Battery Bummer

[VanLifeCrisis]

So i was thinking of getting 2 6v trojan batteries in the future.&nbsp; I know im in wv, but i figured there would be somewhere i could get them.&nbsp; I checked the trojan site for retailers and the closest one is 2 hours away.&nbsp; Ok, well I shoot them an email and they said they don't carry trojan batteries!&nbsp; They said they carry comparable deka and interstate batteries, for 149 (about the price ive seen for the trojan's online).&nbsp; <br /><br />Im worried i'll get there and the batteries won't be nearly as good.&nbsp; I think there is an interstate dealer nearby....does interstate make decent deep cell batteries?&nbsp; I might stop in and talk to the local guy.

 

[bee]

Sams club "duracell" golf cart batteries are rebadged deka.&nbsp; Dekas have a pretty good reputation.&nbsp; Are they as good as trojan, I don't know.&nbsp; No one else really knows either.<br /><br />Anyway I just bought them 2 months ago at Sams Club for ~$95 each, best price I could find.<br /><br /><br />No matter what battery you buy Deka/Trojan/ Lifeline AGM.&nbsp; They all die premature deaths from the same thing.&nbsp; Not being fully charged for extended periods of time.&nbsp; Make sure you have a good way of charging them.

 

[VanLifeCrisis]

Well I plan to have 290 watts of solar and since ill be working too, I have power available at work for 8 hours a day.&nbsp;<br /><br /><br />Thats interesting about sams club...I think there is one about an hour and half from me (or less).&nbsp; Hmmm..I wonder if they carry those.<br /><br /><br />edit:&nbsp; Just check the website for sams club and they have one there for $81 (probably 20 more with core charge right?)...not sure if its at the store near me but it says it is available in this state at least.<br /><br /><div>20 amp hour rate:215<div><ul><li>5 amp hour rate:157</li><li>6 amp hour rate:156</li><li>BCI Group Size:GC2</li><li>Minutes at 25 amps:395</li><li>Minutes at 75 amps:105</li><li>Volts:6</li></ul></div></div><br />Sound about right?<br /><br />I just called and they have 25 of them on hand <img src="/images/boards/smilies/smile.gif" border="0" align="absmiddle"> Just gotta find someone with a membership..i think i know someone..<img src="/images/boards/smilies/rofl.gif" alt="" align="absmiddle" border="0" />

 

[bee]

They had 2 different models when I bought.&nbsp; I bought the more expensive one because it was heavier (more lead) and more AH.<br /><br />The problem with samsclub is you have to be a member or they charge you 10% over list.&nbsp; Not sure what membership costs are.<br /><br /><br />I think my core charge was 15, but it varies from place to place.&nbsp; I was able to use regular car batteries as a core.&nbsp; I don't think you are supposed to be able to, but they didn't care.

 

[wrcsixeight]

Batteries are not something to purchase until you are ready to put them into use. &nbsp;They have shelf lives.<br /><br />They are always something one wants to purchase as fresh as possible, when one is ready to start cycling them. &nbsp;Buying them just to put on a float charger while their intended home is not ready for them is not wise, unless you are prepping for the apocalypse. Buying them just to let them sit and discharge is even less wise.<br /><br />Call up some golf courses and ask for the maintenance department, they might be able to add some to their next order for you. &nbsp;They are almost guaranteed fresh batteries, not some which have been sitting on a shelf, self discharging and sulfating and losing capacity.<br /><br />Trojan, like many companies these days, seems to have relied on their reputation &nbsp;carrying them through while doing some corner cutting. &nbsp;In some other forums I've seen complaints of young Trojans going belly up with &nbsp;more recent batches.<br /><br />I know Crown Batteries enjoy a good reputation. &nbsp;I think they are located in Ohio. &nbsp;East Penn/ Deka make good batteries too.<br /><br />If you plan on putting flooded batteries inside the van's living space, they should be vented to the exterior. &nbsp;AGM batteries are a much better idea for interior use, but 2x the price. &nbsp;Sometimes they are on special at sears( die hard platinum AGM) and have free shipping to boot. &nbsp;AGM batteries self discharge at a much slower rate, so fresh batches are less important than flooded batteries.<br /><br />The sears DHP's are rebadged Odyssey batteries, which are pretty much top of the line AGM batteriescapable of deep cycles while having more than enough CCA for engine cranking too.<br /><br />Interstate golf cart batteries are most likely made By US Battery which have a pretty good reputation. &nbsp;They have 2 models, one with a few more A/H crammed into them.<br /><br />Many report good service from Costco and Sam's GC batteries. &nbsp;I hear even Wally World carries GC batteries now. &nbsp;Besides starting batteries, these would be the only wally world battery I would consider.<br /><br /><br />

 

[bee]

Good point about battery age.&nbsp; The Samsclub batteries have a round sticker on the side with the date of shipment.&nbsp; If you know how to read the code stamped into the case that should tell you date of manufacture. I just used the shipment sticker though since I don't know how to read the case stamp lol.<br /><br />My samsclub had a fresh shipment it was only 1 month old, though I do not know if that is common or just coincidence.

 

[VanLifeCrisis]

Yeah someone just told me they have a paper from them that says i can go in and shop for 10% more.&nbsp; Still cheaper since Im just going once. <br /><br />Is there a way to check the health of the battery right after purchase to see if i got an old crappy one or a fresh one, or will it operate normally and die the day the warranty is up?&nbsp; If they have 25 in stock i cant imagine they get a new shipment often.&nbsp; How old is too old?&nbsp; There are a few golf courses and Greenbrier is not too far from them, but I cant imagine they sell that many golf cart batteries. <img src="/images/boards/smilies/crazy.gif" alt="" align="absmiddle" border="0" />&nbsp; But who knows, the lady in the background knew the item number from memory when she overheard the less knowledgeable clerk on the phone with me mention golf cart batteries ("he needs a battery?&nbsp; the ###### one?&nbsp; We got 25"), so maybe its often sought after.<br /><br /><br />edit:&nbsp; I found a deka manual and it says the ship code is a letter for the month (A-jan, B- Feb etc) and a number for the year (0 = 2000, 1=2001, 0-9 resetting each decade), not sure if it applies to the duracell.&nbsp; Can you confirm bee?<br /><br /><br />

 

[wrcsixeight]

A voltmeter on a rested battery is a pretty good indicator of state of charge. &nbsp;12.6v + and it is either fresh, or freshly recharged.<br /><br />Voltage on a battery that has been recently charged or discharged is not accurate at all.<br /><br />Pretty much a vital tool for Van Dwelling IMO:<br /><br /><a href="http://www.harborfreight.com/7-function-multimeter-98025.html">http://www.harborfreight.com/7-function-multimeter-98025.html</a>

 

[VanLifeCrisis]

Thanks for the link!&nbsp; I might just pick one of those up.&nbsp; I wonder if they will let me test in the store <img src="/images/boards/smilies/rofl.gif" alt="" align="absmiddle" border="0" />

 

[bee]

Yep the duracell is the same.&nbsp; there will be a round sticker with a letter for the month on it.