Totally dead Optima yellow top...how long should I charge??

[95Prober 10+ year member]

Hi guys,

I bought a new D34 (I believe thats the correct #), 2 years ago. I ran it for 6 months and then stored my car and has been sitting indoors since.

Yesterday, I tried to start my car with it, but its dead. I never charged it before and this is the first time that I need to. So what setting on the charger should I use, and what would be an "optimal" amount of time?

I checked with Optima, they sais 6-12 hours at 10amps, but I thought car audio enthusists would have first hand experience that may be a bit different

Thanks!!

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[infamous_e46 5,000+ posts]

get a walmart schumacher charger the little 32 dollar one and use the slowest setting the snowflake setting and let it charge until done

 

[Kangaroux 5,000+ posts]

When charging a dead batt you should use a trickle charge at the lowest possible amperage. Depending on your charger and how dead the battery really is it will probably take all night

 

[95Prober 10+ year member]

Well, I have a heavy duty charger with many settings. Would charging at 10amps be sufficient or lower?

 

[tommyk90 5,000+ posts]

I would do the lowest setting possible. Most chargers should have a 2 or 5 amp option.

 

[mast240 10+ year member]

you can try bro... but with optimas, when they get below 6volts... they dont tend to hold a charge very well after

 

[jtomsic 5,000+ posts]

you can try bro... but with optimas, when they get below 6volts... they dont tend to hold a charge very well after

thats what i was thinking..that it was prob done and wouldnt really hold a charge again

 

[mast240 10+ year member]

yea bro... we use optimas at my job exclusively, and once they drop below 6 volts, we just have to throw them out

 

[sacsking916 5,000+ posts]

2a for a full day. Been there done that with countless optimas.

 

[Imtjnotu 5,000+ posts]

Ya trickle charge it at 2 amps for over 30hours