Battery Charging

So I figure since I got my optimate 3 I'll have a quick boost before I go
out. My battery has given no trouble so wasn't worried.

Plugged in Optimate and the orange LED comes on, indicating its successfully
charging.

Come back 2 hours later and its still charging when I rather expected it to
have finished.

This is my first use and the battery has given no trouble so didn't expect
it to take to long before reaching its target of 14.3V

How long does this normally take?

 

I'm no expert but it completely depends on how much the battery has been
depleted and the condition of the battery. Given we have just been
through a cold spell when batteries generally lose charge I would not be
surprised if it takes quite a few hours (up to 8) to top up your
battery.

Someone who has a clue will be along shortly.

 

Paul Corfield wrote

I managed to recover one of my *hideously* expensive Li-ion batteries by
means that are not described in the book. Now I have the time to
actually get the shot in focus before I have to change batteries. Good
it is.

 

curium wrote

What processes does a modern optimate go though to "give it a quick
boost"?

There might be a clue in that.

If all is it supposed to do is zap a few amps up the terminals then the
whole process could only take minutes. OTOH....

 

Optimate is not a boost device. If you read the instructions this is
clearly indicated. It uses a charge/float cycle over several hours to
recover/maintain a battery. Best results are achieved by plugging the
charger in the night before a planned trip. As PC says, that actual time
before the green LED comes on is variable depending on the level of initial
discharge and the current drain from alarms etc.