Another Battery!

[John_Mc]

There are two main voltages: one for the charging phase, and one for maintenance. Does one pot adjust both?

Did you figure this out by tinkering on your own, or did the manufacturer provide some guidance?

I asked years ago whether they were contemplating making something like the model 1500 or 1510, but optimized for the higher voltage AGM batteries. They said "no", and suggested I look at the model 1200 AGM. I bought one of those, but it costs a good bit more than their entry-level 1500/1510 models. (The 1200 AGM does include more diagnostics and testing stuff on the panel, which is helpful at times, but when I really need that, I just connect my 128CEC1 for a bit.)

 

[LouNY]

All this talk about batteries and their warranties reminded me of the absolute best batteries that I ever bought.
Way back when JC Penny had their lifetime battery warranty, had several batteries in several different pickups and tractors all registered to the same truck an old 59 Chevy truck when ever one died which as I recall was every 3-5 years we'd take it in and get a new one. Did that for a lot of years till Pennys stopped their automotive section.

 

[Too many Kubotas]

There are two main voltages: one for the charging phase, and one for maintenance. Does one pot adjust both?

Did you figure this out by tinkering on your own, or did the manufacturer provide some guidance?

You're right. Thanks for refreshing my memory. Both should ideally be adjusted.

Like you I asked about AGM charging and they sent me a couple that were adjusted. Sometime later they (okay, it was the owner) told me how to do it myself.

Unfortunately, if he's even still alive, or owns the company, I doubt I could get someone there to tell me now. Then again, it's worth a try, I suppose.

 

[John_Mc]

I've also had good luck with a couple of NOCO chargers. One is a 2 bank charger with 10 amps on each bank (used in my 24V antique military pickup). The other is their small NOCO Genius 2 (2 amp, IP 65 rating =
Protected against jets of water. Limited ingress permitted.)

On my tractor I've been using one of my BatteryMINDER 1215C chargers, but not permanently mounted (It has an IP 63 rating = protection from sprays of water when case tilted up to 60˚ from vertical). I've been thinking of getting a NOCO Gen5x1 5 amp onboard battery chargers to mount permanently on my tractor. These are VERY waterproof (IP 68 = Protection against the effects of immersion in water under pressure for long periods), so no concerns if it gets rained on or snow works its way in to wherever I mount it.)

 

[John_Mc]

I have a hate relationship with batteries. I want a gadget with the following features:

• desulfator
  

  PulseTech Desufation Products | Forklift-Battery-Charger.com

  PulseTech Desulfation Products for forklift battery desulfation and maintenance, 12 volt to 48 volt models.

  forklift-battery-charger.com
  works off battery
• Wifi status reporting with open API -- works off battery
• trickle charger/minder -- requires plugging in.
• Permanently mounted

I have found products that come really close to having all of these features. I bought a Yale battery powered forklift about five years ago for basically scrap because the owner said the battery was going bad. It's still working. Not sure if its because of the desulfator, but it didn't hurt.

I could easily design one of these, but have so many other projects going. I'd have to charge at least $100 for this, and don't think anyone would buy it at that price point. Probably needs to be closer to $50.

The trouble with the things that work off the battery is that they also accelerate the drain on the battery. If I don't have it plugged in to charge, that can be a problem. (I run into that with the wireless controller on my UTV winch. Since the winch is wired directly to the battery, the receiver/controller on the winch is always on. Found that out the hard way when I first bought it.)

 

[Too many Kubotas]

I have mostly BatteryMINDer and PulseTech, but also a couple of Jacobs Electronics and a CTEK.

Often useful is an elderly Sears 2/10 Amp completely unsmart charger, generally used to slow charge dead or near dead batteries enough to make a good one recognize the battery.

 

[Too many Kubotas]

The trouble with the things that work off the battery is that they also accelerate the drain on the battery.

I've been meaning to call PulseTech and ask what cut-out voltage they use.

On the Canadus desulfators it's usually right about 13 volts, some a little less, some a bit more. Either way, once the battery drops below that threshold they turn off.

I sure hope the PulseTech ones I recently bought also shuts off, as I've mounted one in a vehicle that isn't driven often. Easy to tell with a Canadus since its indicator light is only on when pulsing, but the PulseTech is constantly blinking.

 

[Hexa Fox]

Similar to everyone else here I have researched batteries to no end and it mostly seems like a toss up. When I bought my Ferris in 2015 it had a Deka battery on it that lasted up until very recently. In the past couple of years I started having battery trouble and right away assumed it was the battery. Got a brand new battery and it died in short order. Started tracing things around and found the charging wire from the voltage regulator had broken. So it was not even the eight year plus Deka battery but it was the charging system.

Anyway I replace that battery this year with a Napa battery. I called my dealer I bought the Ferris from and he said they did not sell Deka batteries that only the Ferris' came with them. He also told me the Deka batteries from Lowes only shared the stickers but assured me they were not the same battery. I read somewhere that the batteries that come from Napa are the reliable Deka batteries. After doing a little bit of interrogation to the cashier he told me the guy that delivered their batteries was wearing a Deka shirt and that was enough for me. I actually bought that battery mid year 2023 and it is giving me trouble mid Summer this year. Right now it is holding a charge but I do not expect it to last over the Winter and be reliable next mowing season.

I know like many things there are only a few manufacturers of lawn mower batteries and like many of you I am sick of the game. The battery in my 2011 Camry went back a few years ago and I replaced it with the cheapest Wal*Mart battery possible and so far it is holding up. If I have to replace it this year I figure I have gotten my money out of it.

 

[Grumpycat]

I would caution there is only about 3 major automobile starter battery manufacturers in North America and every one of them will build a battery up to or down to what ever cost a brand is willing to pay. They will all build junk for cheap is that is all the brand is willing to buy.

For many brands they build 3 tiers of battery and are bold faced about it. Good, Better, Best. Not sure the "Best" is always the best.

 

[John_Mc]

I would caution there is only about 3 major automobile starter battery manufacturers in North America and every one of them will build a battery up to or down to what ever cost a brand is willing to pay. They will all build junk for cheap is that is all the brand is willing to buy.

For many brands they build 3 tiers of battery and are bold faced about it. Good, Better, Best. Not sure the "Best" is always the best.

True of most manufacturing. I just shake my head when someone tries to promote some cheap junk as "made in the same factory as..." It means nothing.