Smart battery chargers with reconditioning modes

[ultrarunner]

Interstate was my go to battery for decades... Dad sold them as a convenience for his customers.

Just not the same company it was... I don't buy Interstate anymore after I was told I had no warranty on my last one...

 

[fried1765]

Interstate was my go to battery for decades... Dad sold them as a convenience for his customers.

Just not the same company it was... I don't buy Interstate anymore after I was told I had no warranty on my last one...

Had similar problem on my LAST Interstate.
They would not honor their warranty....... apparently because I was in Canada.
Interstate.....NEVER AGAIN !!!

 

[Redbug]

Many think Interstate is better because it costs more?
Yup,...It certainly does cost more, but....it ain't better!

I think you may be right on that observation. What brand seems the best for the money?

 

[ultrarunner]

I have been buying from a local distributor that carries a full line and caters to specialty batteries like 6 and 8 volt too.

His batteries are much cheaper and last just as long... sold by the same ratings as all batteries but no marketing or 72 month "Warranties"

He has been around a long time with a full warehouse... family business.

 

[3930dave]

I think you may be right on that observation. What brand seems the best for the money?

I bought some AGMs on clearance from an industrial distributor, but those deals don't come along too often.

Flooded lead-acid, last one I bought was from Costco. Buddy of mine has run 6 or more of them in his service trucks - did well with them, and Costco never messes people around on warranty.

Rgds, D.

 

[goeduck]

My local dealer told me the batteries they have on the shelf with the Kubota label are made by Interstate. I asked them last week!

Cannot be. Interstate does not make batteries, theirs are mostly made by Exide or Johnson Controls. Battery manufacturing is a nasty business (largely due to lead) so not many companies make them. I understand Johnson is spinning off that business.

 

[mjym]

hi i change my battery last year and it was still goog but was 16 year old put a new one just the same has my old one

 

[Jaylegger]

For smart chargers first purchased two CTEK 3300's. One died in the first year and the other selector switch stopped working within 3 years. Then purchased a NOCO 7200 and a marine 2 battery unit but after monitoring what the charger was doing vs the marketing lit I be came concerned the units were not functioning properly. After many back and forth with customer service they assured me they units were functioning normally despite what the marketing lit says. They also clarified that their temperature compensating function had nothing to do with compensating the charging voltage to temperature except for charger overheating conditions which preventing catastrophic failure of the charger.

Though I'm sure NOCO offers a fine product, I'm not one for feeling ok with a bunch of BS so then bought a Batter Minder 128cec. Couldn't be happier so far and has lived up to expectations and has real temperature compensation. I charge batteries in boat holds that could over 100 degrees and in my tractor in winter during -20 degree C conditions and after measuring the voltage in these conditions the result match exactly what their literature describes. The charging stages voltage and amps also exactly match their published specs which NOCO's do not (NOCO's specs are very vague and measurements don't align at all with their intended gibberish) Might not make a bean of difference in the long run but it sure sets my mind at ease that their marketing is not a bunch mumbo jumbo like Noco;s. I'm certain some of the chargers I've employed has completed fcked a few batteries over the years so this at least gives me some confidence back. The battery minder has an always on reconditioning mode as part of their maintenance mode

However, I have to give 10 thumbs up to Noco's GB70 compact lithium jump starter, probably one of my best purchases that has lived up to the billing. That product has not disappointed in the most extreme of conditions.

 

[the old grind]

I just bought my THIRD Battery Minder 1500, for the same reason(s) and from similar experience with some other brands. I DO still use the Accumate ChargeMatic 6/12vTM-08 and Pulse Tech XC100-P in rotation. Both are very reliable and have given faultless, continued service for a few years now. Neither has 'outboard' or obvious temp compensation. I bought these on the good reputations I'd gladly add to.

Nice to know, if you just checked in:
Many of these 'smart-digital' chargers (large and small) will not see a battery voltage below a threshold that's typically between 3v and 9v. They might show 'no connection', and sometimes you have to 'wake up' a really 'dead' battery first with a dumb charger.

If so, the no load voltage usually picks up in short order, and you can connect the 'conditioner' soon, but plan on leaving it on for days, weeks, or whatever. Soak cycles (24hrs, etc) and reconnects work in your favor as much as relying on 'float with desulfation' for days on end if you have more batteries that sit parked than 'maintainers'.

It's not so damaging as expected if voltage seems too high when the maintainer is connected. (current can be in milliamps then) Just like the DIY 'restorer' I started with, your VOM can read 'funny' where 'conditioning' pulses can be read as an AC compnent.

Mostly I just posted for hamfisting the 'unsubscribe' button 'on oops'. :laughing:

 

[daugen]

Cannot be. Interstate does not make batteries, theirs are mostly made by Exide or Johnson Controls. Battery manufacturing is a nasty business (largely due to lead) so not many companies make them. I understand Johnson is spinning off that business.

Looks like a business a foreign country will now dominate, they care less about pollution or worker's health.
I really hope we keep this industry here, hopefully the weight/freight cost of batteries will make a difference.
Otherwise, Yuasa sure makes a good battery...

all these battery chargers and maintainers are Chinese built I bet, likely from "borrowed" Japanese tech.

I should get another, already have two but I like to run all my batteries through a desulphate cycle at least once a year.
Even have a 48V one for my golf cart; the basic ferro resonant charger isn't doing those batteries any favors. I put the good Trojans
in mine and really would like to get 7 years out of them. Hoping the smart charger will add to that. Lot of money changing out all those batteries, smart charger hopefully will easily pay for itself.