Equipment Batteries Just Don't Last

[jaydee325]

Re: Equipment Batteries Just Don稚 Last

I go out there quite a bit during the winter, and when I do I start each machine and run it for a while.

This practice is a major contributor to your problem. It is also not good for the engine. Park your equipment and disconnect the battery until you intend to use it. Or, get a quality battery maintainer for each or periodically swap between machines.

Bottom line, the charging system on any piece of equipment is not designed to fully recharge the battery under the periodic conditions you are creating.

AGM battery chemistry is superior for equipment stored for extended periods of time due to the inherent low internal discharge characteristics.

 

[mguitas]

Re: Equipment Batteries Just Don稚 Last

I gave up on lead acid bats for anything wire tires or props, and only use AGM.
Have always used maintainers and this does help, but AGM's just last longer and need no maintenance.

Edit: removed tracks, my dozer and loader use CAT batteries which are lead acid. They also are 4D size so real large

The AGM battery is also better in the cold.

 

[Industrial Toys]

Re: Equipment Batteries Just Don稚 Last

I don't really see the point of starting a machine off season. I use only lead acid batteries, some years old and don't have a problem at all, in unheated spaces. I just stick a charger or trickle charger on them one or twice a winter. Maybe you should check to see if there is a slight draw on the battery.

 

[dnw64]

Re: Equipment Batteries Just Don稚 Last

I haven't read all the replies. However, I have a few thoughts on the OP.

Twice, I have had batteries that did not perform as expected.

1. I purchased a battery for my standby generator from AutoZone. In less than 2 years it would no longer take a charge.
2. In March 2017 I went to look at a M-F GC2300. As I arrived, the PO was finishing up putting a new "Econo-Power" battery in. After 1.5 years, it will no longer take a charge.

The generator got an Interstate. After about 4 years, it failed. It had a 5 year warranty in it, so it was replaced. 3 years later, it failed again, Note, this was 7 years after I purchased it, with a 5 year warranty. Oh, no - they said; it's 5 years after in-service date - here's a no-charge replacement...

So, when my GC battery died, what battery do you suppose I bought? Yes, at $140+ it's not pleasant, but I am a believer in Interstate, Even though I intend to sell this particular tractor next year. At least I will feel good about it, all for what - an extra $50?

 

[Industrial Toys]

Re: Equipment Batteries Just Don稚 Last

Having a piece of equipment that drains a battery will kill the battery.

Letting a battery discharge and allowing it to freeze will kill a battery.

Overcharging a battery, either from falty charging system on the machine or a battery charger that boils your battery will kill your battery.

Beyond that, there really isn't much to destroy batteries prematurely.

Mind you, none of my stuff is heavily used. Possibly batteries run a lot in severe service with a lot of vibration might not last long.

 

[dnw64]

Re: Equipment Batteries Just Don稚 Last

I go out there quite a bit during the winter, and when I do I start each machine and run it for a while.

This practice is a major contributor to your problem. It is also not good for the engine.

I don't have an industry accepted white paper to back me up, but my BIL, who runs an auto repair shop and is an Interstate battery dealer, tells me that it generally takes about 15 minutes of normal operation to re-charge a battery to the state it was before initiating a start.

A trickle/float charger is your best friend. Some people have success disconnecting the battery. That may work fine for non-computerized models. Modern systems like to have their daily intake of electrons. I would never consider disconnecting the battery for the 5-6 months of Winter on my Porsche; all the re-sets that need to be done will take me far longer than the cost of a float charger and the electricity to run it is worth to me.

 

[Jstpssng]

Re: Equipment Batteries Just Don稚 Last

I was taught to pull the batteries of the machines which won't be run through the winter and bring them into a warm place . Conversely in spring it's a good idea to at least disconnect batteries in snowblowers, snosleds, and anything else which won't be used throughout the summer.

As I wrote this I remembered what I didn't do when I was down at my mother's house last month; the next time that I'm down I have a few batteries to pull.

 

[dnw64]

Re: Equipment Batteries Just Don稚 Last

Having a piece of equipment that drains a battery will kill the battery.

rant/

Unfortunately, this is becoming more and more the norm. I'm just grabbing numbers out of the air, but I would guess that:

* forty years ago, when you turned off the ignition in any vehicle (except maybe a space shuttle [did it exist then]?), the battery had no draw on it.
* 20 years ago, some cars always tapped in for their daily allotment of electrons.
* 10 years ago, almost all passenger vehicles* and more & more "equipment" (forestry, mining, agricultural, etc) found nirvana in "always on" options.
* Today, even your cheap lawnmower needs to be plugged in or it reverts to its origins of nothing more than a pile of elemental...elements.

/rant

The above may be a slight dramatization - but mark my words, in 5 years (ok, maybe 10) that will be Truth.

*my 2009 Mercedes CLS 550 found itself on the bump stops when I left it for 4 or maybe 5 months one winter. It had a pneumatic suspension, so when the battery tired of holding position, it just no longer did so.

 

[Industrial Toys]

Re: Equipment Batteries Just Don稚 Last

I kind of agree with that, except those lead clamps are often just not suited for numerous on and off cycles. If I have a good connection with stuff to keep the corrosion at bay, I would rather not touch it.

Of all the total BS in the Manuals, it would be nice if manufacturers told you of a constant battery drain. It has been said that some older alternator diodes leak. Some of my equipment has master battery switches.

 

[dnw64]

Re: Equipment Batteries Just Don稚 Last

I was taught to pull the batteries of the machines which won't be run through the winter and bring them into a warm place . Conversely in spring it's a good idea to at least disconnect batteries in snowblowers, snosleds, and anything else which won't be used throughout the summer.

As I wrote this I remembered what I didn't do when I was down at my mother's house last month; the next time that I'm down I have a few batteries to pull.

In a not-too-distant-future, machines will be programmed to to that all on their own. The machine will even be able to determine, based on history (obviously - no good for the first year), if it even need to consider such dramatic action.

AI > HI.

Well, as long as HI had properly programmed AI.