Charging Opima Red Top, Is there a trick I should know? Options

[vesnyder]

My year old Optima Red Top battery lost it's charge and I am trying to figure out a way to recharge. I've read the old posts that suggests hitting it with a big charge (75 amp) for a short period and that will allow it to be charged normally. I ried that and it is not working? I have a decent Die Hard charger that goes through an assessment of teh battery before it begins to charge and I get the fault flashing light every time? I've tried all the settings - Type I and Type II, along with the trickle charge, standard and 75 amp start charge and nothing? My latest attempt is to put a trickle charge on it and see if that works? Any ideas/suggestions?

Thanks in advance!

[smg914]

VES,

This won't help you now but the next time you get a new Optima, keep a battery maintainer on it. The maintainer keeps it fully charged and won't allow the battery to discharge. The problem with the Optima's is when they get low, it's not easy to bring them back. I did this on my 914-6 race car that was only used a handful of times a year and the battery was still strong after 4 years.