Where to purchase a 6 volt Optima Battery
- Phil Planck
- 356 Fan
- Posts: 2034
- Joined: Wed Mar 26, 2008 7:21 pm
- Location: NE Michigan, lower penn.
Re: Where to purchase a 6 volt Optima Battery
If one is worried about lead acid battery leakage and fumes you can get a battery box with a vent tube
www.taylorvertex.com/battery
The Miata battery, in the trunk like 356 has a vent tube routed to the outside, as do some motorcycle batteries.
I ran an Optima in my 55 coupe and it lasted years. Also ran a lead acid with a special mat. Optima will vent(not fully sealed) during serious charging, so leave trunk lid open if that is the case.
www.taylorvertex.com/battery
The Miata battery, in the trunk like 356 has a vent tube routed to the outside, as do some motorcycle batteries.
I ran an Optima in my 55 coupe and it lasted years. Also ran a lead acid with a special mat. Optima will vent(not fully sealed) during serious charging, so leave trunk lid open if that is the case.
Phil Planck
- Richard Sjolund
- 356 Fan
- Posts: 206
- Joined: Fri Mar 28, 2008 4:40 pm
- Location: Iowa - USA
- Contact:
Re: Where to purchase a 6 volt Optima Battery - AutoZone
So, I get to answer my own question: Where to purchase a 6 volt Optima Battery
My local AutoZone ordered one for me yesterday - and they have it at the store today. I'll pick it up tomorrow. The purchase requires a "Core" - and I have an even older Optima to give them.
It's great to learn that they are still being produced - and maybe, just maybe, my new one is a recent production.
Thanks to everyone who helped me in this search.
Richard Sjolund
Solon, (Iowa City), Iowa
Ruby -- 1964 (September 1963 build) 356 C Karmann Coupe (Ruby Red, color:6402)
On the 356 Registry cover- November, 2005; July, 2018
Ford F150 4X4 (Winter Snow Plow)
2015 Audi A4 Quattro (Wife's car)
My local AutoZone ordered one for me yesterday - and they have it at the store today. I'll pick it up tomorrow. The purchase requires a "Core" - and I have an even older Optima to give them.
It's great to learn that they are still being produced - and maybe, just maybe, my new one is a recent production.
Thanks to everyone who helped me in this search.
Richard Sjolund
Solon, (Iowa City), Iowa
Ruby -- 1964 (September 1963 build) 356 C Karmann Coupe (Ruby Red, color:6402)
On the 356 Registry cover- November, 2005; July, 2018
Ford F150 4X4 (Winter Snow Plow)
2015 Audi A4 Quattro (Wife's car)
- Charles H Jacobus
- 356 Fan
- Posts: 493
- Joined: Wed May 28, 2014 5:02 pm
- Location: Dallas, TX
Re: Where to purchase a 6 volt Optima Battery
I got mine from Batteries+
Chuck
Chuck
Current:
2012 Silver 991
1995 Midnight blue 993
1965 Red 356C
Past:
Fond memories of 14 others (including a '63 Normal and a 61 S90)
2012 Silver 991
1995 Midnight blue 993
1965 Red 356C
Past:
Fond memories of 14 others (including a '63 Normal and a 61 S90)
- Richard Sjolund
- 356 Fan
- Posts: 206
- Joined: Fri Mar 28, 2008 4:40 pm
- Location: Iowa - USA
- Contact:
Re: Where to purchase a 6 volt Optima Battery
Yes - - that would have worked for me - -with a 10% off coupon
https://www.batteriesplus.com/productde ... pt8010=044
Richard Sjolund
https://www.batteriesplus.com/productde ... pt8010=044
Richard Sjolund
- Jack Walter
- 356 Fan
- Posts: 403
- Joined: Fri May 09, 2008 9:36 pm
Re: Where to purchase a 6 volt Optima Battery
I bought mine from Summit. Also I highly recommend the Granite Digital battery charger/maintainer as it will handle a six volt AGM battery - the NOCO charger will not as I found out the hard way.
- Charles H Jacobus
- 356 Fan
- Posts: 493
- Joined: Wed May 28, 2014 5:02 pm
- Location: Dallas, TX
Re: Where to purchase a 6 volt Optima Battery
My NOCO 750 charges and keep my 6 Volt Optima fine, but my NOCO 3500 would not tend my 12V battery in the 993. It worked fine for a while, then stopped working and the car discharged the battery over a months time. the 750 did the same thing on the 12V 993.
Chuck
Chuck
Current:
2012 Silver 991
1995 Midnight blue 993
1965 Red 356C
Past:
Fond memories of 14 others (including a '63 Normal and a 61 S90)
2012 Silver 991
1995 Midnight blue 993
1965 Red 356C
Past:
Fond memories of 14 others (including a '63 Normal and a 61 S90)
- jay abrams
- 356 Fan
- Posts: 155
- Joined: Sat May 17, 2008 9:20 am
- Location: Coronado Ca.
