New Optima 12V Battery - Necessary to Charge First?

Discussion in 'Gen 2 Prius Main Forum' started by Kizzy, Sep 4, 2017.

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  1. bisco

    bisco cookie crumbler

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    it may go higher and stabilize higher after being charged a few times. i find mine much higher 12 hours after a hybrid charge, but settles back again after a day without charging.
     
    #61 bisco, Sep 7, 2017
  2. Kizzy

    Kizzy Member

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    OP here with an update. I installed the Optima in my Prius this morning. The procedure went very smoothly, only issue I had was reattaching that hidden bolt/screw for the hybrid vent duct. Dropped it the first time I tried and had to fish it out from behind the battery. Second time I got smart and stuffed a piece of paper towel into the 10mm socket first, that helped hold the screw in place inside the socket without falling out, while I got it started into the hole in the side of the car.

    The Optma battery was a perfect fit, and the exact size of the orginal Toyota battery it replaced. However, I did remove the thick plastic carrying strap once it was placed inside the car. I'll store it away until I need it again...hopefully not for a long time! With the strap out of the way it definitely helped get the battery clamp re-secured same as before.

    Put away all my tools, powered up the car and all looks good. Outside of the car, before installation, the battery was reading 13.1V (it had lost about a tenth of a volt over the last 36 hours or so, waiting to be installed). Immediately after installation, the system check on the MFD read 12.9V on ACC (single press) and 12.7V at IG-ON (double press). I believe these readings are as expected, since the MFD test will usually show a few tenths of a volt lower than at the actual battery terminals.

    Next I reset the clock and radio presets, initialized the auto-windows, and did the chicken dance to disable the backup and seatbelt beepers.

    Finally, I took the car for a 10-min drive, came home and did another test and the MFD read 13.1V (single press) and 12.8V (double press) respectively. I'd expect this to drop back down a few tenths of a volt as the car sits at OFF for a while.

    Orginal OEM battery is on my workbench and ready to be returned for my $15.00 core fee. :)

    Want to thank everyone who chimed in. I'm very glad I decided to charge the battery before installing, if for no other reason than the piece of mind it gives me. Not to mention, now I have a battery maintainer which will surely come in handy in the future.

    Cheers,
    Kizzy
     
    #62 Kizzy, Sep 7, 2017
    Last edited: Sep 7, 2017
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  3. bisco

    bisco cookie crumbler

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    congrats and well done!(y)
     
    #63 bisco, Sep 7, 2017
  4. dolj

    dolj Senior Member

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    Congrats on a job well done.
    I bet you find you will use it more that you thought you would.

    To make it more convenient, There may have been a "pigtail" lead that came with your charger, install that at the battery and feed it up to sit on top of the cover. You then simply just click the charger cable on to plug on the pigtail to do a charge. If you didn't get a "pigtail", I'm fairly sure they are available for Schumacher chargers as an accessory. Well worth getting one, IMHO.
     
    #64 dolj, Sep 8, 2017
    Last edited: Sep 8, 2017
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  5. Mendel Leisk

    Mendel Leisk Senior Member

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    I did that with my CTEK, got tired of pulling the fuse cover off and attaching alligator clips. It was a little tricky getting to the 12 bolt positive hold down bolt location in that fuse box, to add the CTEK quick-connect pigtail.

    I still need to pop the hood, but much more convenient. Any time the car is sitting idle more than a day I connect the charger, let it run through a cycle, then just leave it connected.
     
    #65 Mendel Leisk, Sep 8, 2017
  6. Sam Spade

    Sam Spade Senior Member

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    And I am absolutely sure that they are available at any auto parts store.....as a "generic" accessory.
    IIRC they are part of a group of "SAE" automotive electrical connectors.

    Of course you will need to get one to connect to the battery and the mating one to connect to the charger.
     
    #66 Sam Spade, Sep 8, 2017
  7. Kizzy

    Kizzy Member

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    The charger did come with pigtail leads, so yes in theory I could do that. At the moment I'm not feeling much like fiddling around again in the battery area, but possibly in the future. Schumacher does sell spare leads too. Meanwhile I'm finding other uses for the charger, like topping off and maintaining a few extra 12V gel cell batteries I have for my APC Back-UPS.

    On a related note, is there any other benefit to charging/maintaining the Optima at the battery terminals, as opposed to doing it via the jump points in the engine compartment? Is it equally fine/safe to do it either way?
     
    #67 Kizzy, Sep 8, 2017
    Last edited: Sep 8, 2017
  8. bisco

    bisco cookie crumbler

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    no advantage, i do everything from under the hood, much easier.
     
    #68 bisco, Sep 8, 2017
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  9. bisco

    bisco cookie crumbler

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    just as you never charged your oem battery, you will likely not need to charge the optima. i haven't ever charged my 2012 oem.
     
    #69 bisco, Sep 8, 2017
  10. dolj

    dolj Senior Member

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    Yes, it is equally fine/safe to do it either way. Which way is really what you find most convenient. I would use the front point when using clip on attachment, as it is easier an less fiddly than connecting this at the battery. However, it you have a pigtail attached (as I have) I find it more convenient to use that. It is quick and easy to connect and go, and just as quick to put away. There is a nice carpeted and flat platform to lay everything out on, too.
     
    #70 dolj, Sep 9, 2017
  11. Kizzy

    Kizzy Member

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    Got it, thanks!

    -Kizzy
     
    #71 Kizzy, Sep 9, 2017
  12. Mendel Leisk

    Mendel Leisk Senior Member

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    One thing you have to do to directly at the battery posts is use of Solar BA5, won't work at jump start terminal.
     
    #72 Mendel Leisk, Sep 9, 2017
  13. mikefocke

    mikefocke Prius v Three 2012, Avalon 2011

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    upload_2017-9-9_20-9-56.jpeg
    For those reading this thread in the future.
     
    #73 mikefocke, Sep 9, 2017
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  14. bisco

    bisco cookie crumbler

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    should be a sticky.(y)
     
    #74 bisco, Sep 9, 2017
  15. Prodigyplace

    Prodigyplace 2025 Camry XLE FWD

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    @Tideland Prius usually will accommodate a request like that.
     
    #75 Prodigyplace, Sep 9, 2017
  16. bisco

    bisco cookie crumbler

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    that would be great. if he is considering it, there is actually a toyota chart, and testing procedure would be exceptionally helpful.
     
    #76 bisco, Sep 9, 2017
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  17. Mendel Leisk

    Mendel Leisk Senior Member

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    Just remember:

    "The 12 volt side of life"

    Google that gets that graph.
     
    #77 Mendel Leisk, Sep 9, 2017
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  18. iplug

    iplug Senior Member

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    Anyone know how accurate a multimeter is after a few years? Almost all measurement tools need calibration with standards periodically.

    Would it be unlikely for a multimeter to be off .1-.5 or more volts years after factory initial calibration?

    With many measuring tools one can "zero" them, but that doesn't necessarily make non-zero measurement accurate.
     
    #78 iplug, Sep 10, 2017
  19. Sam Spade

    Sam Spade Senior Member

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    OK you're gonna have to explain that one.
    I thought that the "jump points" were connected directly to the battery.
     
    #79 Sam Spade, Sep 10, 2017
  20. Sam Spade

    Sam Spade Senior Member

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    Highly unlikely but not impossible I guess.
    Digital meters don't "drift" like analog ones did.
     
    #80 Sam Spade, Sep 10, 2017
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