Battery Longevity

[Cougsfan]

Another thing to consider; Get an multi meter and set it to amps, disconnect your positive lead, Place the amp meter leads between the positive post and cable end and see if you have a current leak with everything shut off. (actually, either positive or negative lead will work). If you register current flow, track it down.

You can start a real mud slinging debate by asking which brand of battery is best. All of it usually based on personal bias rather than facts. I would buy whatever tickles your fancy. The amount of Cold Cranking Amps generally determines the cost. As stated, most any parts house can check the status of your old battery, but I have seen cases where they give you an incorrect diagnosis. So don't let the 18 year old newbie behind the parts counter check your battery

Trickle chargers do vary immensely in quality. Cheap ones can overcharge your battery. You could leave a good one hooked up all winter probably without a problem, however I too just hook them up occasionally for an overnight refresher charge.

 

[Grumpycat]

Another thing to consider; Get an multi meter and set it to amps, disconnect your positive lead, Place the amp meter leads between the positive post and cable end and see if you have a current leak with everything shut off. (actually, either positive or negative lead will work). If you register current flow, track it down.

In general that is a good idea. However my (former) 2001 GMC Sonoma would draw relatively high current for 5-10 minutes after the battery was reconnected. 2-4 amps for first couple of minutes. Things like dome light would initially draw.

 

[lman]

Another thing to consider; Get an multi meter and set it to amps, disconnect your positive lead, Place the amp meter leads between the positive post and cable end and see if you have a current leak with everything shut off. (actually, either positive or negative lead will work). If you register current flow, track it down.

You can start a real mud slinging debate by asking which brand of battery is best. All of it usually based on personal bias rather than facts. I would buy whatever tickles your fancy. The amount of Cold Cranking Amps generally determines the cost. As stated, most any parts house can check the status of your old battery, but I have seen cases where they give you an incorrect diagnosis. So don't let the 18 year old newbie behind the parts counter check your battery

Trickle chargers do vary immensely in quality. Cheap ones can overcharge your battery. You could leave a good one hooked up all winter probably without a problem, however I too just hook them up occasionally for an overnight refresher charge.

I don't and wouldn't use a trickle charger unless you want to fry your battery. I use and would only recommend using a battery maintainer/smart charger.

 

[fried1765]

I don't and wouldn't use a trickle charger unless you want to fry your battery. I use and would only recommend using a battery maintainer/smart charger.

Again......it seems a though the terms: "trickle charger", "battery maintainer" ( a brand name), "smart charger", are often used interchangeably, though not correctly.

 

[John0829]

You can start a real mud slinging debate by asking which brand of battery is best. All of it usually based on personal bias rather than facts.

Especially when if you were to check there are very few actual manufacturers of batteries, it is just a matter of whose name gets stuck on at the end as they go out the door.

 

[LD1]

Especially when if you were to check there are very few actual manufacturers of batteries, it is just a matter of whose name gets stuck on at the end as they go out the door.

Yea, really only like 3 manufacturs that do 99.99% of auto batteries in this country.

East Penn, Johnson controls, and exide.

And they all make batteries under different names for the various aftermarket auto parts stores. And who makes what is also a regional thing. Napa batteries might be made by one manufacture on the east coast, and a different manufacture on the west coast. Just depends on factory locations and price points. Same thing for duralast, acdelco, diehard, etc etc etc.

For me, more important than brand on the battery is the warranty. Because warranty length (and also CA/CCA for a given group size) is usually a pretty good indication on how heavy the internal plates are and overall how it is constructed. Higher CCA for a given size and longer warranty usually means a much better quality battery

 

[cqaigy2]

Yea, really only like 3 manufacturs that do 99.99% of auto batteries in this country.

East Penn, Johnson controls, and exide.

And they all make batteries under different names for the various aftermarket auto parts stores. And who makes what is also a regional thing. Napa batteries might be made by one manufacture on the east coast, and a different manufacture on the west coast. Just depends on factory locations and price points. Same thing for duralast, acdelco, diehard, etc etc etc.

For me, more important than brand on the battery is the warranty. Because warranty length (and also CA/CCA for a given group size) is usually a pretty good indication on how heavy the internal plates are and overall how it is constructed. Higher CCA for a given size and longer warranty usually means a much better quality battery

That's what i look at too. Personal observation has been higher CCA with longer warranty will cost more. I usually buy based on minimum needed CCA, warranty for price unit. If i can get either higher CCA and/or longer warranty, that will be what i buy. I use a battery maintainer/smart charger.

My understanding of a trickle charger is a low amp charger with minimal circuitry that only keeps voltage high enough to maintain the low amp flow. They were basically what was available for cheap, back in the good ole days. They were supposed to be used intermittently, so they didn't damage your battery.

 

[user.69169]

I tell you fortrue every battery in a plastic case is made to self destruct way quicker den needs to. I can say because I go back to batterys in hard rubber cases with pitch tops dat could be rebuilt.

Battery changed for the worse when manufacturers got rid of cel to cel connector across top outside of de case. Got even worse when manufacturer figured out lead calcium plates and minimized lead using drywall in de plates. Then it got even worse when dey went to what amounts to rub together cel connectors.

Seems like everybody runnin around wid jumper box dese days. Nothin inside but a charger & small gellcell. Really, you think a hand lantern battery gonna crank an engine? It ain't, but it will provide enough electric to get dem rub connections back working and start engine. Same result can generally be had with small charger for a few minutes. Battery connected back together and lasts a while longer.

Parasitic draws on modern cars are he!! on them connectors too. Dey are biggest cause of battery failure.

Video shows couple fellows rebuilding batterys in Pakistan or someplace like.

First thing you see after top comes off is minimal connection between cells as plates are pulled out.

Next you see how little lead in de plates and how much drywall.

Lead gets melted and recast, and drywall goes back in.

Fellow closes up cel to cel hole in case walls and melts chanel for proper connection.

When new plates go in you see proper soldered connection made between cels.

Not sure dem fellows know what dey doing, but de battery they sell is way better den battery dey started with.

How Battery Plates are Made & Restoration of an Old Battery - YouTube

 

[Cougsfan]

I found that video fascinating. I had several thoughts come up while watching. 1) it is incredible how resourceful people are in third world countries. 2) Osha would shut them down in a minute if they were to have that operation in the States. 3) I wonder about the quality and quality control of those rebuilt batteries. My guess is that it's quite variable. 4) The amount of labor seemed intense. If those people were paid a decent wage, those rebuilt batteries would probably cost 5 times as much as a factory built battery.

 

[user.69169]

Well, dey don't live in de US, and dey ain't handicapped by OSHA. Probably makin good money for where dey are too cause dey learned skilled craftsmen just like US had before everybody had to go get Degree off some thermometer testifyin dey owed lot of money and knew squat.

Whole lot of hard road between "educated" and "learned".

Before educated people from OSHA came along we had good battery shops every few hundred miles in US. Had skilled tire shops too dat could section repair a tire too. "Education" put an end to dat!