Equipment Batteries Just Don't Last

[Jstpssng]

Re: Equipment Batteries Just Don稚 Last

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.

I took an electrical diagnosis course in 1978. The instructor told of th perplexing electrical problem of a car he was working on. Every so often it would show a momentary drain which would stop before they had a chance to trace it. They tried many things with no luck tracing the drain. Finally it dawned on them; the car was equipped with an electric clock, and every time the minute hand moved it would put a load on the battery.

Unless you disconnect the battery there is always a slight draw on the lead to the switch. Granted by itself that load is miniscule, but it's there.

 

[dnw64]

Re: Equipment Batteries Just Don稚 Last

I took an electrical diagnosis course in 1978. The instructor told of th perplexing electrical problem of a car he was working on. Every so often it would show a momentary drain which would stop before they had a chance to trace it. They tried many things with no luck tracing the drain. Finally it dawned on them; the car was equipped with an electric clock, and every time the minute hand moved it would put a load on the battery.

Unless you disconnect the battery there is always a slight draw on the lead to the switch. Granted by itself that load is miniscule, but it's there.

OK, I stand corrected. "41 years ago..."

 

[fried1765]

Re: Equipment Batteries Just Don稚 Last

Trickle charger can save lot of headaches...good brand name $$$'s.

"NOCO Genius" $30 on Amazon
"Battery Minder" $20 on Amazon
Steer clear of the cheapos.

 

[DieselBound]

Re: Equipment Batteries Just Don稚 Last

Recommendations for a solar charger? I have equipment scattered about and cannot be running power cords all over the place. Had one hooked up to my previous truck but it seemed like it might not have a blocking diode in it because every time I turned around I found that the batteries were weak (this seemed to happen after I started using the solar charger- didn't use it very long because of this): I need to test it to see.

My truck's batteries are, I believe, due to be replaced: got this truck not long ago (it's a 94). I don't use the truck very often, in which case it's hard to justify the cost of AGM batteries (looking at over $500; diesel truck, so a pair of batteries). Aftermarket alarm system places a drain.

Interestingly, the battery in my lawn tractor is still working well after MANY years. It sits idle (though undercover) for MANY months: no auxiliary stuff to drain the battery. My Polaris (diesel) is a 2013 and it still has it's original battery (probably have jinxed myself!); it gets used fairly often, so perhaps that's why it is still alive.

No idea how old my car's battery is, but I've had it for four years and I know the battery wasn't new when I got the car (used). Every other battery (well, except the one in my lawn mower and Polaris) has been replaced.

A trickle charger also keeps the batter warmer. Lead acid batteries and cold temps don't go together really well. I'm lucky in that we don't get exposed to much in the way of temperature extremes here.

 

[John_Mc]

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.

You missed one: Lead acid batteries will self-discharge over time. It's usually a slow process, but the warmer it is, the faster this tends to happen (people often don't notice it until winter, since the chemical reaction that powers the battery is inhibited in colder temperatures, as well as the fact that it takes more to turn over an engine in the winter). If you let a battery sit long enough, it will self-discharge, even if it is not connected to anything external that drains it. Leaving it in a partially or fully discharged state causes sulfation, which can kill a battery

 

[John_Mc]

Re: Equipment Batteries Just Don稚 Last

"NOCO Genius" $30 on Amazon
"Battery Minder" $20 on Amazon
Steer clear of the cheapos.

The $20 BatteryMinder (model 12117) is an older model. I believe they discontinued it for a while, then brought it back. At one point after it was brought back it was exclusively sold through Northern Tool. It's still a decent charger. I have one that is almost 20 years old and still going strong.

However, their newer models (1500 or 1510 - electrically identical to each other, the 1510 just comes with a longer warranty and different included accessories) have added temperature compensation and will also attempt to recover a battery which has been much more deeply discharged than their old model 12117. Personally, I think they are well worth the $50 or so they are asking for those models. They make much more expensive chargers (higher amperage, customized charging profiles of Gel or AGM batteries). ALL of BatteryMinder's Charger include the desulfation feature, and all except the 12117 include temperature compensation.

 

[fried1765]

Re: Equipment Batteries Just Don稚 Last

The $20 BatteryMinder (model 12117) is an older model. I believe they discontinued it for a while, then brought it back. At one point after it was brought back it was exclusively sold through Northern Tool. It's still a decent charger. I have one that is almost 20 years old and still going strong.

However, their newer models (1500 or 1510 - electrically identical to each other, the 1510 just comes with a longer warranty and different included accessories) have added temperature compensation and will also attempt to recover a battery which has been much more deeply discharged than their old model 12117. Personally, I think they are well worth the $50 or so they are asking for those models. They make much more expensive chargers (higher amperage, customized charging profiles of Gel or AGM batteries). ALL of BatteryMinder's Charger include the desulfation feature, and all except the 12117 include temperature compensation.

I have not had particularly good luck with the "Battery Tender" brand, though I do have a bunch of them.

I have had two of them fail in the 10 year warranty period, and the warranty is useless.
The consumer must pay for shipping both ways to get a repair/replacement.
By the time you do that, you can find a new "Battery Tender" on sale somewhere for almost no cost difference.
I consider their warranty to be a farce!
As a result, I do not buy the "Battery Tender" brand anymore.
NOCO Genius, or Battery MINDER are my choices of the day.

 

[Industrial Toys]

Re: Equipment Batteries Just Don稚 Last

Yes, a battery will self discharge. That is a given. But a good battery with no draw, and in moderate temperatures should hold a charge for six months easily.

I wonder if the military has any information on this stuff. Surely, historically, they have stuff sitting around unused for long periods.

 

[dnw64]

Re: Equipment Batteries Just Don稚 Last

I wonder if the military has any information on this stuff. Surely, historically, they have stuff sitting around unused for long periods.

You can be pretty sure of that. Well, both of that!

The military keeps track of and analyzes everything, even that stuff that doesn't matter! And they Shirley have lots of stuff sitting around for very long periods of time...

 

[Fuddy1952]

Re: Equipment Batteries Just Don稚 Last

This is a simple thing I rigged up many years ago, if you have lots of batteries you want to trickle charge.
It's just a common 120v primary/12.6 v secondary transformer. This I ran down center of garage to boxes in ceiling. The outlets I cut the jumper and put a lamp (#1156 I think?) in series, one outlet marked low. Then a.c. cords with a diode in +red positive jumper.
Advantage is you can charge as many batteries all at once. Diode isolates them and provides charging (17v peak) voltage.
Plugging into low is a trickle charger current limited by lamp.
Disadvantage is unlike a maintainer you have to know how long to keep it on. A low current bulb like a #194 is only about 1/4 amp (250mA).
Just food for thought.