Battery Info

[ning]

the guy at NAPA said that batteries only last 3 years on modern cars because of all the electronics on them that never turn off. Her battery was 3 1/2 years old. It looks like my battery is just over 3 years old.

Does this make sense to everyone?

He's the expert, listen to him!
Actually don't, lol

So that would make sense if the car is rarely used. Parasitic draw that takes the battery down to 90-95% between the car being run (and the battery topped up) is nothing.

My truck has a stereo that's "always on", and often there's a USB charger plugged in that's got a little red LED saying hello, but I still typically get 7 years out of my batteries - and this truck sits for weeks at a time.

My 2017 tractor has light bars that have an LED on the switch that's always on and the tractor's original battery still seems fine. Of course, an LED barley takes any power, but for an OEM battery coming up on 8 years old...

There's crappy batteries here and there; don't get the cheapest. Also don't get the most expensive; I aim for the middle.

 

[IH3444]

Eddie, I used a borrowed gauge like this to find a parasitic draw on a car battery. It was drawing down 0.26 amps per hour. I then installed a trickle charger, and the problem disappeared. Seems the on-board computers were drawing current. The car could not sit for 5 days without an almost new battery going below its ability to start the car. I put the gauge between the battery terminal and the positive cable. Immediately saw the problem. Does the Massey have any on board computers?

 

[John_Mc]

Got curious enough about the high frequency desulfation I'm used to, versus pulsing voltage, to search a bit and found the following.

"BatteryMINDer® Model 1510 features a SmarTECHnology™ plug 'n run 1.5 Amp battery charger/maintainer with full-time automatic high frequency pulse desulfator (not high voltage)that can help extend a battery's life up to 4 times its normal life. Ideal for charging, maintaining or recovering 12V flooded, sealed, maintenance-free, starter, deep-cycle, Optima brand sealed AGM, and marine batteries."

Please note that they specifically point out that it's not high voltage, but high frequency.

That's the one that works well for me.

I've got a couple of those. The model 1500/1510 are a step up from the old BatteryMINDer 12117 that is sold by Northern Tool (BatteryMINDer has discontinued selling that model anywhere else). My 12117 is over 20 years old and still working fine.

Also have a couple of their 1215C (which is similar electronically to the 1510, but in a more weatherproof case), a 2012-AGM model, a couple of higher-end models which have since been discontinued (12248 and 128CEC1 - both with multiple charging profiles and selectable charging amps), and a specialized aviation-specific 24V charger.

All of these have worked well. I've also been happy with their support. I had a minor problem with the display on one several years ago. Despite the fact that I told them the problem might have been caused by a power surge (lightning strike nearby popped several circuit breakers), they offered to repair it under warranty. Rather than send it in, I just had them send me a replacement display board and installed it myself.

 

[John_Mc]

Eddie, I used a borrowed gauge like this to find a parasitic draw on a car battery. It was drawing down 0.26 amps per hour.

Wow. 260 milliamps seems like a really high parasitic draw. Older cars were typically less than 50 mA. Modern vehicles generally run between 50-85 mA. I'd be checking for a light that's not shutting off or a stuck relay somewhere.

Can Checking the Battery Draw Help the Car Battery Lifespan?

Car battery lifespan is usually determined by the manufacturer, but can it be increased through a battery draw test? Learn more about battery draw and lifespan.

www.continentalbattery.com

 

[ultrarunner]

I called Battery Minder about 6 and 8 volt chargers and learned no offerings…

Having 13 six volt batteries and 1 eight volt I wanted to try the tech on seldom used vehicles.

I did put 2 6v in series and used my 12 volt minder and it charged.

 

[Too many Kubotas]

Checked the formerly good battery - a measly 10.9 volts.

Hooked up the latest PulseTech purchase and immediately noticed a faint high pitched noise. Checked the voltage and it was slowly climbing in the 13.2 range. No wild voltage swings, just indications of high frequency at work.

Can this one fix what the NOCO damaged? I sure hope so, but still won't use these two as a pair anytime in the future.

 

[LittleBill21]

Not sure the chargers do desulfation when in Lithium mode.

I am not really testing desulfation, just the voltage range its shooting out, I expect to see almost nothing on my bigger battery had time to think about it.

That said I will run the charger in lead acid mode. it won't really change much.

 

[Too many Kubotas]

I did put 2 6v in series and used my 12 volt minder and it charged.

That's how I've been charging 6-volt batteries. Until recently I didn't have anything with a 6 V setting.

 

[LittleBill21]

Checked the formerly good battery - a measly 10.9 volts.

Hooked up the latest PulseTech purchase and immediately noticed a faint high pitched noise. Checked the voltage and it was slowly climbing in the 13.2 range. No wild voltage swings, just indications of high frequency at work.

Can this one fix what the NOCO damaged? I sure hope so, but still won't use these two as a pair anytime in the future.View attachment 2105542

so i will say it last time, do what you want. what exactly do you think this high frequency pulse consists of?

high pitch whine actually indicates crappy inductor coil potting, but I'm done, Noco is the number one selling charger on the market, I never even heard of pulsertech before this.

if it works for you great. I'm out.

Fyi voltage almost means nothing. if you had a 10.9v battery (its shot already) and a 4 amp charger already brought it up to 13.2 and it not taking 10 hours, the battery is sulfated and has no capacity. I would love to see the SG and, go take the ah capacity and do the math, its not going to lie.

the noco would have to literally catch on fire to drop its capacity that much. sounds more like a shorted cell.

this now the 3rd battery you posted about having issues. Sorry but it seems your battery situation is in rougher shape than you think. I actually hate lead acid batteries. its why I switch everything I can to lithium

i got less then 10 cycles on a boat trolling motor battery that sat on a float charger its entire life.

 

[IH3444]

It was horrible, I looked and looked, then told a buddy who worked at a car dealer which sold the same brand and he said that was about right. He said they were always installing batteries into new cars sitting on lot. They would just rotate batteries from charging stands to new vehicles. Another friend who worked at another dealer told me of the massive amounts of new batteries covered under warranty due to the fact if the battery fell below around 11.8 volts, then some of the sensors wouldn't work, and the vehicle wouldn't start. Additional problem was that some new vehicles have engine parameters set at factory, and if they lose battery charge then the dealer has to install new battery, then hook up vehicle to dealer computer to reset engine parameters.