Orange90-J- Posted January 7, 2012 Share Posted January 7, 2012 Hello there guys... Hope someone has some help here, I have 2 optima yellow top batterys they are less than 18 month old but they have been on a challenge truck that hasnt been touched for rufly a year, ive tried to charge them with a tricle charger but im not getting much change in either, Does anyone know of a way that will revive them? Eg. • fit on truck a start and see if alternator boosts them? • put on a big powerfull fast charge. • put 24 volts threw them and hope for the best :/ • is there a special charger out there? • etc etc... Hope someone can help. Any help much appriciated. Thanks -J- Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
HoSS Posted January 7, 2012 Share Posted January 7, 2012 Theres another thread from a few days ago just at the bottom of this forum if you operate the scroll wheel on your mouse - http://forums.lr4x4.com/index.php?showtopic=73458 In short, use a recondition charger such as the CTK models. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Smego Posted January 7, 2012 Share Posted January 7, 2012 It may be that your charger is just not getting any voltage to trigger the switching mode, if you have proper truck jump leads, then give it a couple of minutes in parallel on a working truck( as in like a jump start) then overnight on the charger they may have just plated up in which case dump them! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Orange90-J- Posted January 7, 2012 Author Share Posted January 7, 2012 Sorry about that hoSS i had a flick through but must of missed it! Thanks for that smego i will give it a go... Cheers -J- Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
dirtyninety Posted January 7, 2012 Share Posted January 7, 2012 DO NOT TRY THIS WITHOUT APPROPRIATE PROTECTION touch the terminals with a welder, literally zap them, it sometimes burns the "plating" that builds up insides old batterys giving them another lease of life. but be warned, battery's can explode and can quite literally melt your skin and flesh off. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
HoSS Posted January 8, 2012 Share Posted January 8, 2012 DO NOT TRY THIS ..... AT ALL Seriously, thats just mad. Its not likely to do the battery any good, possibly permanent damage - you have no idea of the terminal voltage of the welder. I would even avoid Smegos method unless i had no choice. Beacuse while it does work, you may overheat or otherwise damage the plates. Use a reconditioning charger, they will work, and they are less than the cost of an Optima. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ejparrott Posted January 8, 2012 Share Posted January 8, 2012 I have a spare battery in my 88, reguarly have the anderson's on keeping it topped up, never done it any harm Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
stuck Posted January 8, 2012 Share Posted January 8, 2012 Dirtyninety's method does work but as he say's you need to take precautions! I've done it three times (on different batteries) it worked twice, none of them went bang! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Orange90-J- Posted January 10, 2012 Author Share Posted January 10, 2012 Haha i think i will stay away from that method, sounds a tad dagerous for my workshop Ive shocked a few 12v batterys before with a 24v boost but never batterys that realy cared for and want to live thankyou for your help much appriciated. Cheers -J- Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Ian Barrett Posted January 10, 2012 Share Posted January 10, 2012 I can vouch that dirtyninetys method works on cordless drill batteries I tried it after I'd already bought a couple of new batteries so I had nothing to lose, and now can only tell which is the newer because of the scratches. Don't know if I'd be brave enough to give it a go on a car battery though because there is a lot more stuff to explode all over you. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
MrKev Posted January 10, 2012 Share Posted January 10, 2012 Just because cordless drill batteries look small, doesn't mean they're harmless. 'Brutal' tequniques have been successful at rescuing Ni-Cd type cells in the past farily effectively, but not without risk. However, a modern cordless power tool is using Lithium based technology, and a battery pack half the size of your fist can still produce a fireball when exploding the size of a small car. Search the interwebs for 'lithium battery explosion' and see what videos you can find. Third degree burns? Not me. Orange 90: Have a look for a re-conditioning charger, as mentioned above. You've spent in the region of £400 on batteries, so why not spend another £30-£40 on something to look after them, and develop a suitable maintenance schedule to look after them. Batteries will die if left unloved, and shoving a massive amount of current into them to try and wake them up can have a detrimental effect on their performance, possibly less so with one of those spiral batteries, compared to a conventional lead acid. Kev Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
boyt Posted January 6, 2013 Share Posted January 6, 2013 Orange I believe your in Poole. I'm in Poole to. We have a reconditioner battery charge if you want them put on them Andy Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
boyt Posted January 6, 2013 Share Posted January 6, 2013 Orange I believe your in Poole. I'm in Poole to. We have a reconditioner battery charge if you want them put on them Andy Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Smego Posted January 6, 2013 Share Posted January 6, 2013 .I would even avoid Smegos method unless i had no choice. Beacuse while it does work, you may overheat or otherwise damage the plates. Don't be stupid a few minute is going to overheat nothing. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Smego Posted January 6, 2013 Share Posted January 6, 2013 .I would even avoid Smegos method unless i had no choice. Beacuse while it does work, you may overheat or otherwise damage the plates. Don't be stupid a few minute is going to overheat nothing. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
mcc1979ian Posted January 6, 2013 Share Posted January 6, 2013 Hook your charger to a normal everday car battery then run jump leads from said battery to the optima and the charger thinks its charging the battery but it actually charges the optima in parallel. Did this with mine after watching a youtube clip about it and both the red top and yellow top charged no probs at all. 100% safer than the welder or 24 volt technique. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
mcc1979ian Posted January 6, 2013 Share Posted January 6, 2013 Should also mention both my optimas sat in the garage doing nothing for 3 years so when i came to use them they were flatter than a rabbit ran over by a steam roller. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
TFC Posted January 7, 2013 Share Posted January 7, 2013 DO NOT TRY THIS WITHOUT APPROPRIATE PROTECTIONtouch the terminals with a welder, literally zap them, it sometimes burns the "plating" that builds up insides old batterys giving them another lease of life. but be warned, battery's can explode and can quite literally melt your skin and flesh off. OK, you did include an obvious warning, but this is probably the most irresponsible 'advice' I have ever read. THIS SHOULD NEVER BE ATTEMPTED!!! The battery could very easily go BANG! and spray you with acid and/or deliver serious burns from the ignited hydrogen gas. The mind boggles! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
mmgemini Posted January 7, 2013 Share Posted January 7, 2013 Give the charger something to charge. I've not used the second battry method I use a 12 volt bulb connected to the battery. Then the charger as normal. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
mmgemini Posted January 7, 2013 Share Posted January 7, 2013 Give the charger something to charge. I've not used the second battry method I use a 12 volt bulb connected to the battery. Then the charger as normal. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
reb78 Posted January 7, 2013 Share Posted January 7, 2013 Hook your charger to a normal everday car battery then run jump leads from said battery to the optima and the charger thinks its charging the battery but it actually charges the optima in parallel. Did this with mine after watching a youtube clip about it and both the red top and yellow top charged no probs at all. I've done this successfully too. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
dirtydiesel Posted January 7, 2013 Share Posted January 7, 2013 Good luck reviving dead optimas, i've never had any luck bringing them back to life Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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