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Cadillac & LaSalle Club Forums => Technical / Authenticity => Topic started by: z3skybolt on June 05, 2018, 06:56:58 PM

Title: Dummy of the week Optima battery installation question....
Post by: z3skybolt on June 05, 2018, 06:56:58 PM
My 6 volt "John Deere" battery with 820 amps of cranking power, died after just over one year of use despite being kept on a battery tender.  For better or worse I have ordered two 6 volt Optima batteries which I will wire in parallel. I know several of you have done this and it is pretty straight forward. My question is this...

.....given that I will have to attach cables  to the terminals in parallel...will there still be room for my normal battery clamps to attach to the terminals?  Or will I have to find some kind of "thin" connector cable clamps to leave room. Perhaps there are ready made connectors with some kind of additional "terminal" for connecting to the vehicle battery clamps. I don't want to change the heavy clamps and cables already in the car.

Also I have read that the Optima AGM batteries are to be kept peaked up at all times with a quality "maintainer" as opposed to a "tender".  What is the difference and what do you guys recommend?

Thanks for the continuing education. My LaSalle appreciates it.

Bob
Title: Re: Dummy of the week Optima battery installation question....
Post by: Steve Passmore on June 06, 2018, 04:09:34 AM


Also I have read that the Optima AGM batteries are to be kept peaked up at all times with a quality "maintainer" as opposed to a "tender".  What is the difference and what do you guys recommend?

Thanks for the continuing education. My LaSalle appreciates it.

Bob
[/quote]

Don't think there is any difference. The difference is between a 'Charger' and 'Maintainer/Tender'
Title: Re: Dummy of the week Optima battery installation question....
Post by: Dan LeBlanc on June 06, 2018, 07:17:24 AM
I used a Battery Tender on the battery in my 61.  Three years and no issues before I sold the car.  I did, however, make sure to get a battery tender that was listed for use with AGM batteries as that what was inside the case of the reproduction battery.
Title: Re: Dummy of the week Optima battery installation question....
Post by: Daddio on June 06, 2018, 07:47:35 AM
I recently had a concern that my 2 stage 'Battery Tender' unit wasn't maintaining my repop style battery (which has a VERY small AGM battery inside), so I asked the manufacturer, Deltran, directly.
They responded that as long as my unit has the 4 step processor with an absorption stage, it was perfect for an AGM battery (as well as lead/acid and gel). It turns out it does, even though it's nearly 10 years old.
My repop battery lasted about 10 years, which is all you can expect I guess.
Title: Re: Dummy of the week Optima battery installation question....
Post by: Bill Ingler #7799 on June 06, 2018, 11:10:25 AM
Below picture is the battery minder I use on the 6 volt Optima battery on my 47. No problem in the last six years with keeping the Optima up to full charge. Always keep the input to the battery low, 1 amp input with this type tender/minder.  Bill
Title: Re: Dummy of the week Optima battery installation question....
Post by: Jerome506237DX on June 06, 2018, 01:43:44 PM
This is how my 2 Optima batteries are installed. I used the thickest wire I could get, then 2 double clamps accordingly. It isn't the prettiest work, but for now it will do.

(https://forums.cadillaclasalle.club/proxy.php?request=http%3A%2F%2Fimg.photobucket.com%2Falbums%2Fv64%2Fjerome56olds%2FIMG_0032_zpsmte5npiq.jpg&hash=e724588ad36e5969b74f1ac33609750670f9b251) (http://smg.photobucket.com/user/jerome56olds/media/IMG_0032_zpsmte5npiq.jpg.html)


Jérôme
Title: Re: Dummy of the week Optima battery installation question....
Post by: z3skybolt on June 06, 2018, 03:15:48 PM
Thanks Jerome, Bill and all,

Just what I was looking for. Both the "tender/minder/charger and a picture of the battery hook up. I will use your suggestions.

Bob