Re: Where to purchase a 6 volt Optima Battery
I get my parts from suppliers that support my club. I don't understand why anyone would go elsewhere. Different strokes I guess. I've only purchased my Optimas from Chatham, and will continue to do so.
Jay
Jay
jay abrams
- Richard Sjolund
- 356 Fan
- Posts: 206
- Joined: Fri Mar 28, 2008 4:40 pm
- Location: Iowa - USA
- Contact:
Re: Where to purchase a 6 volt Optima Battery
I tried to find the Clatham website with no success. I found a FaceBook page filled with motorcycles and ATVs.jay abrams wrote:I get my parts from suppliers that support my club. I don't understand why anyone would go elsewhere. Different strokes I guess. I've only purchased my Optimas from Chatham, and will continue to do so.
Jay
I also tried NLA and Stoddard - I've been their customer for 30 years -- and I'm a frequent shopper at half of the vendors on the Registry list.
if it were that easy I would not have posted the question...
Richard Sjolund
Solon, (Iowa City), Iowa
"Ruby" 1964 (September, 1963) 356 C Karmann Coupe (Ruby Red, color:6402)
On the 356 Registry cover- November, 2005; July, 2018
Ford F150 4X4 (Winter Snow Plow)
2015 Audi A4 Quattro (Wife's car)
Solon, (Iowa City), Iowa
"Ruby" 1964 (September, 1963) 356 C Karmann Coupe (Ruby Red, color:6402)
On the 356 Registry cover- November, 2005; July, 2018
Ford F150 4X4 (Winter Snow Plow)
2015 Audi A4 Quattro (Wife's car)
- jay abrams
- 356 Fan
- Posts: 155
- Joined: Sat May 17, 2008 9:20 am
- Location: Coronado Ca.
Re: Where to purchase a 6 volt Optima Battery
I get that.....They are listed on the Vendors page under Accessories. Ph 540 381 0356
Jay
Jay
jay abrams
- Richard Sjolund
- 356 Fan
- Posts: 206
- Joined: Fri Mar 28, 2008 4:40 pm
- Location: Iowa - USA
- Contact:
Re: Where to purchase a 6 volt Optima Battery
I picked up my Optima 6 volt battery at my local AutoZone store today. They ordered it for me over the phone. It looks a little dusty - and a big sticker on the side says 10/15 .....
My guess is that I have a 3 year old NEW battery. It is on charge now, and I'm going to drive 1,720 miles to Arizona starting on Saturday (5 days from now).
Wish me well ....
My guess is that I have a 3 year old NEW battery. It is on charge now, and I'm going to drive 1,720 miles to Arizona starting on Saturday (5 days from now).
Wish me well ....
Richard Sjolund
Solon, (Iowa City), Iowa
"Ruby" 1964 (September, 1963) 356 C Karmann Coupe (Ruby Red, color:6402)
On the 356 Registry cover- November, 2005; July, 2018
Ford F150 4X4 (Winter Snow Plow)
2015 Audi A4 Quattro (Wife's car)
Solon, (Iowa City), Iowa
"Ruby" 1964 (September, 1963) 356 C Karmann Coupe (Ruby Red, color:6402)
On the 356 Registry cover- November, 2005; July, 2018
Ford F150 4X4 (Winter Snow Plow)
2015 Audi A4 Quattro (Wife's car)
- Jules Dielen
- 356 Fan
- Posts: 3204
- Joined: Fri Mar 28, 2008 3:25 pm
- Location: Arizona
Re: Where to purchase a 6 volt Optima Battery
safe travels Richard!
the 6v optima in my A is still going strong, it's a got a 7/09 sticker!
the 6v optima in my A is still going strong, it's a got a 7/09 sticker!
Jules
Water pumps are for windshield washers only.
Water pumps are for windshield washers only.
- Sean M Rooks
- 356 Fan
- Posts: 492
- Joined: Sun Aug 24, 2014 8:00 pm
- Tag: '64 C Coupe
- Location: Richmond, VA
Re: Where to purchase a 6 volt Optima Battery
Safe travels, Richard! i'm driving a scant 300 miles to the ECH this week and was hoping to bring a spare battery in the form of an Optima 6 volt to supplement my farm and tractor battery as a backup.
Hoping maybe I can find one on the way up...as no one in town has one in stock.
Hoping maybe I can find one on the way up...as no one in town has one in stock.
- Eric Decetis
- 356 Fan
- Posts: 29
- Joined: Tue Jun 27, 2017 8:24 pm
Re: Where to purchase a 6 volt Optima Battery
Good Luck!
