I have a maintenance free automotive type 12 volt battery that we use for the GPS base station charging in my office. We have rearranged a little recently and now the charger is in my office for the time being. I know that it releases some hydrogen during the charging cycle but I've never heard crackle before. Is this normal and what does it say about the condition of the battery?
Are you sure it is maintenance free? It still may have covers you can open and add some distilled water.
Nah, it's an Optima red top. Unless the whole top comes off, I don't see any ports. If I recall correctly, the excessive bubbling indicates that the battery is shot or I am overcharging it.
No, optima batteries are gel type batteries.
You might want to run by an auto store and get it tested.
Andy
$hit can that battery and get a gel-cell marine battery. It doesn't care if you overcharge it and will last a helluva lot longer.
Kris
http://www.optimabatteries.com/_media/documents/specs/34_34R.pdf
I get the feeling that it is shot. It still holds enough of a charge for use, but not all day. Looking at the specs, it seems like it was not the best battery to buy anyway (but I wasn't involved with that purchase). Anybody have recommendations for a replacement? I suppose I need marine or deep cycle?
Andy
Looks like the blue-top optima would be the road to go. Thanks for the advice.
I like the jump start battery boxes.
They can power anything 12 volts. Run the equipment, charge small electronic devices,
and jump start a vehicle. Also power a campsite.
They have a handle and are convenient.
Andy
We have had one blue top optima going for 3 years now. They are the only way to go. Believe me, we had tried everyone out there.
Sams Club has always had the best price.
Here's something I bought a while back that I really like. Lots of functions, good quality, and would be good for GPS.
I have a 12 volt jump starter with a light on top I use for reading. That light will run for days. It's a lead acid battery.
A few years ago I rented an RTK system and I accidentally left the transmitter radio battery at home. So I used that jump starter battery and it lasted all day, no problem.
Andy:
i was hot for Optima batteries also; then after 2 failed, they just weren't worth the cost.
When we bought the old Topcon AP-L1A robot, we were issued with it in the sale some generic Batteries Plus (the national franchise store) sealed gel cell 12v deep cylce battery. i figured it was some junk that would be shot in a few months. That was April 2000 and the somebitch still functions flawlessly! That's 10 years of heavy all weather use. And yes i agree, gotta be some kind of anomaly - 1 out of 500 battery miracle, come over and see it if you want.
Couple years ago replaced NAPA marine wet cells with Batteris Plus best sealed gel cell deep cycles - i think they're "WERKS" batteries and they have proven good so far also. Damn wet cells...still can't believe that they even came in our ATVs. Whoever spec'd that needs their a*****e removed. A device like that that takes all that shaking and vibration off road and you put a bottle of liquid in it for complete reliance for electricity!
Unless it's a very quick setup, i only use that type battery for the TS, robot, RTK radio, and receivers. It's the best, most consistent power source, and in the winter, there's always juice.
i sincerely want to report something more positive about Optima; but, that's the truth of it. They consistently fail in my application. i gotta be doing something wrong...