Glen-L.com

I already posted this question in the electric power section and now per Pirate's suggestion I'm posting it here. Here is what I have. A friend out of the kindest of his heart gave me a brand new Optima D34M Blue Top Deep Cycle Battery. A $200.00 gift. What he didn't know was I was almost ready to buy a $90.00 battery and would still need a new charger. So the way I see it I'm getting a top of the line battery and charger for the price of a charger. What I'm looking for are recommendations on chargers. Having never owned one of these new batteries I don't want to mess it up by using my shop charger. Been there done that. If anybody is using an Optima and has a suggestion let me know. Thanks

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A secret to a good marriage is to have a quick mind and a slow mouth!!!

Chip,what type of battery is that? A gel type, AGM or what?

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Boat building can best be defined as an endless series of
tragedies obscured by the occasional miracle, followed by a good bottle of beer.

Don't Dream Your Life, Live Your Dream

Warren,
Here are the specs on it.
http://www.optimabatteries.com/_media/documents/specs/D34M.pdf

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A secret to a good marriage is to have a quick mind and a slow mouth!!!

Well,that gives the charge specs for a lead acid type of battery....my books are old and probably don't cover the modern types of chargers that would work best for this battery.

I just looked and my book is from 1983....lots of advances since then.

I'd call or E-mail the company and ask their recommendation and how to gage when and how much discharge and charge rates

_________________
Boat building can best be defined as an endless series of
tragedies obscured by the occasional miracle, followed by a good bottle of beer.

Don't Dream Your Life, Live Your Dream

This is the important bit. Most high quality chargers should be voltage controlled. Look for 3 stage chargers, and look at SUV chargers as they use these type of batteries. Sorry I can't be specific, different country.

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By the time I have built a boat, I'll be ready to build a boat....

I used a Charles 2000SP 15 amp charger on Fifty Plus.

http://www.charlesindustries.com/Marine ... lowres.pdf

I think the numbers are correct for your battery.
I use it on 2 battey banks and it has worked very well.

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Carl
If not now......When?
http://s270.photobucket.com/albums/jj94/gashog7/boat/
http://www.epoxyworks.com/26/index.html Number26

One other question Chip....do you want a charger that's permanently installed in the boat and wired in?

Or one that just clips on and you use it in your shop?

Do you need adaptability for different types of battery's?

_________________
Boat building can best be defined as an endless series of
tragedies obscured by the occasional miracle, followed by a good bottle of beer.

Don't Dream Your Life, Live Your Dream

Track,
I was looking at a 3 stage charger from Minn Kota that I liked and could use on other batteries until I learned Minn Kota doesn't recommend using their chargers on Optima batteries.


Carl,
Thanks for the link. I will check them out.


Pirate,
A portable unit would be fine and one that could be used on other batteries a plus.


Guys,
Here is the charger one Optima dealer recommends at $125.00.
http://www.1stoptimabatterystore.com/store/pc/viewPrd.asp?idproduct=24
I'm starting to think that the big box battery and charger I was looking at might be my best bet.

_________________
A secret to a good marriage is to have a quick mind and a slow mouth!!!

$109 with free shipping:

http://www.amazon.com/CTEK-Multi-7002-B ... B000FRLO9Y

_________________
Boat building can best be defined as an endless series of
tragedies obscured by the occasional miracle, followed by a good bottle of beer.

Don't Dream Your Life, Live Your Dream

Thanks, I hadn't shopped it yet. $109.00 and free shipping is a little better. Best of all, with you on vacation this week I might even get it on time and in one piece. I'm sorry I couldn't help myself.
I have read a little more about the charger. It is portable or can be mounted. It can be used on multiple types of batteries and best of all can be used to revive batteries that have been totally discharged. I'm off to see the Admiral with a sad face on. Wish me luck.

_________________
A secret to a good marriage is to have a quick mind and a slow mouth!!!

I just put a contract out on you....I am a Teamster after all!!!

_________________
Boat building can best be defined as an endless series of
tragedies obscured by the occasional miracle, followed by a good bottle of beer.

Don't Dream Your Life, Live Your Dream

First Dave Lott and now you. Looks like I'm out gunned and out numbered.

_________________
A secret to a good marriage is to have a quick mind and a slow mouth!!!

This is the one I've got and I like it a lot. Not the best and not the cheapest either but it does the job.



As much as I dislike Walmart...that's where I got it for about $50.

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Bill

I told my wife we needed a three-car garage for my projects...she told me to ask her for permission next time before I buy a house.
http://www.unitybuild.net

Bill,
What kind of settings does it have?

_________________
A secret to a good marriage is to have a quick mind and a slow mouth!!!

The C-Tek charger, I can recommend. We have those here and my little Brother has one for his Semi. 7 modes, all the fancy stuff. Not too cheap though. Best of luck with "Er Indoors".

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By the time I have built a boat, I'll be ready to build a boat....