Got this from the Optima Website, seems like to me you can use a regular charger.


OPTIMA® REDTOP® Charging Information

The following charging methods are recommended to ensure a long battery life. Always use a voltage-regulated charger, with voltage limits set as described below.

REDTOP® Type: 34 & 34R - 34/78 - 78 - 25 & 35 - 75/25
These batteries are designed for engine starting applications. They are NOT recommended or warranted for use in deep-cycle applications.

Recommended charging information:

Alternator:
•13.3 to 15.0 volts, no amperage limit.

Battery Charger:
•13.8 to 15.0 volts, 10 amps maximum, approximately for 6-12 hours.

Rapid Recharge:
•Maximum voltage 15.6 volts (regulated), no current limit as long as battery temperature remains below 125°F (51.7°C). Charge until current drops below 1 amp.

Float Charge:
•13.2 to 13.8 volts, 1 amp maximum current, time indefinite (at lower voltage).

 

Voltage limit.



My trusty old school Sears charger puts out more than 15.6 volts, and that's a problem for AGM style batteries.

After hours of online searching I found a Black & Decker model BC15BD 15 amp 12 volt only battery charger at Home Depot for $50 that properly smart (voltage regulates) charges AGM, wet, and Gel batteries. An attractive feature certain higher priced chargers have are specific separate settings for AGM, wet, and Gel, which this one does not.

http://www.homedepot.com/p/BLACK-DE...-Amp-Battery-Charger-with-40-Amp-Engine-Start-BC15BD/205431782?N=5yc1vZc8m6Ze7c

Wal-Mart sells the same charger model under the Stanley brand colors for the same price.

http://www.walmart.com/ip/Stanley-15A-Battery-Charger-with-40A-Engine-Start/38243759

There are much more expensive smart chargers on the Odyssey and Optima sites, but $125 to $150 is harder for some to justify.

Just a couple of suggestions.

 

There is a video on youtube by Optima. And yes you can use a regular charger but it has to be set on a certain amp. Can't remember.

 

I've charged my Optima with a 6-amp and a 10-amp charger and not had any problems. I didn't monitor it any differently than any other battery but I didn't overcharge it either..

 

Good info guys.

 

I use this one on my Optima.. love it...http://www.geniuschargers.com/G3500

 

One manufacturer recommends no trickle.

We have a 2006 tar top 2SM50 clone, sealed battery from Restoration Battery in our car. This unit is still going strong into it's eighth year. It was very expensive, over $200 back in 2006, but we wanted the tar top look with maintenance free modern guts inside.

The instructions for the battery say to disconnect the battery for periods of non-use, and to only charge it if the voltage falls below 12.65v. If below 12.65v they say NEVER TO JUMP START, just to charge it with battery charger with a 10 amp /15v limit. They say there is no need to use a trickle or maintainer for their battery.

In the spring, when I hook the battery back up, the voltage is more often than not still above 12.65v, so I just kick the tires and light the fire, no charging whatsoever, other than when the alternator is spinning. Nowadays the battery is trunk mounted with no evidence of corrosion or fumes.

I do worry about shortening the life of the battery if we're ever out on the road and run the battery down, and have to jump start it. It just isn't always possible to have a 120 volt power cord and plug in a 10A/15v charger for a couple of hours to rescue a battery.

 

You can use a regular battery charger. Just don't leave the charger connected and charging indefinitely. If you use a trickle charger, get one that has charge sensing.

This is also good advice for a lead acid battery. No battery likes to be cooked.

 

Since you opened the door on lead acid batteries, I guess I can go off topic too. Recently my father's home carbon monoxide alarm went off in his home. He did some preliminary investigation in the basement around the furnace and water heater, both natural-gas fired, and found nothing so he called the fire department. Within minutes, they arrived and began to investigate with a sensor and visually finding nothing. The fire official then called the gas company.

Again, amazingly quick, 10 minutes or so, the gas company arrived. He used his sensor and began looking around. Across the room, he spotted my father's work bench with two batteries sitting atop, one connected to a charger. These were both small batteries, one from a rototiller, and the other, a bit larger, from his hydo-drive zero turn riding mower. The gas company official went over to the batteries and the sensor reading shot up. He called my father over and showed him the sensor, an said it was the batteries and that he had come across this situation a few times. In the mean time, the fire department returned. He was mystified, and said the had never heard of this in hi 25 or so years with the department. He said he would bring this to the attention of the rest of the department. Note that only one battery was being charged at a time, not a high rate either, but charging was for an extended time, since there were two batteries. No other problems were discovered.

A good safety warning.