Battery Life
Submitted: Saturday, Apr 16, 2005 at 07:55
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Bonz (Vic)
Whilst away, I reckon my auxilliary battery is starting to return less amp-hours, that is, it loses volts faster than it used to.
Question is: Does an aux battery gradually decline in its A-h delivery down to nothing or does it maintain a relatively constant delivery of neddies then catastrophically chuck it in? Whats your experience?
I havent done the hydrometer readings as I am trying to find my hydrometer that Dad "put away" for me 4 years ago.
Thanx
Reply By: Sand Man (SA) - Saturday, Apr 16, 2005 at 08:36
Saturday, Apr 16, 2005 at 08:36
Bonz,
Chances are the 4 year old hydrometer rubber has perished by now.
Get a new one - only a few dollars from Repco, Supercheap, KMart, etc.
Will show you the condition of each cell, the best way to determine battery health.
Unlikely the battery would "lose volts faster than it used to".
Perhaps it's not reaching 100% charge?
Perhaps the battery is suffering from some level of sulphation?
I assume you maintain the correct electrolyte level in the battery?
Give the battery a good charge with a proper battery charger.
Do you have access to a "smart" charger? As
well as providing a 3 stage charging process, a good one will identify the condition of the battery, the presence of sulphation and "shake the bleep " out of the battery to wake it up an if required.
AnswerID:
106989
Follow Up By: Bonz (Vic) - Saturday, Apr 16, 2005 at 09:25
Saturday, Apr 16, 2005 at 09:25
Thanx Sandy, I am sure lots of the shiat has been shaken out of the battery in the past few weeks, its sure been shaken out of me, but I hadn't thought of sulphation.
The volts thing is perception only, and I am sure the charging has been pretty good. The only chargers I have are two 5 amp ones, that I connect together and attach to the batt, did that for 12 hrs the nite before we went away so I reckon it got a good hit then as
well as 8 hrs of driving along the way.
I have kept the electrolyte levels up all the way along so hope thats not a problem.
Will get a new hydrometer Monday and hide it from Dad.
Thanx for the info mate.
GWBonz
FollowupID:
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Reply By: Rosco - Bris. - Saturday, Apr 16, 2005 at 09:28
Saturday, Apr 16, 2005 at 09:28
Bonz
Is it a deep cycle or starting batt? Due to size restrictions, I can only fit a starting batt in as an aux, cause I've managed to fit it in with the main batt under the
seat.
However when I replaced it recently the batt man told me I would dramatically reduce its life by running it up and down when powering the fridge.
Could this be the problem??
Cheers
AnswerID:
106993
Follow Up By: Bonz (Vic) - Saturday, Apr 16, 2005 at 09:34
Saturday, Apr 16, 2005 at 09:34
Its a starting battery Rosco, and I did kill it once or twice two years ago on Fraser, but last year at the Outback challenge, it did a few 4 day stints running the fridge with ease, this year its struggling I reckon to to 2 days, maybe its the problem you reckon eh? I'd just like to know if its going to die on me and I will get another justincase.
FollowupID:
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Follow Up By: Rosco - Bris. - Saturday, Apr 16, 2005 at 09:39
Saturday, Apr 16, 2005 at 09:39
If you're thinking of replacing it. Take it with you to the batt man.
They can load
test it on a machine to establish if it's on the way out.
Sounds to me though that that's your prob. I didn't get a very long life out of
mine. It died after our trip up the cape last year when I managed to kill it a couple of times.
FollowupID:
363970
Reply By: Member - JohnR (Vic) - Saturday, Apr 16, 2005 at 09:32
Saturday, Apr 16, 2005 at 09:32
Good to see you Bonz,
Mine had swolen up along the filler points from one to the other after "just over a year" and was replaced under warranty just a month back. It was to be returned to America and the manufacturers as another example for what doesn't happen with their products. It was certainly reducing in output quite significantly. Replaced it with a later model.
AnswerID:
106994
Follow Up By: Bonz (Vic) - Saturday, Apr 16, 2005 at 09:35
Saturday, Apr 16, 2005 at 09:35
What sorta dollars
John? And is it a starting battery also? As I would like to have a dual purpose one mate, and...its nice to be seen !
FollowupID:
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Follow Up By: Member - JohnR (Vic) - Saturday, Apr 16, 2005 at 09:40
Saturday, Apr 16, 2005 at 09:40
The starting battery probably will be next as it is down a little after flattening the battery a couple of times. This replacement was the auxiary battery replaced at no cost under warranty. Really excellent service I thought through the
Ballarat supplier.