Eric
- Attachments
-
- s-l225.jpg (6.54 KiB) Viewed 810 times
- David Jones
- Classifieds Moderator
- Posts: 7341
- Joined: Tue Mar 25, 2008 6:32 pm
- Tag: I wish I knew as much as I think I know.
- Location: Kentucky
Re: Where to purchase a 6 volt Optima Battery
If you are concerned at all about battery failure or generator failure be aware that if either one fails you can still drive for a long time with one or the other as long as you are aware of the pitfalls. A failed generator means you can only drive as far as the battery level of charge will allow but that also depends on failure mode. A bearing failure means not very far because of no cooling. If it is a mechanical failure of the generator and a 356 generator cannot be found then a VW 6 volt generator can be used to allow the fan to be operational until a 356 generator can be sourced. By means of splicing in to the VW generator output and field wires you can also use the VW generator to run the 356. Not pretty but at least functional.
If the battery fails you will now have to bump/jump start the car and a small sealed lead acid battery can be used to drive the ignition to get the engine running and run the ignition for an hour or so if necessary. These are small enough ( 6 volt 7amp) to fit in the glove compartment and will hold a charge for more than 6 months.
From what I can gather on Optima batteries the main problem with charging is not concerned with maintaining a charge but recharging a flat Optima. That requires a charger that can monitor the charge and adjust according to the state of the battery. This means that if you allow the Optima battery in your car to run down you could be in trouble and kill the battery by trying to charge it with the car charging system. It can also damage the car charging system if it takes too much charge and over taxes the generator.
If you do not drive your 356 regularly at least put it on a battery tender whenever you park it. I have done so for years and even my cheap farm supply batteries last 5 years plus.
If the battery fails you will now have to bump/jump start the car and a small sealed lead acid battery can be used to drive the ignition to get the engine running and run the ignition for an hour or so if necessary. These are small enough ( 6 volt 7amp) to fit in the glove compartment and will hold a charge for more than 6 months.
From what I can gather on Optima batteries the main problem with charging is not concerned with maintaining a charge but recharging a flat Optima. That requires a charger that can monitor the charge and adjust according to the state of the battery. This means that if you allow the Optima battery in your car to run down you could be in trouble and kill the battery by trying to charge it with the car charging system. It can also damage the car charging system if it takes too much charge and over taxes the generator.
If you do not drive your 356 regularly at least put it on a battery tender whenever you park it. I have done so for years and even my cheap farm supply batteries last 5 years plus.
If I had known I would live this long I would have pushed the envelope a little harder.
Cymru am byth
David Jones #9715
Cymru am byth
David Jones #9715
- Charles H Jacobus
- 356 Fan
- Posts: 493
- Joined: Wed May 28, 2014 5:02 pm
- Location: Dallas, TX
Re: Where to purchase a 6 volt Optima Battery
Dave:David Jones wrote:If you are concerned at all about battery failure or generator failure be aware that if either one fails you can still drive for a long time with one or the other as long as you are aware of the pitfalls. A failed generator means you can only drive as far as the battery level of charge will allow but that also depends on failure mode. A bearing failure means not very far because of no cooling. If it is a mechanical failure of the generator and a 356 generator cannot be found then a VW 6 volt generator can be used to allow the fan to be operational until a 356 generator can be sourced. By means of splicing in to the VW generator output and field wires you can also use the VW generator to run the 356. Not pretty but at least functional.
If the battery fails you will now have to bump/jump start the car and a small sealed lead acid battery can be used to drive the ignition to get the engine running and run the ignition for an hour or so if necessary. These are small enough ( 6 volt 7amp) to fit in the glove compartment and will hold a charge for more than 6 months.
From what I can gather on Optima batteries the main problem with charging is not concerned with maintaining a charge but recharging a flat Optima. That requires a charger that can monitor the charge and adjust according to the state of the battery. This means that if you allow the Optima battery in your car to run down you could be in trouble and kill the battery by trying to charge it with the car charging system. It can also damage the car charging system if it takes too much charge and over taxes the generator.
If you do not drive your 356 regularly at least put it on a battery tender whenever you park it. I have done so for years and even my cheap farm supply batteries last 5 years plus.
My generator can sometimes get to 7.5v. Is that going to hurt the battery (Optima). Right now, I've been turning the headlights on to get it down a little. It only happens, of course, at high rpm.
Chuck
Current:
2012 Silver 991
1995 Midnight blue 993
1965 Red 356C
Past:
Fond memories of 14 others (including a '63 Normal and a 61 S90)
2012 Silver 991
1995 Midnight blue 993
1965 Red 356C
Past:
Fond memories of 14 others (including a '63 Normal and a 61 S90)