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Tractor Talk Discussion Forum

Gel Filled Batteries

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T.C. in Tx

12-05-2006 17:55:01




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Anyone have experience with gel filled truck batteries?

I had two Champion gel filled batteries in my Chevy HD diesel PU that failed. They were 39 months old and I bought them at Sam"s Club just before they quit handling that brand. They were fully charged, checked out at 12.6 volts each, etc. But the engine was cranking slow. Both batteries failed the load test.

I replaced them with Optima Red Tops. Now the truck spins great. What do you think the outlook will be on the Optima"s?

Oh, and one other thing--Sam"s took the old ones back and gave me credit of $165 since only 39 of the 108 month warranty was used. So I am happy about that, but am I going to be doing the same thing in 3 more years?

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Brad_bb

12-06-2006 06:34:57




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 Re: Gel Filled Batteries in reply to T.C. in Tx, 12-05-2006 17:55:01  
I discovered Optima back in college. We were located near them and they donated about 15 redtops for our solar car project. I saw then that they could take discharging and recharging very well and were much safer than lead acid. After the punishment we put them through, I was convinced. Since college have been replacing all of the conventional lead acid batteries in my personal vehicles and our farm vehicles as needed. I now have 6 vehicles with Optimas starting with my pick up about 7 years ago. Have not had any problems at all and am very happy. I just bought one of the 6V models for my 1955 960 Ford tractor. I will run it for the first time this spring when mowing starts. I made a cool battery hold down for it and a custom hold down rod that once plated will look almost stock. If the battery doesn"t have enough power (I think it will) you can always add another 6V and they"ll both fit in the original battery tray. I like Optimas. I particularly like them in classic cars. They do not outgas like conventional batteries. Outgassing the corrosive gas will attach plated parts under the hood if conventional batteries are used. Optimas also elimninate corrosion of the battery terminals- a significant reason in itself to go Optima.

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HENRY E NC

12-06-2006 06:12:49




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 Re: Gel Filled Batteries in reply to T.C. in Tx, 12-05-2006 17:55:01  
I have used gel batteries for about 20 years. I ran them in my sailboat for 12 yearsa with no problem. The only reason yours failed probably is because your alternator probably garged them at 14.2 volts. Gel batteries need to be charged at a strict You should never need a new battery 13.9 volts. Yes, that does make a large diference. You now have installed glass mat batteries used by the military and many large companies. They, like gel cells, have no liquid in them and are made by wrapping glass mat aound te elctrodes. I replaced the 12 year old gels in my boat with glas mats just for the simple reason they were new technology at the time. Glass mats do not need special voltage chargeing and are very tolerant of voltage difference. you should never need to replace them.

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HuskerMedic

12-06-2006 05:25:08




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 Re: Gel Filled Batteries in reply to T.C. in Tx, 12-05-2006 17:55:01  
We just started using them at work, in our ambulances. I don't think there's probably more of a rougher duty for batteries than being in a diesel ambulance. Each ambulance takes three batteries. So far, no problems, although we haven't been using them for that long.



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Jon Hagen

12-05-2006 20:05:11




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 Re: Gel Filled Batteries in reply to T.C. in Tx, 12-05-2006 17:55:01  
I never have used a gel filled battery,but have used the AGM (Absorbant glass mat) batterys made by Optima and Exide Orbital. my first Optima is still going strong, been in a 80 chevy one ton crew cab for 15 years. Nothing corrodes and they are nearly indestructable if you don't overcharge them. If you really overcharge them,the pressure relief valves will open and vent electrolyte from the absorbant glass mat seperators and destroy the battery. The Exide Orbital clone of the Optima seems as indestructable as the Optima,and is cheaper, The oldest I have of them is 8 years old and good as new. The two grp 24 Exide orbitals in my diesel combine out cranks the original grp 31 flooded cell batteries by quite a margin,and never ever a corroded cable. One fellow on this site said that AGM batteries in a solar power system failed early on and said they would not take an equalization charge. A Google search for the words equalization charge and AGM battery led me to a battery site that said you never ever attempt an equalization charge on an AGM battery,they do not need it and that an attempt at an equalization charge,overcharges an AGM battery and destroys it. If you put one in your car/truck/tractor with a good working regulated charging system. and never put a high amperage "hot" charger on it and walk away for an hour or two,the spiral cell battery may well outlast the machine.

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msb

12-05-2006 19:45:13




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 Reason for Optima failures? in reply to T.C. in Tx, 12-05-2006 17:55:01  
They cannot be fast charged.That destroys them.Optima is the only battery I will buy.Have a friend who has used on in his truck for 15 years now.



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IH2444

12-06-2006 05:44:36




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 Re: Reason for Optima failures? in reply to msb, 12-05-2006 19:45:13  
So if you run one down in your vehicle, then jump start it and let it fast charge with the alternator it will possibly die ?



