Charging a Car Battery with an Optimate III?

[DCoplin]

Trying to help a mate out whose diesel Mitsibushi Shogun's battery is flat. I've pulled the battery out and stuck it on my Optimate III to charge but after 18 hours, the charging light is still on which seems a bit long to me.

Now I've just figured out that the Optimate III is only designed for batteries up to 32 Amp/Hr and this battery is likely way more than that, am I wasting my time with the Optimate?

Sorry, I know this is not strictly GS related (but it is the charger I use for my GS ...

Thanks

Dave

 

[cookie]

they're more of a topping up charger not reallly suitable for charging a big assed diesel battery from flat.

 

[wessie]

My mum used to own, but rarely use a Megane. Consequently, the alarm would flatten the battery. I used an Optimate to recharge the battery on a number of occasions. It takes a long time but does happen eventually. For a big diesel engine battery this could be weeks!

 

[ralphy]

I managed to get life back into a big car battery with the Optimate; but as wessie said, it takes a long, long time.............

 

[DCoplin]

Magic, thanks guys,

I'll see how it's faired when I get home tonight, sad thing is the reason it's flat is because me mate forgot to put any water in it. It wasn't dry but 3 of the 6 cells were below the plates so it's probably had it anyway...

 

[DCoplin]

Just for some closure to the thread, the Optimate finally pulled through and after around 36 hours, the smiley green light came on, bunged the battery in matey's car and away he went.

So, patience _is_ a virtue after all