"AGM Car" batteries for less used tractors?

[bdhsfz6]

Whether it's flooded cell or AGM, I buy the cheapest automotive battery I can find that will fit. Using a desulfator / maintainer, I usually get 6 or 7 years out of a battery with just a 12 month warranty.

I've done this for 40 years with all my tractors and found it to be the most economical way.

 

[aircommuter]

Trick my daddy taught me: Glue a couple of copper pennies to the battery adjacent to the terminals. They are more reactive than the terminals and clamps and will corrode first.

I was putting a new battery in mom's Volvo, and had bought a pair of the felt washers the parts houses sell. I was putting in and dad came out and asked what the felt washers were for. I told him and he asked how much they cost. When I told him, he laughed, and said next time save $1.48. He proceeded to glue two pennies to the battery and explain the chemistry.

Sure enough the pennies corroded, but the terminals were clean. Every time I did a tune-up, I'd pop off the corroded pennies and install new ones.

Not much copper in a penny these days. I knew a guy that every time he checked his oil he let it drip on the battery terminal.

 

[mapper]

Anybody know anything about calcium batteries? My tractor came with one, I've had it now a bit over 10 years now and it is still going strong. I did a bit of research about them, they seem to require a bit higher charging voltage and are supposed to discharge at a slower rate when sitting idle.
I've never had to charge it, it's sealed and so doesn't need to have water added.
I dread having to replace it if the only source is my Massey dealer $$$$$!

 

[John_Mc]

Anybody know anything about calcium batteries? My tractor came with one, I've had it now a bit over 10 years now and it is still going strong. I did a bit of research about them, they seem to require a bit higher charging voltage and are supposed to discharge at a slower rate when sitting idle.
I've never had to charge it, it's sealed and so doesn't need to have water added.
I dread having to replace it if the only source is my Massey dealer $$$$$!

Some AGM batteries are calcium. (which I guess is why some AGM batteries call for a slightly higher charging voltage.)

Not sure what your Massey dealer is charging, but I'd go with either that or a quality AGM battery.

I had "sealed" flooded lead acid batteries in my tractor at one point (purchased from the New Holland dealer). It still vented corrosive gas at times, taking out the ends of my battery cables. I've not had the problem since switching to AGM.

 

[aircommuter]

Anybody know anything about calcium batteries? My tractor came with one, I've had it now a bit over 10 years now and it is still going strong. I did a bit of research about them, they seem to require a bit higher charging voltage and are supposed to discharge at a slower rate when sitting idle.
I've never had to charge it, it's sealed and so doesn't need to have water added.
I dread having to replace it if the only source is my Massey dealer $$$$$!

https://cantecsystems.com/products/batteries/lead-calcium

 

[aircommuter]

There are also VRLA batteries often used in locations like the cars that have the battery in the passenger compartment.

 

[mapper]

Some AGM batteries are calcium. (which I guess is why some AGM batteries call for a slightly higher charging voltage.)

Not sure what your Massey dealer is charging, but I'd go with either that or a quality AGM battery.

I had "sealed" flooded lead acid batteries in my tractor at one point (purchased from the New Holland dealer). It still vented corrosive gas at times, taking out the ends of my battery cables. I've not had the problem since switching to AGM.

Thanks, another bit of information. My battery seems to still be going strong, I don't know what the life expectancy is for this type of battery. I have had this tractor for about 11 years now and bought it new in the first year it came out. The dealer uncrated it and delivered it straight to me, it never sat on their lot.

 

[aircommuter]

Batteries can function even though they would fail a conductance on a tester like a Midtronics. However when the situation comes up like a very cold morning or something else that puts more of a strain on the battery it may show that it is not so good. Those testers will show the actual cranking amperage capability of the battery compared to the rated number on the battery.

 

[RayIN]

Anybody know anything about calcium batteries? My tractor came with one, I've had it now a bit over 10 years now and it is still going strong. I did a bit of research about them, they seem to require a bit higher charging voltage and are supposed to discharge at a slower rate when sitting idle.
I've never had to charge it, it's sealed and so doesn't need to have water added.
I dread having to replace it if the only source is my Massey dealer $$$$$!

Today you have choices from which to buy calcium-air or lead-calcium batteries.

 

[goeduck]

I am getting over 10 years on AGM batteries in tractors, up to 15 years at the most. I do pull them in the off season and bench them on a maintainer.

 

[sixdogs]

I am getting over 10 years on AGM batteries in tractors, up to 15 years at the most. I do pull them in the off season and bench them on a maintainer.

