battery purchase question

[dogear52]

I'm going to do a 1st time purchase of 2 new 6V US Batteries from a battery warehouse/store before hitting the road. When I went by there last week the salesman pointed out the model I'm wanting and there were about 10 on a skid and had a film of dust/dirt on top of them. I'm assuming they were sitting for a while, and wondering what approach to take when I go back to make the buy. Do I ask for batteries from the newest arrival batch or do I not need to worry about the ones I saw seeming to have been stored there for who knows how long and might have had discharge issues? Is there a proper/improper way they should bring the batteries I buy up to 100% if they aren't already. Surely they keep them from discharging too low while waiting to be sold. This is the 1st time I've bought this type battery from other than an auto parts or dept. store and need a little guidance going in.

 

[SternWake]

I'm going to do a 1st time purchase of 2 new 6V US Batteries from a battery warehouse/store before hitting the road. When I went by there last week the salesman pointed out the model I'm wanting and there  were about 10 on a skid and had a film of dust/dirt on top of them. I'm assuming they were sitting for a while, and wondering what approach to take when I go back to make the buy. Do I ask for batteries from the newest arrival batch or do I not need to worry about the ones I saw seeming to have been stored there for who knows how long and might have had discharge issues? Is there a proper/improper way they should bring the batteries I buy up to 100% if they aren't already. Surely they keep them from discharging too low while waiting to be sold.     This is the 1st time I've bought this type battery from other than an auto parts or dept. store and need a little guidance going in.

I'd bring a voltmeter. If you see voltages under 12.6v, ask for a discount and do not listen to the expected salesman speak about how it does not matter if they have been sitting.

If they read over 12.75 or so they likely have been recently recharged.  

http://usbattery.com/wp-content/uploads/2014/12/2015_US-Battery-Date-Codes-2.pdf

http://usbattery.com/wp-content/uploads/2014/05/usb-charging-recommendations.pdf


A well informed consumer is the salesman's nightmare.  Don't let them walk all over you.  I found the employees at my local distributor to know practically nothing, except what they sell the most of, and what that apparently what they make the most profit from.

 

[dogear52]

Thank you SternWake. Excellent link info and advice. I'll study up on it.

 

[MikeRuth]

don't know where your located but these guys http://www.atbatt.com/?gclid=CN-UzK2ri8YCFc1gfgodcKYA4Q

are in Valencia California, I bought my two Trojan 6V T-105's from them and the batteries were less than 60 days old.

Should you be interested in Torjan....http://www.trojanbattery.com/pdf/TRJN_0522_date_code.pdf

 

[SternWake]

don't know where your located but these guys http://www.atbatt.com/?gclid=CN-UzK2ri8YCFc1gfgodcKYA4Q

are in Valencia California, I bought my two Trojan 6V T-105's from them and the batteries were less than 60 days old.

Should you be interested in Torjan....http://www.trojanbattery.com/pdf/TRJN_0522_date_code.pdf

Helpful link Mike.

I plan on getting a Trojan T-1275(j-185) , once I lower my battery tray to accept it.

I hope to purchase a fresh one and cycle it hard, yet recharge it as best as possible, and see how it performs and compare it to the pseudo deep cycles I've been employing.

This place claims free delivery in San Diego.

http://deepcyclebatterystore.com/12-volt-48-volt-carts/

 

[MikeRuth]

Damn I think I screwed up LOL, so to speak. Interesting that the jumper between batteries on there site says a 2/0. I used a 2 Gauge cable just long enough to make the jump.

Now I'm wondering under heavy draw just how much that might be hurting my setup.

 

[SternWake]

Damn I think I screwed up LOL, so to speak. Interesting that the jumper between batteries on there site says a 2/0. I used a 2 Gauge cable just long enough to make the jump.

Now I'm wondering under heavy draw just how much that might be hurting my setup.

2 awg should be sufficient for 100 amp loads.  I'd not worry with just a pair of 6v's.  They wont be supporting 100 amp loads for very long anyway that a 2/0 interconnect would make a measurable difference..

I see a lot of info on that site which which I do not agree with regarding charging.  Lots of opinion that is best for their bottom line, not for the consumer.

 

[MikeRuth]

thanks for the Comment SW, I'm not fretting over it and I don't think I'll be putting that kinda load on my system anyhow. Only once so far and that was for testing purposes which I was happy with.

