Hot battery!!

[71 LONG BED]

I was installing my heavy duty headlight harness from LMC after I got home from work. The motor was still warm, but the battery was pretty hot. I am running a red top Optima battery and the alternator is about 6 years old, but has less than 10,000 miles on it. Is this normal?

[basketcase0302]

John, our temps here in TN were in the low 70's today-you had to be cooler there? I'd say no, (not normal) and dig out a voltage meter. Check battery voltage at idle / then battery voltage with motor running / then with motor running and everything turned on.
Sounds like maybe your voltage regulator might have given up.

[71 LONG BED]

Thanks Jeff, I was thinking the voltage regulator. Gunna call Napa today...
I'm not under the hood very often (knock on wood ) so this could be an old problem. I was pretty surprised how hot it actually felt. By the way, after installing the harness, I still see the lights increase in brightness when RPMs increase. This hints that there is too much voltage across the battery. Thanks for the second opinion.

[basketcase0302]

John, after one year later (getting my harness in my truck) I still haven't put my brighter halogen bulbs in 5the truck. New bulbs set on the shelf here getting dustier by the day.
My priorities I guess, are all messed up...

[71 LONG BED]

I think we all have parts waiting for us. I have my disk brake parts (all of them) sitting in a crate for at least 5 years, maybe more.

I put the harness in to stop the problem I had with the headlight switch having thermal overload and causing the headlights to go out!! Less current will mean less heat.
It seems to have worked, but now I have the regulator issue. Napa has my parts waiting for me but I couldn't make it before closing time, so today I'll pick them up and install the regulator in the rain I guess.
I only have a few more odds and ends to tackle before winter.

[basketcase0302]

I only have a few more odds and ends to tackle before winter.

After living in Florida for 26 years I now find myself having the same mindset John. Nowhere to work on the one ton out of the weather anymore. Maybe by next year I can have some kind of shelter for the bump.

[71 LONG BED]

Well, to conclude this story, my red top Optima battery was layed out to pasture. The current into the battery that made it get hot, also killed it. What a shame. I paid $135 for that battery 6 years ago. A $25 voltage regulator cost me a $135 battery. I had the old battery out of my 1999 Ranger that I cut up and took to the scrap yard...thankfully.

[basketcase0302]

Kool you caught it though-prior to putting a new battery in the truck!
Six years says a lot for the Optima, I've always wanted one.

[71 LONG BED]

Six years says a lot for the Optima, I've always wanted one.

Yeah, I guess it was a pretty good run. But, I do think it still had some life in it when the bad regulator ruined it. I have to say, it still started the truck if it was over 40 degrees. I wouldn't have know it was bad if it didn't start getting cold.

[Mancar1]

I got 11 years out of a optima in my full size 81 Ranger. I plan on buying one for the 68.