battery replacement time

[LegalEagle82]

guys it is time for me to replace 2 house batteries.   currently two 8ds.    just looking for little wisdom here.    I'll being doing a   SAM's special  either 2  energizer 8 d (industrial but not deep $155)  or 4 energizer golf carts specials ($71).   any words of wisdom    no boondocking just long weekend camping still too busy working   thanks in advance

[JackConrad]

       Most "battery experts" that I have talked to recommend the 6 volt golf cart batteries as the best bang for your buck. This is taking into consideration initial cost, storage capacity, number of recharges in battery life and % of power that can be used before recharging.
      The down side is that you do have to check the water monthly and properly recharge them for maximum battery life.  Jack

[Sean]

Have you tried doing a search?  There are dozens of threads with hundreds of posts on this topic right here on this board.  For example:
http://www.busconversions.com/bbs/index.php?topic=4329.0
http://www.busconversions.com/bbs/index.php?topic=3291.0

And many more (but those two contain some of my own longer rants on the topic.)

I'll also be covering batteries in my coach electrical seminar at Bussin' 2009, among many other topics.

-Sean
http://ourodyssey.blogspot.com

[RTS/Daytona]

try -->

Interstate Batteries Of Music City
(615) 449-2555  3729 Highway 109 North 
Lebanon,  TN  37087

If you don't use your coach much and you tend not to DEEP CYCLE your batteries  -  almost every Interstate Battery WHOLESALER (not just a dealer) - will have :

group 31 - Blens  (new TRUCK batteries that were on the shelve for a year - can't be sold as new - carry only a 30 dayguarentee)- but are only $25-$30 each (great buy)

or ask if they have any GOLF CLUB 6Volt BLEMS (that's very very rare)

Pete RTS/Daytona -

[BG6]

Okay, so how do we find IB wholesalers?  Is there a list somewhere?  I'm currently dividing my time between Vallejo and Daly City, CA -- anyone near here?  If I can get Group 31s that cheap, I'll throw in four (two banks of 24V ea).

If you don't use your coach much and you tend not to DEEP CYCLE your batteries  -  almost every Interstate Battery WHOLESALER (not just a dealer) - will have :

group 31 - Blens  (new TRUCK batteries that were on the shelve for a year - can't be sold as new - carry only a 30 dayguarentee)- but are only $25-$30 each (great buy)

[Sean]

BG6,

This locator:
http://www.interstatebatteries.com/cs_estore/DealerLocator/Default.aspx
will show you all Interstate dealers.  The orange dots with the "W" inside are the wholesale distributors.

You might find some cosmetic blems, which will be more money than Pete suggests.  I seriously doubt you will find any expired product in the bay area -- too much turnover there.

-Sean
(who used to live in the bay area)
http://ourodyssey.blogspot.com

[RTS/Daytona]

when you us the locator --> http://www.interstatebatteries.com/cs_estore/DealerLocator/Default.aspx

try putting in only marine and other battery type + look 25 miles - to help eliminate many of the mom and pop garages that carry Interstate - look for the 'W"

never mind -->

Interstate Batteries Of Tri-Valley
(707) 748-7122  2990 Bayshore Road 
Benicia,  CA  94510

[RTS/Daytona]

TELL YOU WHAT SEAN 

- or should I just call you "the prophet of Doom & Gloom"-


I'll BET you that if I call BOTH of the Interstate Battery Dealers I listed in my responses  -----  BOTH will have cheap bleam group 31 batteries available

DO WE HAVE A BET       If I WIN - YOU OWE ME A BEER and an APOLOGY - I you win - I owe you the same !!!!

I've done this so many times when helping people on the phone with thier RTS questions -
I've NEVER run across a I/B wholesaler that didn't have a group 31 blem available

Pete RTS/Daytona

WELL - DO WE HAVE A BET
 

[gus]

Legal,

Do yourself a favor and get two Gp 31 marine deep cycle batteries from Sam's.  I, too, have a simple two battery house system and have two of these. They provide all the power I need for quite a few days. I seldom dry camp for more than three days and they have never come close to getting low.

They are nice and light weight compared to 8Ds and not too expensive.

The advantage to WM batteries is that there are so many stores around the country they are easy to replace if you have problems. I'm not a big WM fan but in this case it helps and they do allow free overnight parking.

[Van]

Legal FWIW got ours thru auto zone 120.00 a piece 3 year free replacement pro rate after that .Have had good luck with ours so far .Oh yea mine are G-31s by the way .good luck

[Sean]

DO WE HAVE A BET       If I WIN - YOU OWE ME A BEER and an APOLOGY - I you win - I owe you the same !!!!

Pete,

Don't get your knickers in a twist -- I only said "seriously doubt," not that it was impossible.  Also, I said I thought they'd have blems, just not expired product.  But if that is cause for an apology, I'll provide it now, in advance:  I'm sorry.

As for the beer, I'd buy you one anyway the next time I see you, just 'cause I think you're a nice guy.  No reciprocation necessary.

I hope, for his sake, that you are right.  Although if it were me, I likely would not use start batteries for this application even if they were free.  Sealed telecom take-outs, which are also free, are, IMO, a better choice for house batteries.  FWIW, YMMV, etc. etc.

-Sean
http://ourodyssey.blogspot.com

p.s. If you are coming to Arcadia, you can cash in your beer.

[oldmansax]

Sean,  (or anyone with info)

Any idea where to look for the sealed telcom takeouts you are talking about?

I am in Maryland right now..

Thanks, TOM

[Sean]

It's a very localized business.  There are hundreds of little companies around the country that do tower and remote site operations and maintenance, and those are the guys you need to connect with.

I would start by collaring someone from one of the wireless providers in your area and asking if they can find out who does their maintenance for them.  The other way to do it is to drive around to a half dozen towers, and read the signs.  Many towers are operated by independent companies who then lease space to the carriers, and each tower will have a sign with a name and phone number on it for reporting problems.

It takes some persistence to get through to a live person.  And you need to catch them when they have batteries on their hands -- don't expect you can leave your number and have them get back to you later.

Lastly, you should be prepared, should they take you up on an offer to unload some batteries, to show up in a weird place at a specific time 100% ready to lift, load, and cart off several hundred pounds of batteries.  Some of them will be junk, and you'll end up with a bunch of OK but not great batteries, and some duds that you'll likely have to pay to get rid of at the local recycler.

The easy road here is to watch for them to come up on eBay, where someone else has done all the above work.  Of course, you'll pay for that convenience.

These will almost universally, nowadays, be AGM VRLA batteries.  However, be aware that telecom batteries are made for float service, not repeated deep-cycling.  It's a different animal.

HTH,

-Sean
http://ourodyssey.blogspot.com

[TomC]

Interstate makes an excellent battery.  I have 6 year old batteries on my big truck that are still starting the truck just fine after sitting for 2 weeks.  I also have 2-31's in my bus to start the 8V-71.  I started the bus today for the first time since Aug, and it started like I had ran it yesterday.  Getting ready for the FMCA get together here in Indio, Ca Jan 7-11, '09.  Good Luck, TomC

[belfert]

If you do buy or get used batteries and need to dispose of some be aware that in Minnesota all battery retailers must take batteries for recycling at no charge regardless of where purchased.  Other states may have similiar laws.

This summer scrap dealers were buying up all kinds of lead batteries.  Lead prices have fallen as have most metals, but I assume scrap dealers are still buying lead batteries.