Thread: Optima D34 Yellow top or SSB DryCell HVT-50D AGM

So I was planning on doing a Charge/Discharge comparison between an Optima D34 55Ah Yellowtop and an SSB HVT-50D 60Ah battery. Both on a bench top and in a vehicle ( the test vehicle will be a 2017 Tiguan ).

A little over a week ago I bought a “new” Optima and as I do with all new batteries, I gave it an initial charge with a Sterling battery charger.

Just before charging the Optima, I measured the voltage and got a reading of 12.58v, and this was a like strange as I would have expected to see around 12.75v or higher.

Anyway, I charged the battery and it became clear why a low initial voltage. The battery took 36 amperes to fully charge.

With any new battery, being down 10%, to no more than 30%is not unusual, but this battery was down around 60%, and it just got worse.

I have now carried out a number of charge discharge cycles, trying to recover the battery, and while it will fully charge and hold the charge, it has a maximum capacity of just 75%.

The Optima was obviously FLAT when I picked it up.

NOT HAPPY JAN, and it goes back tomorrow for a replacement.

The SSB arrived on Friday and I gave it an initial charge.

It took 16.2 amperes, which is roughly 25% and acceptable.

I have only carried out one discharge cycle, and this was done after the battery was left to settle overnight.

A 2.1A load was applied to the battery and the load was disconnected by a Low Voltage Cut-Out unit, set at 12.0v.

The SSB returned a total discharge of 36.2Ah.

Not bad at all.

I have to say, the irony that the Optima you got was a dud isn’t lost on anyone here

Originally Posted by DiscoJeffster

I have to say, the irony that the Optima you got was a dud isn’t lost on anyone here

Yes I was thinking of getting an Optima for my RRS and one to run the 12v side of my 24v 101, but in view of all the negative experiences and given their cost I am not going to risk it.

Garry

Bad luck, Tim?
The optima I purchased and installed a week and a half ago was at 12.75, and is still going fine.
Maybe you got an old one?
Have kept my receipt just in case.

Originally Posted by RHS58

Maybe you got an old one?

This is exactly what I suspect.

They only had one on the shelf at the time.

Son just bought another Optima Blue top...against all advice and after failures with these previously..but he got a good deal and it suits his tray and wiring set up.

Of interest was the manufacture date on ones he looked at...some well over 12 months past But he got one with under 6 months since manufacture in Mex and was happy with that. Paid a little over 300..some customer restitution involved there given past issues with 5...yes 5 of these across 3 trucks failing prematurely in the past ie just going flat..not charging..terminal issues..one with a defective case.

See how we go with this one.

So...pay attention to the date of manufacture😎

Well the Optima was returned today, but they didn’t have another one in stock and just gave me a refund.

While I was going to get one somewhere else, I have now decided to hold off and just concentrate on testing the SSB.

I have completed the first full recharge cycle and the battery in now part way through a slow discharge cycle, using a 2.1A load. I will be discharging it down to around 11.00v

I started discharging the battery early this morning, so I should have the first results sometime tomorrow afternoon.

Originally Posted by drivesafe

I have completed the first full recharge cycle and the battery in now part way through a slow discharge cycle, using a 2.1A load. I will be discharging it down to around 11.00v

Out of morbid interest, what do you use for your load test?