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Big surprise yesterday. I tried to start my MEP003A generator yesterday as part of my monthly test. No Go. I ran the generator last month and the starter turned the engine very fast. I keep a 24 VDC maintenance battery charger hooked up 100% of the time, except when the generator is running. The front Red Top read 7.8 VDC, basically dead. The rear Red Top read 13.15 VDC, fully charged. Both batteries were purchased at the same time from O'Reilly Auto Parts on January 8, 2020, so both were still covered by the three year full replacement warranty. I had always been told that when using two 12 VDC batteries in series that both should be replaced at the same time and that not doing so would result in overcharging one battery and that the older battery would drain energy from the new battery. O'Reilly refused to replace the battery that still tested good and said that it was Optima policy to only replace the one bad battery. O'Reilly replaced the bad Optima Red Top with a new one, without problem. With the initial purchase, O'Reilly gave me a 10% Veterans discount of $45.00 which was great. Now that the replacement Red Top is installed, my generator spins over fast again. I just hope the older remaining battery not only lasts but doesn't cause harm to the new one.
Prior to the Optima Red Tops I had installed two Exide Orbital batteries in August 2009. Those Exide Orbitals lasted over ten years , until January 8, 2020 - excellent service. I'm very disappointed in having one of the Optima Red Tops fail in only 19 months when the previous Exide Orbital batteries lasted 149 months.
Prior to the Optima Red Tops I had installed two Exide Orbital batteries in August 2009. Those Exide Orbitals lasted over ten years , until January 8, 2020 - excellent service. I'm very disappointed in having one of the Optima Red Tops fail in only 19 months when the previous Exide Orbital batteries lasted 149 months.