Gel Battery question

californiadiver · Dec-26-2006, 10:22 PM

I thought I read in another post that you are suppossed to use speacial charger for a gel battery. Is that correct? I have an optima red top in my buggy and its pretty friggin dead. It initialy went dead when the alteranator crapped out on my last trip. I replaced the alterantor and charged the battery and there wasnt a problem again....until today. I tried to start the thing and it is deader than a door nail. I haven't used it in about a month to a month and a half. This was a pretty expensive battery and I dont think that it should be crappin out after a year or so. Any help would be greatly appreciated....

bertram31 · Dec-26-2006, 10:45 PM

Optima I am pretty sure are not gel batteries. The are completely sealed batteries. usually they dont require and special charging. Any battery at any time can lose a cell and then its kaputs for the battery. You should have some kind of pro rated warranty on it.

The red top Optima is a starting battery and was and still will be a good choice for your buggy. I ran the same battery in my Super Late Model.

Jack

Surg · Dec-27-2006, 12:03 AM

The problem is letting the battery sit with cables connected. Your buggy could have some draw at rest killing the battery over time. Same thing on boats. You should run a tender on batteries that are in long term storage (Buggy).
A good onboard charger (boat).

californiadiver · Dec-27-2006, 10:21 AM

I will check it out....I dont think that I have a cell thats dead...yet. I put the thing on a charger overnight. I will test it prior to using it and see how many volts it has. As for the buggy....I may have a short...probably not a draw though. The thing is pretty simple. I have three sets of lights and a fan. I could check for a draw but dont think that is the problem. I do appreciate your quick responses. I was thinking the same things as you guys but definately wanted to confirm my thought process. You've been a great help/.