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Jon Hagen

12-06-2006 06:20:40




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 Re: Reason for Optima failures? in reply to IH2444, 12-06-2006 05:44:36  
It does not seem to harm them, I have run my 15 year old Optima stone dead from leaving some accessory turned on for days at least a half dozen times in the last 15 years,and have never more than jump started it and allowed the 60 amp alternator to hammer a charge back into it. They tell me that the spiral cell design sees much damage from a very deep discharge compared to a conventional flooded cell battery.

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Jon Hagen

12-06-2006 06:27:34




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 Re: Reason for Optima failures? in reply to Jon Hagen, 12-06-2006 06:20:40  
Whups,a one word omission totally changes what I ment to say in the above post.
That last sentence should read "They tell me that the spiral cell design sees much LESS damage from a very deep discharge than a conventional flooded cell battery.



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IH2444

12-06-2006 08:19:05




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 Re: Reason for Optima failures? in reply to Jon Hagen, 12-06-2006 06:27:34  
But they are damaged by fast charging ? I am a bit cornfused here.



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Sam#3

12-06-2006 08:58:49




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 Re: Reason for Optima failures? in reply to IH2444, 12-06-2006 08:19:05  
A properly operating electrical system is not 'fast charging.' A fast or quick charger allow a battery to draw as much current as it wants which on a discharged battery can be well over a hundred amperes. Remember a dischargered battry has about zero resistance and will behave like a short circuit, high current and heat. A quick charge will damage any battery to some extent.



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Jon Hagen

12-06-2006 08:57:44




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 Re: Reason for Optima failures? in reply to IH2444, 12-06-2006 08:19:05  
From my experience,they are not damaged by fast charging,as I stated I have jump started my pickup with dead Optima battery and allowed the full 60 amp output of the alternator to recharge it a half dozen or more times without apparent damage. What will quickly destroy the Optima or any other AGM battery is continuing to charge them at a high rate AFTER the battery has reached full charge. This can be from a machine with a defective charging system that puts out more than 14.5 volts,or a high output,unregulated battery charger that does not automatically shut off when the battery reaches full charge. IE,an unregulated boost charger that continues to apply 20-60 amp charge even though the battery is fully charged,and the operator allows this to go on for hours. Under overcharge conditions the small amount of electrolyte liquid that is in the absorbant glass mat plate seperators is vented from the battery as a gas and can not be replaced. Without it,the battery is ruined.

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buickanddeere

12-06-2006 19:17:02




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 Re: Reason for Optima failures? in reply to Jon Hagen , 12-06-2006 08:57:44  
Correct.



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IH2444

12-06-2006 09:16:05




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 Re: Reason for Optima failures? in reply to Jon Hagen , 12-06-2006 08:57:44  
Thanks guys for clearing that up a bit for me. So it is just gross high voltage/high current charging that gets the spiral wound batteries then. Makes sense. Of course that is not good for any battery.



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vally farm

12-05-2006 18:32:37




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 Re: Gel Filled Batteries in reply to T.C. in Tx, 12-05-2006 17:55:01  
Put a red top in my jeep about 8 yrs ago, was in a hurry so about a month later it bounced out of the battery tray and arcked off of the hood. Buddy had to go and get parts to get the Jeep running again. I can't recall all the details, but we got it going. Jeep is long gon, but the\at battery is still used almost every day in on of my tractors (propperly mounted this time). Cranks like new every time. Mike

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mark-in-mi

12-05-2006 18:31:39




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 Re: Gel Filled Batteries in reply to T.C. in Tx, 12-05-2006 17:55:01  
A 6 volt Optima just fits diagonoly nicely in my H battery box.Had to change er out this year,it was 9 years old.
Up side,Optima spins her good for 6 volt.
Down side 130 bucks.
Mark



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MF294-4

12-05-2006 18:16:23




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 Re: Gel Filled Batteries in reply to T.C. in Tx, 12-05-2006 17:55:01  
We tried some of the optima batteries in our service van to operate extra equipment and inverters but they did not last. Went back to lead-acid. Hope you have better luck.



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las vegas

12-05-2006 18:13:20




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 Re: Gel Filled Batteries in reply to T.C. in Tx, 12-05-2006 17:55:01  
heck no, i've ran an optima hi-cycle battery here in my powerstroke diesel for the past 8 years! they're really great! Now then again, i don't do any cold-weather starting since i live in southern nevada about 5 minutes from las vegas blvd.



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Larry NE IL

12-05-2006 20:47:46




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 Re: Gel Filled Batteries in reply to las vegas, 12-05-2006 18:13:20  
I used to use gel-cel batteries in my Pitts Special bi-plane, for obvious reasons. There was never two alike. Some lasted 6 months and some 6 years. I don't know why, but they were all different!



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