Battery choice, Optima vs. Napa Orbital Options

[Bartlett 914]

I have an Orbital battery in my car. This was supplied by NAPA auto. It is a little over 2 years old and now it won't hold a charge. The car was stored inside and it was kept from freezing. The battery was very low when I went to start up the car this Spring. It did crank so the battery was not fully discharged. I charged it up and the car started. Next morning dead again. I had an Optima in my van for several years without any problems. Has anyone here had problems with the Orbital battery? It is in pro rated warranty period now. NAPA wants 120 to replace it. I paid 120 for it. A new battery is 140. Some warranty.

[bd1308]

you know,

batteries like that do NOT like being drained all the way down.

Siggestion, since its toast already--

Ive heard several quick charges (25amp) may revive the battery.

For me, I still run the sloshy type battery--I have this thing about gel.

[Matt Meyer]

If you are not maintaining full charge on an optima get a yellow. The reds do not like to sit uncharged.

[Dave_Darling]

The yellows don't last all that long, at least not in my experience... (IMG:style_emoticons/default/sad.gif)

One yellow-top in my "other car", plus several in a friend's EV, all dying in a couple of years. (There were more in his EV that hadn't died last I talked to him about it, but still--not good odds.)

--DD

[Teknon]

It takes quite awhile at 1 amp to charge a yellow top! See their site

[woobn8r]

Ive had a red top in my '72 911 (on it's side) for 6 years and she's still goin strong...Canadian cold and all as the car was stored in a non heated garage...

I'll be putting another in my 914

[Bartlett 914]

From the replies it seems some people have good luck and long lasting batteries. I had one 5-6 years and this one only 2. I did notice the charging instructions on the side of the battery stated not to exceed 14.4 volts. My charger in the "Start mode" gives 16 or more. I wonder if the batteries are being damaged by defective charging. Maybe the voltage regulators in the car are part of the problem. Could solid state regulators be better for this?

[BarberDave]

(IMG:style_emoticons/default/smilie_pokal.gif)

Optma Red Top grts my vote. Had one for four yrs. I used to have a problem

keeping charged after sitting a week or so. Not batterys falut ,i replaced alt. voltage reg. and Alt. wireing harness. Perfect now. In the winter for long term storage ( Nov to March) I got a battery maintainer ,few bucks ,hook it up a forget it. Starts 1st time in spring. Dave (IMG:style_emoticons/default/slap.gif)

[Bartlett 914]

I left my battery in slow charge overnight. I checked it this morning with the charger still running. It read 15.6 volts! Here is a pic of the charging instructions off the battery.

I really wonder if this is what causes the short life and if my cay may also be doing something similar.

[Teknon]

Optima Yellow Top Charging instructions

Yellow Top Charging

[cobra94563]

I've had a few red top optima's..good except the last one in the M3.
Lasted less than 2 years then wouldn't hold a charge. The car sits for 1 -2 weeks often. Maybe a defective battery (but costco took it back and refunded me in FULL. (IMG:style_emoticons/default/smile.gif) ) ...buy it at costco!

[Matt Meyer]

I based my recommendation on a Yellow Top on the Optima web site.
Red Tops like to be maintained at full voltage.


I have two Red Tops. One in my F150. Driven Daily so red is the one for that. Have left the lights on 2x. Battery is 3 yrs old and strong.

The 914 came with a Red Top. I usually go out once a month or before I plan on driving it and throw it on an automatic charger. If my car sits with the battery connected it will drain the battery in 18-24hrs. Dont know how many that battery has been drained, battery is at least 4 years old. That battery is still strong.

I have a Craftsman charger. Two switches IIRC- Start/Automatic and Regular/Maintenance Free.

[Bartlett 914]

I based my recommendation on a Yellow Top on the Optima web site.
Red Tops like to be maintained at full voltage.


I have two Red Tops. One in my F150. Driven Daily so red is the one for that. Have left the lights on 2x. Battery is 3 yrs old and strong.

The 914 came with a Red Top. I usually go out once a month or before I plan on driving it and throw it on an automatic charger. If my car sits with the battery connected it will drain the battery in 18-24hrs. Dont know how many that battery has been drained, battery is at least 4 years old. That battery is still strong.

I have a Craftsman charger. Two switches IIRC- Start/Automatic and Regular/Maintenance Free.

I have had the same problem with the battery draining after a couple of weeks. I was sure this was from the radio and clock. I found the correct red wire at the battery post for this circuit. The orbital has the big posts and smaller studs with wing nuts. I connect this circuit separately to the the stud for easy removal when I am away for awhile. I figured this would fix that problem and for the most part it has. All winter the car sat and it would still crank over this Spring. It just wasn't enough and I needed a jump.

[anthony]

If my car sits with the battery connected it will drain the battery in 18-24hrs.

Something is wrong with your car. With the 914 clock ticking it should take weeks for the battery to drain.

FWIW, I have a red top. I killed the first one with a flakey voltage regulator. It was under-charging. Now, when the car isn't used for more than a week I disconnect the battery. Even disconnected for a month or two the Optima still seems to have a full charge.

[Matt Meyer]

Yea- I know I have something wrong with my car. It does not even have a clock or a radio.

It came with the quick disconnect negitive terminal screw. I unscrew that pretty much anytime the engine is off, as was the PO.

I am not sure where to start to trouble shoot that one and haven't tried in almost 5 years.

How that relates though; If I get home and expect to go right back out or forget to unscrew the terminal the battery is completely dead in a couple of days, (will usually start if sitting overnight). So I have drained the battery dead at least 4 times in the last almost 5 years. That should kill a red-top and be very hard on any lead-acid battery.

My red-top is still going strong (knock on wood). I can only assume that the Craftsman battery charger is adjusting the voltage properly while charging, prolonging the life of the battery.

For the record, usually the "fully charged" light comes on within half a minute or so when I turn on the charger and the battery has been disconnected. I sometimes leave it on overnight anyway on the automatic setting. The manual cautions not to leave it on for extended periods, but when the battery is fully charged it goes into a maintenance mode.

[Bartlett 914]

Yea- I know I have something wrong with my car. It does not even have a clock or a radio.

It came with the quick disconnect negitive terminal screw. I unscrew that pretty much anytime the engine is off, as was the PO.

I am not sure where to start to trouble shoot that one and haven't tried in almost 5 years.

Get an amp meter or use the 2000ma mode in your multimeter. Pull all the wires off the positive post. Put the meter from the positive post to each one of the red wires. If you get a reading on one, then this is the current drain source. Now you must find out what this circuit feeds and go from there. The large red wire is for the starter only. If this is draining current then you have a ground in the starter or solenoid.

[Brando]

I've got an orbital gel-cell in my 914 that's well over 5 years old. Was in my first car (1973 Karmann Ghia), then my bug, now my 914. Starts every time no problem, drained it twice with the lights on, recharged and it's still going strong.

[Joe Ricard]

Odessy PC 680. there is also a slightly bigger one if you really think you need it.

But this thing can be mounted in the stock tray. and has never not started my car. Also my buddy with a 12.5:1 compression 300 HP honda motor starts without drama and his battery is in the back.