Gadgets & Gear
OPTIMA Batteries for the Tough Jobs
The bottom line is that neither bumps, vibration, collisions nor sudden temperature changes will interrupt power supply or result in the battery leaking. According to the company, the Optima battery's resistance to vibration is more than 15 times that of ordinary batteries.
The thin lead plates provide more lead surface area than in traditional lead–acid batteries, for faster recharging. The spiral design also allows lead to be used in a 99.999% pure form. This design minimizes resistance and gives even pressure over the entire lead surface, providing fast energy availability and an extra–long life span.
In a traditional flooded lead–acid battery (the one to which water is added), heat can cause increased acid density due to gassing, which can shorten battery life. Also, since there is no shedding of active paste material, there is no gradual loss of power and capacity as the battery ages. The company reports the Optima has twice the life expectancy of typical batteries.
Some alloys in conventional batteries are more prone to electron transfer, resulting in self–discharge, than the materials used in the Optima. The low self–discharge rate means they can go unused for up to one year without recharging, if kept at or below room temperature. In tests, Optima batteries have started large diesel engines in outdoor temperatures down to – 40 degrees F.
The technique of winding the cells, which are linked with solid connections, yields maximum performance with minimum size and weight. This makes the battery compact, robust and easy to mount. Indeed, it can be mounted at virtually any angle, even on its side. Because acid cannot leak or spill, the batteries are clean and environmentally and user–friendly. The sealed case design is completely maintenance–free and eliminates the need to add water or clean terminals. Corrosion cannot form around the posts. Loss of water, leading to plate dry–out and failure cannot happen.
Optima batteries come in three series. The Optima RedTop is designed for SLI (starting, lighting and ignition) and should not be used for deep–cycle applications.
The Optima YellowTop is a dual–mode battery for both SLI and deep–cycle service.
The BlueTop batteries for marine applications come in SLI and dual–mode versions. Incidentally, Optima deep–cycle batteries use a different chemistry for the active paste on the plates, and a slightly stronger acid. This allows for a much longer life in deep–cycling with only slightly reduced power.
I have installed an Optima YellowTop in place of my regular deep–cycle battery, which usually lasts only for about 18 months in my Class B, mainly because of vibration issues. I connected my YellowTop to a solar panel charger to maximize the energy available when needed. I installed a RedTop battery under the hood for normal SLI duty.
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Appeared in April 2007 issue of Woodall's CamperWays
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