Happy New Year everyone!

I recently got a new 51RD Optima Yellowtop battery for my Acura EL. I've never changed a battery before. It should drop right in, as it is a honda/acura fit battery, however I have some questions regarding first time use..

Should the new battery be charged externally with a DC power source before installation? or should the battery be charged via the electrical system of the car?

Someone told me I should just install the new battery, and jump start the car and let it run for a while. However, this does not seem like a very clean way to do it?

Thanks,
Miguel.

 

It should come all ready charged.. Drop it in and start the car up.

 

Thats the best news I've heard so far in 2004 [img]graemlins/thumb.gif[/img]

Thanks Chev [img]graemlins/beer.gif[/img]

 

That's a no-no. As a highly-qualified parts guy I say that every battery needs a few hours on a trickle charger before first use, if you want it to last. Excide is the biggest manufacturer of batteries and this is what they recommend.
Of course this doesn't really matter as you void your warrenty the fist time you use a yellow top as a starting battery. They are great though.

 

where does there website say that?

 

I did hear that if you use a red top in a deep cycle application, it voids your warrantee, I don’t know about the yellow tops though. (This was on Optima’s website)

Considering they design this 51RD to be a perfect under-hood fit for a honda/acura (SLI replacement), it doesn't make sense to me that it is not supposed to be used as a starting battery.

 

Not trying to over ride the qualified but.... I was doing a little checking before Memphis and the local rep for the yellow tops said " thats what the yellow top was made for" and "that it was the best they had for the aplication." I take that as the warrenty is still valid. So I'd say in my unpro opinion go for it. A little exta trickle couldn't hurt.

 

Not trying to over ride the qualified but.... I was doing a little checking before Memphis and the local rep for the yellow tops said " thats what the yellow top was made for" and "that it was the best they had for the aplication." I take that as the warrenty is still valid. So I'd say in my unpro opinion go for it. A little exta trickle couldn't hurt. </font>[/QUOTE]listen to Bryce he's "Highly-Qualified" [img]tongue.gif[/img]

 

Reading up on various battery technologies can be confusing. I use a wide array of batteries in extremely remote conditions for my work, and I'm still learning how to use them better.

Most tech. papers will in some way say this:

Keeping batteries at below the optimum "full" voltage value will deminish battery life. Over time it will deminish the capacity of the battery.

Personally I have 2 chargers for my car. One is installed inside the car; I plug it in the same way many people plug in an engine block heater. It is a digital trickle charger, capable of turning it's charge completely OFF when the battery voltage is high.(Very important if you leave your vehicle unatteneded for long periods of time) The second charger is for system running with the engine off, and charging the batteries after heavy usage with the engine on. (Boom Boom Boom) Many serious SPL competitors seem to like this charger, it's the big one from Canadian Tire with the wheels on it.

I realize that the posted topic is about charging a battery before installation. But, I'd like to remind people that charging the battery while it is installed is important too. Not all of us have alternators capable of filling the current demand of our car and stereo.

Why put extra wear and tear on your engine just to charge your battery(s).

One final note. Don't use a trickle charger (Usually 1 to 2 amps) to attempt to charge a battery that is very low.(below 12.5 volts) It will overload the charger!

Adam