Gel Cell Recharge

nick c · Jul 18, 2007

Whats the proper way to charge a Gel Cell battery?

I was always told to charge my optima with a 2-amp trickle charge to prevent from burning it up.

Well I charged it on a trickle charger over the last couple days, and it still wouldn't give me any power. took it to Schmucks (they are the only thing close) and I got told "Its burnt up" and the guy asked what I was using to charge it.

I told him what I had, a black and decker float/trickle charger with a 1-amp and 2-amp setting.

He tried to sell me a new battery, and a fancy charger for $100. The charger had the normal charge settings, then it had a button that said "Gel Cell". Upon looking at the specs sheet, all it said about that setting was that it was a 2-amp charge.

Now I've used my trickle charger to bring my Orbital back to life once before, so I'm not buying the guys line about my trickle charger not being ok for a Gel Cell battery.

So, is there some specail charger for Gel Cells besides a trickle charge?

someone school me. :corn:

crash2 · Jul 18, 2007

I have always trickled charged mine..

1 grumpy · Jul 18, 2007

NAC25 said:
Whats the proper way to charge a Gel Cell battery?

I was always told to charge my optima with a 2-amp trickle charge to prevent from burning it up.

Well I charged it on a trickle charger over the last couple days, and it still wouldn't give me any power. took it to Schmucks (they are the only thing close) and I got told "Its burnt up" and the guy asked what I was using to charge it.

I told him what I had, a black and decker float/trickle charger with a 1-amp and 2-amp setting.

He tried to sell me a new battery, and a fancy charger for $100. The charger had the normal charge settings, then it had a button that said "Gel Cell". Upon looking at the specs sheet, all it said about that setting was that it was a 2-amp charge.

Now I've used my trickle charger to bring my Orbital back to life once before, so I'm not buying the guys line about my trickle charger not being ok for a Gel Cell battery.

So, is there some specail charger for Gel Cells besides a trickle charge?

someone school me. :corn:

just use a motorcycle trickle charger from harbor freight it's about a $9.00 charger.If you over charge a gell THEIR done and you will have to buy a new battery.

Little Red Zuk · Jul 18, 2007

1 grumpy said:
just use a motorcycle trickle charger from harbor freight it's about a $9.00 charger.If you over charge a gell THEIR done and you will have to buy a new battery.

Yup. I'm going to need one now.

That, or I left the dome light on for 2 months caused it.

nick c · Jul 18, 2007

ok, I figured the guy behind the counter wasn't as smart as he thought he was. he asked how I charged it, i told him my trickle charger he asked if it was a gel cell specific charger. I said no, whats the differnce. he told me a line about gell cell chargers don't just charge "the top of the battery" :eeek:

And showed me a charger they were selling for $100 and said see this is a new one we just got, it has the specail setting for gel cells. I told him thanks, but Ill look around.

skrause · Jul 18, 2007

Optimas and similar are not gel cells.

JOOP · Jul 18, 2007

skrause said:
Optimas and similar are not gel cells.

Optimas aren't gel cell's? How do you figure?:eeek:

But yeh trickle charge a gell cell. Takes all damn day but saves the battery.

skrause · Jul 18, 2007

JOOP said:
Optimas aren't gel cell's? How do you figure?:eeek:

But yeh trickle charge a gell cell. Takes all damn day but saves the battery.

They are a suspended electrolyte or as Optima describes them, "absorbent glass-mat" battery which does not use a gelled electrolyte. From the horses mouth.

Unlike traditional lead acid batteries that use stacks of thick lead plates suspended in a reservoir of acid, OPTIMA

YoMamasTaco · Jul 18, 2007

JOOP said:
Optimas aren't gel cell's? How do you figure?:eeek:

Optimas are a helical wound lead acid batery. Instead of having small sheets of metals they use a reaaaallly long sheet wound up in the "tubes" that you can see from the exterior.

If you had a gel cell batery, it would have cost you much more than your Optima.

I had the lovley chance to burn up a gel cell on some earthquake project back home. .. .. the CEO sent me a new one...then promptly sent me another 24 batery's. OOPS... I felt sorry for the UPS guy having to come load up the 24 boxes after he had just dropped them off the day before.

I never did see the bill for that, and I hope i never do.

skrause · Jul 18, 2007

http://www.1st-optima-batteries.com/faq11.asp

skrause · Jul 18, 2007

YoMamasTaco said:
If you had a gel cell batery, it would have cost you in excess of $500 just for a small 12v batery.

Not true. For example, I can buy a replacement battery for a UPS from APC for around $300 or I can go to a battery wholesaler and get the same exact battery for 1/10th the cost. Gel cells have an amazing ability to be excessively marked up and sold to idiots who don't know better. A typical "small" 7Ah gel cell such as what is found in emergency lighting and fire alarm panels can be purchased for around $10.

YoMamasTaco · Jul 18, 2007

skrause said:
Not true. For example, I can buy a replacement battery for a UPS from APC for around $300 or I can go to a battery wholesaler and get the same exact battery for 1/10th the cost. Gel cells have an amazing ability to be excessively marked up and sold to idiots who don't know better. A typical "small" 7Ah gel cell such as what is found in emergency lighting and fire alarm panels can be purchased for around $10.

Sorry..Small VEHICLE Batery.

Budget bateries will sell you one cheap, but do you really want to trust it?

skrause · Jul 18, 2007

YoMamasTaco said:
Sorry..Small VEHICLE Batery.

Budget bateries will sell you one cheap, but do you really want to trust it?

I said wholesalers, not fly by night ripoff artists.

YoMamasTaco · Jul 18, 2007

budget has been in business how long?
Not quite fly by night after 10 years.

1 grumpy · Jul 19, 2007

I don't know where you live but try going to innerstate batteries and try to get a blem from them it should cost you around $50-$70 and they have the same warrinty as the ones at any 4wheel drive shop.This is where I go too pick up all my batteries.

Good luck on what ever you decide too do.oh and just use a trickle charger on them...