I don't pull my batteries but keep fully charged a leave on a 1 amp trickle charger quite a bit. I use the NOCO 1 amp smart charger for $30 on Amazon. After doing that I noted my batteries were lasting far longer.

 

[goeduck]

I don't pull my batteries but keep fully charged a leave on a 1 amp trickle charger quite a bit. I use the NOCO 1 amp smart charger for $30 on Amazon. After doing that I noted my batteries were lasting far longer.

I have 3 of the NOCO chargers (two 2 amp and one 5 amp) and one Optima charger that I rotate around. Amazing how long the batteries are lasting.

 

[sixdogs]

I have 3 of the NOCO chargers (two 2 amp and one 5 amp) and one Optima charger that I rotate around. Amazing how long the batteries are lasting.

Good point. I wanted to start a thread that everyone with equipment should own at least several of the $30, one amp NOCO smart chargers. You don't have to leave them on all year around but I do rotate over winter and do put on first thing in the spring for several days. I also have a 3 and five amp charger.

I posted before but I have had many batteries well over 10 years old. These smart chargers pay for themselves.

 

[MinnesotaEric]

Good point. I wanted to start a thread that everyone with equipment should own at least several of the $30, one amp NOCO smart chargers. You don't have to leave them on all year around but I do rotate over winter and do put on first thing in the spring for several days. I also have a 3 and five amp charger.

I posted before but I have had many batteries well over 10 years old. These smart chargers pay for themselves.

I have 2 Opimate chargers (which I think are the best smart chargers), and at least 10 of cheaper smart chargers, 1 LifePo1 chargers for lithium batteries, one 60A booster (old style, not smart) and one 200A booster (old style not smart).

Experience tells me that a guy needs at least one old style booster charger to charge up batteries that are will work, but are discharged because smart chargers cannot charge a discharged battery.

 

[Mike1955]

I have 2 Opimate chargers (which I think are the best smart chargers), and at least 10 of cheaper smart chargers, 1 LifePo1 chargers for lithium batteries, one 60A booster (old style, not smart) and one 200A booster (old style not smart).

Experience tells me that a guy needs at least one old style booster charger to charge up batteries that are will work, but are discharged because smart chargers cannot charge a discharged battery.

Minnesota that is one way to handle it and it works if you don’t forget it and leave it on all week. I have been told that you can take a nine volt battery and tie it in and trick the smart charger into doing its job. I usually put a set of jumper cables in with the little smart charger. Now I have never tried these chargers you like, but if they are good as a no co they are something else. Have a good weekend sir

 

[sixdogs]

I have 2 Opimate chargers (which I think are the best smart chargers), and at least 10 of cheaper smart chargers, 1 LifePo1 chargers for lithium batteries, one 60A booster (old style, not smart) and one 200A booster (old style not smart).

Experience tells me that a guy needs at least one old style booster charger to charge up batteries that are will work, but are discharged because smart chargers cannot charge a discharged battery.

I thought there was some way to override a smart charger to get it to charge a battery that was fully discharged. I'm sure I read this somewhere but not sure where.

 

[number two]

Look up "force" mode in the instructions.
For the NOCO Genius 1,the complete manual is online.
Too bad not in the box!

 

[MinnesotaEric]

Minnesota that is one way to handle it and it works if you don’t forget it and leave it on all week. I have been told that you can take a nine volt battery and tie it in and trick the smart charger into doing its job. I usually put a set of jumper cables in with the little smart charger. Now I have never tried these chargers you like, but if they are good as a no co they are something else. Have a good weekend sir

I have a 1/2" Milwaukee impact driver that if I forget about leaving a M18 battery on it, it'll flatline the battery and then none of the Milwaukee chargers will charge it up. So I use two razer blades to jump two M18 batteries together to boost the flat battery up to enough for the charger to recognize the battery, or I use the blades with a bench top power generator to do the same.
Bench voltage generators are a godsend for doing bench testing of vehicle junk. Here I'm playing with some whip lights.

 

[MinnesotaEric]

I thought there was some way to override a smart charger to get it to charge a battery that was fully discharged. I'm sure I read this somewhere but not sure where.

I really do not RFM much because I'll forget what it said, anyway.

 

[goeduck]

I thought there was some way to override a smart charger to get it to charge a battery that was fully discharged. I'm sure I read this somewhere but not sure where.

The trick that I have heard is to parallel a good battery with the dead battery with a set of jumper cables, then connect the smart charger. The good battery will keep the voltage high enough that the smart charger activates. I would take the good battery off as soon as the dead battery has a charge to it so the charger can focus on that battery.