Anyone have an Optima 34R fail on them? This spring and last spring I had to replace the 34R due to cell failure - battery voltage showed just 1.5volts.
Can't seem to find any cause for it. Battery was fully charged each time before storing. Start Fizzgig several times each winter and let run until warmed up. Sat for about 2 mos without starting it - was dead when I brought fizzgig out to play. I use a Battery Tender Junior when charging. I'm stuck with getting another 34R due to cost issues.
Any ideas?

Kevin

 

Are you 100% sure it was a cell failure...
Gel cell battries can be so deeply discharged that regular battery chargers will call them "bad" when in reality they just need to be hooked ip to a special charger that has the correct settings...rather than just genaric battery charger/tester.
That having been said, some folks have said that optioma are not what they once were since they moved production from the denver co are to Mexico....
Any chance you have a item draing the battery faster than the tender can add power?!
Orbital batteries are of a similar desgin to the optioma....is you want a spiral style gel battery...or you cold try a cheaper convental flooded cell vented battery....

 

I am aware of that. Tried the 2 battery charge method both times. Got a call this evening from the place I bought the batteries. They tried to charge it - it is dead.
What concerns me is I thought I was doing everything right and they still failed. Or it may be just bad luck.

Kevin

 

Well, no more Optima batteries for me. Found out that even though the battery was only 16 mos old, the warrenty runs from the date of the original purchase - no warrenty left. Picked up a lead acid battery instead. Pricey, but not near as expensive Optima.

Kevin

 

No big deal. Did you leave the key in car? My 34R was dead after a couple of months of sitting in my garage with the key in car. I just took the battery to AutoZone and they fully charged it up and it's been just fine ever since. I think batterys will die if not used.