shelf life of a battery
Submitted: Saturday, Jul 06, 2013 at 06:30
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edvard p
hi,
I'm wondering how can you tell how old a battery in a store is? It is sold as unused, sure, but for all I know it was standing there for years. Can't find manufacture date on a battery.
As I know batteries self discharge and their plates sulfate if not recharged for some time. So potentially can be paying for half dead "new" battery?
thanks
Reply By: Member - Tony H (touring oz) - Saturday, Jul 06, 2013 at 08:10
Saturday, Jul 06, 2013 at 08:10
Dont they (the manufacturer) date stamp one of the battery posts?
AnswerID:
514368
Follow Up By: Shaker - Saturday, Jul 06, 2013 at 10:39
Saturday, Jul 06, 2013 at 10:39
No, they stamp or engrave it into the top of the battery case, not the rim.
FollowupID:
793363
Follow Up By: Rockape - Saturday, Jul 06, 2013 at 13:29
Saturday, Jul 06, 2013 at 13:29
Tony,
the supplier I use, stamps my battery posts when I buy a battery. This gives the date the battery went into service.
As said. The manufacturer has their own stamp to say which date it was manufactured. They probably also have a code that tells them which batch and plant it was manufactured in.
FollowupID:
793376
Reply By: olcoolone - Saturday, Jul 06, 2013 at 10:11
Saturday, Jul 06, 2013 at 10:11
The code they use for date stamping is different for each battery wholesaler.
The retailer should be able to tell you or contact the battery wholesaler.
We sell the RAA branded batteries that all the other state motoring bodies like NRMA, RACQ sell, if a battery is not sold with in 3 mths the battery gets swapped over with a replacement and the old one recharged, once recharged; it is put back out into the market, if it doesn't get sold in it's second 3 month period it is taken out of circulation and resold in bulk to one of the discount battery
places by the pallet load...... (you know the
places who sell batteries for $49.95 with a three month warranty).
AnswerID:
514375
Reply By: Road Warrior - Saturday, Jul 06, 2013 at 10:29
Saturday, Jul 06, 2013 at 10:29
It also depends on the type of battery, for example some wet cell batteries are sold without electrolyte in them (comes in a separate bottle/filling system) and so the actual "state" of the battery would remain in stasis until you start the process by adding the electrolyte. I'd imagine "solid" batteries would be different though.
AnswerID:
514376
Follow Up By: 08crd - Saturday, Jul 06, 2013 at 10:33
Saturday, Jul 06, 2013 at 10:33
It's a good point, take care when buying lithium-ion batteries.
They start dying the moment they are manufacture 5 - 6 year life.
FollowupID:
793362
Reply By: Shaker - Saturday, Jul 06, 2013 at 10:37
Saturday, Jul 06, 2013 at 10:37
Make Google your friend!
I just Googled Exide battery date codes & found this:
DATE CODE
Every battery will display a MANUFACTURING CODE located
on the front lip of the battery lid. ACTIVATION CHARGE
CODE is located on the back lip on the battery lid opposite
the terminals. This code may be used to determine battery
age when the receipt is not available or as guide for stock
management purposes.
1.JUN.7.10.40 This will read as 1/06/07 10.40am
The last 4 digits represent the time in a 24 hour clock.
This also could be of interest
Automotive Battery Part Numbers and Date Codes
You may need to decide what brand of battery you are interested in & Google for their coding.
AnswerID:
514377