Let's talk about OPTIMA Batteries

KJ 119 · **Posted:** Thu Sep 15, 2011 11:21 pm

To all that have not had success charging their Optima after heavy discharge, according to Optima, in order to desulfate your battery, take a set of jumper cables and hook your dead Optima to a good battery and then charge it till it shows a minimum voltage of 10.5Vdc(on it's own) and then continue charging alone.
Hopefully those dead Opties didn't get trashed, might still be good.

ATXKJ wrote:

FYI - according to a couple forums with some exOptima workers - Johnson controls bought Optima in 2000 - started up the plant in Mexico - built 1/2 the production in the US - 1/2 in Mexico - until Jan 2009 when they shut down the US plant.

so - you might have gotten a good one in the past - but don't count on it in the future.

Not to bite the hand that feeds me (electrician that has been installing JCI systems for over ten years through the ele. company I work for), but lets get the truth out there.
JCI cares about nothing more than filling their pockets with cash.
Over the years I've noticed that all the devices that I install, slowly but surely started saying "Made in Mexico".
Today as I install their systems, EVERY piece of equipment is made in Mexico (even their transformers which for some reason pi$$es me off).
Qualitywise, the parts seem the same, if anything, the panels are wired a bit more neatly (trunk is often wired wrong).
It's more of a shame that so many of our boys were put out of a job.

Another truth...There's not much that isn't being "Made in Mexico".
More truth....Most of the Mexicans would work circles around our boys for a whole lot less.

I'll end this off with a funny story: Anytime I ask my JCI Tech to order parts for me, it's easier for them to order from a Non-JCI parts (local to US) company, than to order from their own parts manufacturing company.
WHY, you might ask?????
Because the parts get shipped from Mexico, flies right over New Orleans on it's way to Memphis, leaves Memphis and flies right back down to New Orleans. :ROTFL:

ATXKJ · **Posted:** Fri Sep 16, 2011 7:16 pm

Well - yes and no

we've got a lot of hard working dedicated Mexicans........here in Texas..... and they do work hard - no argument and they tend to risk a lot just for the opportunity to work.

However when it comes to moving Manufacturing out of the US - the biggest expenses are the equipment and depreciation cost - people budgets are a small part of the cost unless it's handmade - so out of the country means that they're trying to cut all corners to save money - so they tend to also cut Quality control, incoming materials cost, training and time allowed for people to do a good job.

So if someone moved to cut manufacturing cost - odds are overwhelming that you're getting a lower quality product shipped to customers.

KJ 119 · **Posted:** Fri Sep 16, 2011 7:30 pm

I'm finding it hard to argue that point. Well put.

tjkj2002 · **Posted:** Fri Sep 16, 2011 9:16 pm

KJ 119 wrote:

To all that have not had success charging their Optima after heavy discharge, according to Optima, in order to desulfate your battery, take a set of jumper cables and hook your dead Optima to a good battery and then charge it till it shows a minimum voltage of 10.5Vdc(on it's own) and then continue charging alone.
Hopefully those dead Opties didn't get trashed, might still be good.

:

When both of mine that failed(both just a few days out of warranty) had internal shorts so trying to recharge was pointless.

Boomerang · **Joined:** Tue Jul 26, 2011 7:46 pm **Posts:** 184

I think I'll pass on Optima Batteries.

Let's talk about OPTIMA Batteries

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