Thread: There Goes My Optima D34 Smugness!

Originally Posted by ADMIRAL

Have a look at the Odyssey range. They have an aircraft background. Mine has been used and abused for over 8 years and is still going, albeit with slightly reduced performance. My battery came ( PC1200 ) in a steel case, which also helps durability IMO.

No... don’t.. they’ve gone backwards also.

Had 10 of these of varying sizes fail spectacularly over the years. Most recently the one in the D4. It lasted 4 months.

I have had a good run out of yellow tops. Got my first D31A about 15-16 years ago, it is still doing starting duty in the D2 Td5. Started as the Aux on a trip to the outback keeping an 80 LRT Waeco going for 6 weeks with a simple starter relay isolation switch triggered by Power on ignition trigger. Relay died but battery kept going. Vehicle start Battery died and placed the D31A into starting duty. Has worked in that mode for approx 10 years during which, due to parking up for extended periods, has gone flat enough to need a jump start. After getting back up to charge has continued on. Have subsequently acquired other Yellow tops for wife’s car and aux camping batteries.

They are a bit pricey but you can get them for less than advertised price if you are cheeky enough to to ask for a discount.

As I have a couple that I take out I would keep using a battery with a small bulge as I can replace if things go bad and make do with a single aux instead of two. I just pop them into a battery box behind the parcel grid/seats.

Picked up the bulging Optima D34 from the retailer. CCA test came back OK, but Ah was down (forty-six or eight or something instead of 55Ah). But I was concerned about the safety of the bulging, so I went straight to the distributors, Federal Batteries in Keysborough. To their credit, they spoke with me and confirmed that the battery must have overheated and sulphated by being overcharged after having been left flat for some time. Not sure about this as the Traxide ABG-25 is set to cut-out at 11.6v (20%SoC) and the battery wouldn't have been left flat for long. Also, the Traxide USI-160 is designed to work with AGM batteries, so I cannot see that overcharging the Optima.
I expressed my concern that the battery could explode and they agreed that was always a possibility with any battery.
Whilst they wouldn't deal with a claim directly from me, they would deal with the retailer. So I returned the battery to the retailer who is quite happy to submit a claim as the battery is two years into a three year warranty. Interesting that the warranty is now two years!
In any event, I'm not comfortable taking such a distorted battery into the bush and I'm not now comfortable with Optima, so I immediately sourced an SSB HVT-50D AGM from the Victorian distributor Hollyhock Batteries Plus in Carrum Downs. I spoke with the MD, Phil, who is happy to consider doing a deal with AULRO members.
I'll be emailing Phil with a link to this and other related threads and we'll see if he wants to get involved.
In the meantime, I topped up the SSB overnight and fitted it this morning. One advantage for D3/4 use as a second battery is that you can remove the posts and simply bolt the Traxide cables (i.e remove the clamps) directly to where the posts were.
I'm also considering re-setting the ABG-25 Low Voltage Cut-out module from 11.6v to 11.8v (>30% SoC). Other options are 12.0v (>40%) and 12.3v (>60%).
I'll update this thread with how the warranty claim goes.

Originally Posted by DiscoJeffster

My camper/house batteries have been swollen since I got it four years ago. While I’ve confirmed they don’t hold the same capacity as new, at over $700 to replace them, I just ignore the bulge and continue using them. I wouldn’t be concerned about the YT bulge, but I get it that you’d hate to be stranded if it give up.

Thanks DiscoJeffster. Actually, I'm not concerned about the battery failing. That can happen anytime with anything. I'm a great believer in redundancy, particularly when alone in the bush. I have a new Varta G14 as the main battery and now the SSB as a second one. But I also carry a third battery for camp lighting and, well, just to have. So, really, I could afford to have both the Varta and the SSB fail and I'd probably still be OK.
My concern, though, is with the Optima exploding or causing damage. How can you trust a deep cycle battery that fails on it's first deep cycle?

Originally Posted by DieselLSE

I'll update this thread with how the warranty claim goes.

Sorry for the delay in updating, but we've been in self-isolation since my last post and not going out for anything. The retailer called back saying Federal had tested the Optima D34 yellow top and they reckon it comes up OK. So nothing to do under warranty. Talked some nonsense about the clamps being too tight and the battery too hot. So I certainly won't be dealing with any Federal sourced batteries again if at all possible and won't be buying Optima again.
Not sure about the retailer. I have supported them for a few years buying all my batteries there and am a bit disappointed they didn't take a firmer stand or at least make some sort of conciliatory offer.

Very common story on Optima claims sadly.

Originally Posted by Tombie

Very common story on Optima claims sadly.

This seems to be the case lately.

Originally Posted by Tombie

Very common story on Optima claims sadly.

Its interesting, because I've always had a good run from them. Something has obviously changed in them and it makes me wonder if that corresponds with the price drop from what they were.

I've always run the BlueTop under the bonnet rather than the yellow or red, but never the less the reduced life on the Optimas is now a pretty common story.

I would recommend the Lifeline which I run as a second battery. These live as long as the original Optima's and for the same size will carry much more energy. You will pay for them though.