's part of what I'm wondering is if the Optima charger eliminates the need for the extra battery when recharging

 

[Rustytruck]

I use one of these chargers on my Bronco since it sits allot. Keeps the battery in tip top shape ready to go all the time. Really worth the money.

https://smartercharger.com/pages/charger-selection-chart

 

[JWMcCrary]

I have the optima charger and I'm 1 for 2. A blue top that it didn't help but I have a red top that it did.

 

[SteveL]

Just ordered it so we'll see. I have a couple solar battery tenders for when they're sitting but I forget to put em on.

 

[welndmn]

Just ordered it so we'll see. I have a couple solar battery tenders for when they're sitting but I forget to put em on.

Did you buy the large one or the small one?
I can't remeber the difference but I think the larger one just could charge at a higher rate, everything else was the same.
I've been trying to talk myself into buying one of them.

 

[hyghlndr]

Let us know how it goes. Kick myself on a deal they had a while back, buy two Optima batteries and get a charger for free 400 model or heavily discounted 1200 model. The charging rate is the only real difference.

 

[SteveL]

When I first looked at em the smaller one was just a charger but the bigger one had the reconditioning option. Hopefully it's the still that way. I ordered the larger one.