Wanted to give a tip on charging the Optima batteries. Maybe everyone already knows this, but I wasn't told when I bought mine. I have an Optima Red Top. I found out the hard way that you cannot perform a "quick charge" on these batteries. They require a "deep cycle charge", which I guess is typically 2 amps/hr. or so, over a 24 hour period. I performed the "quick charge" on mine (the 40amps./hr), and it started smoking and smelling like sulfur.
I took it back to where I purchased it and the guy said that is what happened. One of the gel cells ruptured due to excess heat. The battery was still in warranty (full replacement). The guy told me that his manager probably wouldn't make it good, because of it being quick-charged, but since he wasn't there, he would go ahead and do it. I thought it was very nice of him, since I hadn't been told this when I purchased it.
So, remember, only a trickle charge for these batteries.
I took it back to where I purchased it and the guy said that is what happened. One of the gel cells ruptured due to excess heat. The battery was still in warranty (full replacement). The guy told me that his manager probably wouldn't make it good, because of it being quick-charged, but since he wasn't there, he would go ahead and do it. I thought it was very nice of him, since I hadn't been told this when I purchased it.
So, remember, only a trickle charge for these batteries.