TC,

Mike R

 

[dogear52]

Thanks MikeRuth. I'm in KCMO so will have to pick them up here.

 

[dogear52]

New issue. I went to the shop today to buy 2 US 2200 6v batteries for $96.95 each and they offered me the option of new but blemished US 2200 batteries for $65 each with the same 1 yr warranty. They put a volt meter to a couple and each read 6.25 but I'm wondering why they'd point me to a cheaper blemished new(?) option when I'm ready to pay $32 more for the new unblemished. They said the blemishes are cosmetic......scratches to the plastic and terminals that don't interfere with function or are overstock batteries US passed on to them. I'm a bit suspicious by nature so I'm holding off until I can get more info re. the battery market and any schemes that go on. I'd sure like to save the $$$ if the option is legit. Yea or nay?

 

[highdesertranger]

well if they are new(not more than 2 months old) with the same warranty, I would get them. but then I am old with cosmetic blemishes. highdesertranger

 

[MikeRuth]

Because they got them cheap and are making as much if not more in profit.

6.25 Volts is just a hair low and sounds good to me. do you have a hydrometer? if so ask if you can check the cells or ask them to, if there all in the green I'd say your good to go and personally would buy them.

If I recall you also have the info on the US battery date codes. check that as well.
But seriously at that price you can't hardly go wrong.

Mike R

 

[dogear52]

Thanks highdesrtranger and Mike R. I'll check the dates and pick up a hydrometer when I buy a voltmeter and then give the cheaper ones another look. So the volts should be at 6.30? Should they charge them up to that level or should I just let it be?

 

[SternWake]

I am not sure of the fully charged rested voltage of USbattery 6v GC batteries.  6.3 would be 12.6v if a 12v battery and that it the very bottom of what I would hope to see on a fully charged rested flooded battery.


So 12.5, they have been sitting and self discharging.

I am not sure why some sellers push the Blemished batteries as hard as they do.  The guy who delivered my lifeline gpl-31XT was trying to sell me a Blem'd Deka 4d for 135$, which is an awesome price.

GC batteries are so tolerant of abuse, if you bought the older blem'd ones, and cycled them once to 50% or so, then gave them a steady 5 to 10 amp recharge until voltage hit 15.5 to 16v, and specific gravity no longer kept rising at the 1.275 or higher region, they should perform well.  The first discharge/recharge cycle of a battery, they act a bit different than when broken in, but that first recharge should be not a partial one, but a bursting full recharge, and if you take Specific gravity readings, these become the baseline for future comparison when doing equalization charges.

My first Northstar AGM battery was discounted 50$ because it was an older bluetop model.  My OCD kicked in and I went back the next day and spent the extra 50$ for one that was 2 weeks old.  I just could not handle buying such an expensive battery, and knowing it was possibly compromised by sitting on the shelf

 

[dogear52]

Thanks SternWake. Until I get familiar with batteries I'm not going to take any chances so will purchase the new unblemished ones. They said they get new shipments every 2 weeks so I'll verify freshness by the date code. I'm assuming the voltage on a new and fresh battery should be between 6.3 and around 7.5 ? I have a Champion 2000 inverter/gen. that has a battery charger terminal. Is that sufficient to keep these charged to the max or do I need to hit them with shore power charger.....let's say every 2 weeks to get to max?

 

[Optimistic Paranoid]

The so-called "battery charger" function on Honda and Yamaha generators is only a max output of 8 amps.  I looked your Champion up online, and it lists a max output of 8.3 amps at 12 volts dc. 

You're going to wind up running your generator FOREVER to charge batteries at that low rate.  Get yourself a good shore power smart charger - one with bulk, absorption, float, and equalization capability and use the AC output of the generator to power THAT when shore power isn't available.

Regards
John

 

[dogear52]

Thanks O P, good advice and I simply overlooked the gen. AC option. Seems to be a wasted feature on these generators then, but I guess a half *** charge is better than -0-. I'll be hunting down a good charger.

 

[akrvbob]

well if they are new(not more than 2 months old) with the same warranty, I would get them. but then I am old with cosmetic blemishes. highdesertranger

That can't be true! Say it ain't so!!

Was it the locusts?
Bob

 

[highdesertranger]

I am afraid it's true. highdesertranger

 

[ccbreder]

The locust were being saved for dinner. What did you do with them?