First off I was not aware that Cam worked for Optima. I actually posted this hoping that someone from Optima might chime in on here, because I knew there would be no other type of support on a weekend, so thanks for that. Also, I haven't done anything to the car that would affect my charging system, so unless there became a draw as soon as I changed to the Yellow Top, then I don't see a problem there (not saying it isn't possible but most unlikely).

Also thank you to everyone else for the help and advice. I just haven't gotten on here until now because it's been along day of football, and just now my hometown Pats managed to pull out an impressive win it Pitt!

I have read about them not taking any charge at all once they got below a certain voltage, and how to piggy back them to another battery if that happens, or buy a special charger for this type of battery

Anyway here's where I stand right now. I've had it on a trickle charger set to 1 amp all day and the battery seems to be taking the charge, because it's back up to almost 12 volts. I'll go over night with it and see how it is in the morning. If the car does start tomorrow, weather permitting, I'll take the car for a final beat run for the year and then put it away on the trickle charger until spring.

There were two reasons why I originally bought.

1.) I used to have the car in a garage with no power in it so I wanted a battery that could sit for an extended period (Optima claims up to 12 months with this battery). I would leave it disconnected back then.

2.) Maybe not a good reason to spend the money, but I wanted a clean and decent styled battery to match the rest of my car. Hey, I'm sure I'm not the only one on here that's done that

Well, just got back from fueling up, treating the gas, giving the car it's last cleaning of the year, putting it on the trickle charger, and covering it up.

The trickle charger worked it's magic overnight and the car started fine this morning.

Later today I'll go to my insurance company and drop all my coverages down to the minimums, because the car will pretty much sit in the garage until the spring.

Next weekend I'll probably do the same thing to the Camaro.

Sorry about your battery problem TJ.
I disconnect my battery to my Camaro and just leave it like so. I fire up the car like every other week and haven't had a problem by doing this. Good luck.:thumbsup:
(It is an AC DELCO battery, just to keep the car in stock form.)

Whoever designed the marketing for these batteries should be in the in the advertising Hall of Fame. They are more expensive, have special care needs, and plenty of auto forums are full of stories about dismal reliability. Yet still people buy them. But ooooh, they work upside down. I don't know about you, but my cars stay upright.

I have half a dozen cars that are driven very infrequently, they all have regular batteries. No disconnecting cables or extra charging for them. Get in, turn the key and go. I haven't had a battery last less than the warranty period in 25 years, and several have gone 8-12 years.

Quit buying the hype.

You mean parallel.

Yeah --- you're right Rob and there's a big difference between parallel and series!

Series would give you 24V on the output side.... parallel keeps it at 12V.

optima red top
 

went through two of them in 4 years. can't hold a charge. ditched it and went to exide. Waaaay better. A necessity on a computerized (efi ) car. Red tops don't hold a charge either. maybe different for a daily driver, but not for cars that sit 2 weeks at a timered top. my exide is killer, love it. sat teh whole canadian winter. cranked right up.

Actually that makes perfect sense. We have all been there :D

Right, was a busy day, wasn't getting paid to think, weekend,