Optima Digital 400 - the Best Car Battery Charger under $100?

[Fringe]

Originally Posted by Dave9
Originally Posted by Fringe
I have been trying to suggest people get some car battery chargers for the cars currently sitting for weeks and weeks.



I don't have this charger, so I can't make a fair statement on whether it is worth $100 for what it can do, but it is completely unnecessary to spend that kind of money just to keep your battery topped off, no matter how long. Anything decent quality that limits maintenance charge current to 100mA (or ideally closer to 75mA) should do fine for an otherwise healthy battery and vehicle electrical system.

You can build that out of $5 worth of spare parts. Consult battery manufacturer datasheets to see if they require marketing buzzword features to keep their battery topped off.

waiting for that DIY?

 

[Fringe]

Originally Posted by UncleDave
Ill spend 10 dollars more and get an optimate 6 every time, Id ever prefer an optimate 5 over this.

Optimate 6 wins on

recovery voltage .5 vs 1.25

battery range 3-240 vs Low end not listed upper end 130AH

range of charge amperage .4-5 Amps vs 3-4 Amps

UD

do a detailed review my friend!

 

[UncleDave]

Originally Posted by Fringe
Originally Posted by UncleDave
Ill spend 10 dollars more and get an optimate 6 every time, Id ever prefer an optimate 5 over this.

Optimate 6 wins on

recovery voltage .5 vs 1.25

battery range 3-240 vs Low end not listed upper end 130AH

range of charge amperage .4-5 Amps vs 3-4 Amps

UD

do a detailed review my friend!


Id have to buy the 400 to offer more than a spec sheet comparison, unless you are asking about a review of the optimate 6?

Looks like a decent charger, but there is some seriously good stuff in that price range.

but spec sheet to spec sheet the optimate (6) is more versatile - but it is 8 dollars more om amazon.

I appreciate learning about it and your review. Thanks.



UD

 

[Fringe]

Originally Posted by UncleDave
Originally Posted by Fringe
Originally Posted by UncleDave
Ill spend 10 dollars more and get an optimate 6 every time, Id ever prefer an optimate 5 over this.

Optimate 6 wins on

recovery voltage .5 vs 1.25

battery range 3-240 vs Low end not listed upper end 130AH

range of charge amperage .4-5 Amps vs 3-4 Amps

UD

do a detailed review my friend!


Id have to buy the 400 to offer more than a spec sheet comparison, unless you are asking about a review of the optimate 6?

Looks like a decent charger, but there is some seriously good stuff in that price range.

but spec sheet to spec sheet the optimate (6) is more versatile - but it is 8 dollars more om amazon.

I appreciate learning about it and your review. Thanks.



UD



oh I dont mean about the 400, I mean about the one you own and know about!

 

[UncleDave]

Originally Posted by Fringe
Originally Posted by UncleDave
Originally Posted by Fringe
Originally Posted by UncleDave
Ill spend 10 dollars more and get an optimate 6 every time, Id ever prefer an optimate 5 over this.

Optimate 6 wins on

recovery voltage .5 vs 1.25

battery range 3-240 vs Low end not listed upper end 130AH

range of charge amperage .4-5 Amps vs 3-4 Amps

UD

do a detailed review my friend!



Id have to buy the 400 to offer more than a spec sheet comparison, unless you are asking about a review of the optimate 6?

Looks like a decent charger, but there is some seriously good stuff in that price range.

but spec sheet to spec sheet the optimate (6) is more versatile - but it is 8 dollars more om amazon.

I appreciate learning about it and your review. Thanks.



UD



oh I dont mean about the 400, I mean about the one you own and know about!


I own about a dozen of them and have posted many many picts of them, but maybe I should do a quick vid.

UD

 

[DuckRyder]

I actually have 2 Digital 400's... its a nice charger... no problems with them...

 

[eljefino]

Get the $4.99 HF trickle charger and the free multimeter with any purchase.

Keep the battery at 12.65 volts.

See you at the end of the pandemic.

 

[IndyFan]

I thought it was a great video. Too bad you got such a warm greeting from some of the Bitog A wholes around here. I'm truly getting sick of some of the folks on this site. The ratio of entertainment to eye rolls is getting to the point where I'm starting to think about moving on.

I saw your video on the 1200, as well, and it was great.

I've never heard anyone with an Optima charger complain about them. Only positive remarks. I've thought about picking one up. The 400 s to fit my budget a bit better. I think it would work well with the X2 Power (Northstar) in my 08 Jeep.

Btw, if anyone wants a Northstar battery at a great price with a year longer warranty than from Northstar, check out the X2Power batteries at Batteries Plus Bulbs.

And for you sweeties out there who think I'm selling or hawking, you can go stuff yourselves. Happy Mother's Day!

 

[Fringe]

Originally Posted by DuckRyder
I actually have 2 Digital 400's... its a nice charger... no problems with them...

how long have you had them?

 

[UncleDave]

Originally Posted by Fringe
Originally Posted by UncleDave
Originally Posted by Fringe
Originally Posted by UncleDave
Ill spend 10 dollars more and get an optimate 6 every time, Id ever prefer an optimate 5 over this.

Optimate 6 wins on

recovery voltage .5 vs 1.25

battery range 3-240 vs Low end not listed upper end 130AH

range of charge amperage .4-5 Amps vs 3-4 Amps

UD


do a detailed review my friend!


Id have to buy the 400 to offer more than a spec sheet comparison, unless you are asking about a review of the optimate 6?

Looks like a decent charger, but there is some seriously good stuff in that price range.

but spec sheet to spec sheet the optimate (6) is more versatile - but it is 8 dollars more om amazon.

I appreciate learning about it and your review. Thanks.



UD



oh I dont mean about the 400, I mean about the one you own and know about!


A quick overview

https://youtu.be/ACk0IYhPRRk

 

[DuckRyder]

Originally Posted by Fringe
Originally Posted by DuckRyder
I actually have 2 Digital 400's... its a nice charger... no problems with them...

how long have you had them?


A while... the newest one I got in January 2016 ...

 

[Fringe]

Originally Posted by IndyFan
I thought it was a great video. Too bad you got such a warm greeting from some of the Bitog A wholes around here. I'm truly getting sick of some of the folks on this site. The ratio of entertainment to eye rolls is getting to the point where I'm starting to think about moving on.

I saw your video on the 1200, as well, and it was great.

I've never heard anyone with an Optima charger complain about them. Only positive remarks. I've thought about picking one up. The 400 s to fit my budget a bit better. I think it would work well with the X2 Power (Northstar) in my 08 Jeep.

Btw, if anyone wants a Northstar battery at a great price with a year longer warranty than from Northstar, check out the X2Power batteries at Batteries Plus Bulbs.

And for you sweeties out there who think I'm selling or hawking, you can go stuff yourselves. Happy Mother's Day!

thanks for not being like the rest!

 

[Fringe]

Originally Posted by Fringe
Originally Posted by DuckRyder
I actually have 2 Digital 400's... its a nice charger... no problems with them...

how long have you had them?


A while... the newest one I got in January 2016 ...

Nice, what do you use them to charge?

 

[Fringe]

or not

 

[zeky]

I use the battery charger my grandpa bought when he was a teenager. I also have a 2 amp I got at a garage sale years ago that I use on motorcycle batteries. I truly believe all the high tech gadgetry battery chargers are simply another way to separate fools from their money.