FollowupID:
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Reply By: Mad Dog (Australia) - Saturday, Apr 16, 2005 at 10:00
Saturday, Apr 16, 2005 at 10:00
Sounds like it's
well on it's way out Geoff.
As it gets sulphated it's capacity drops and the volts will drop quicker when under load so your observation is probably correct.
AnswerID:
106997
Reply By: Member - Jimbo (VIC) - Saturday, Apr 16, 2005 at 11:45
Saturday, Apr 16, 2005 at 11:45
Good to see you back Geoff.
They do just gradually wear out. Each time you discharge them, takes a little bit of their life out of them. Each major discharge has a major impact, hence the advice to never let them go below 50%. Of course not always practical.
The misconception that they suddenly chuck it, is due to modern cars starting at the first flick of the key. A few years ago you would get a warning as the old girl would crank over slowly for 4 or 5 seconds before firing up. These days the first notion you have that the batt has expierd is when your car won't turn over at all.
Sounds like it's time for a newie.
Cheers,
Jim.
AnswerID:
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Reply By: Diamond (Vic) - Saturday, Apr 16, 2005 at 14:25
Saturday, Apr 16, 2005 at 14:25
gday bonx.
sounds like its on its way out mate.
if your going to buy a new one i woould recomend a delcor marine battery.
i just got 2 100 ampers for the als.i think they were around the $140 mark but i did say i think lol.
mine has just clicked up its third year and still going great.i got the 80 amper.
another advantage they are also a starting batery.
cheers mate
AnswerID:
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Follow Up By: Bonz (Vic) - Saturday, Apr 16, 2005 at 14:56
Saturday, Apr 16, 2005 at 14:56
Bonx? hahahahah will the Delkor fit into the NZ70ZZ tray? or duzzit needa be bigger?
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Follow Up By: Diamond (Vic) - Saturday, Apr 16, 2005 at 22:30
Saturday, Apr 16, 2005 at 22:30
hahaha sir bonx-a-lot just dosnt seem right does it.
same size as the nz70zz.
cheers B..O..N..Z... got it that time
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Follow Up By: Bonz (Vic) - Sunday, Apr 17, 2005 at 07:40
Sunday, Apr 17, 2005 at 07:40
yes Diamond it doens't sound quite right, more like a dream....
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Reply By: Member - Nick K (VIC) - Saturday, Apr 16, 2005 at 22:40
Saturday, Apr 16, 2005 at 22:40
Hi Bonz, I am sorry to say that this will keep happening to your battery , the condition is called Nissanitis , anything that is to close to Nissan turns to shiat lol
AnswerID:
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Follow Up By: Bonz (Vic) - Sunday, Apr 17, 2005 at 07:37
Sunday, Apr 17, 2005 at 07:37
ahhh now I understand, everyone always said TOYOTA's were "close to Nissan" it all makes sense............
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Follow Up By: Member Eric - Sunday, Apr 17, 2005 at 08:50
Sunday, Apr 17, 2005 at 08:50
That was terrible thing to say Nick .
Dont pay attention to him Bonz , he is a bad boy sometimes . I am sure that your Nissan has Actuarry never broken down
FollowupID:
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Follow Up By: Bonz (Vic) - Sunday, Apr 17, 2005 at 21:41
Sunday, Apr 17, 2005 at 21:41
Eric, I have forgiven him, for he "knows not what he says". Imagine someone doing such and following up with a post implicating a fine upstanding citizen such as yourself.
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Follow Up By: Member Eric - Sunday, Apr 17, 2005 at 21:47
Sunday, Apr 17, 2005 at 21:47
yes
well said bonz . I do forgive him and have turned the other cheek
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Reply By: Member - Nick K (VIC) - Sunday, Apr 17, 2005 at 10:45
Sunday, Apr 17, 2005 at 10:45
Bonz,
Firstly let me apologies for my previous response. I don't think I was myself in fact I think I looked like Eric. Chances are I might have been but we will never know.
Secondly and finally I learnt a valuable lesson last night. Don't leave computer logged on with Eric around.
Anyway hope all is
well and will see you soon.
Regards
Nick
AnswerID:
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Reply By: Des Lexic - Sunday, Apr 17, 2005 at 21:30
Sunday, Apr 17, 2005 at 21:30
G'day Geoff,
as others have stated it is great to see you back with your SOH still shining.
I recall a year or so ago, a post from Willem regarding battery maintenance which included draining out the battery acid and replacing with new. The idea being to drain out all the gunk from around the plates and refilling again. Haven't tried it but new batteries probably built to newer cheaper specs these days and not possible to drain out old gunk.
Why is it that the battery from a new vehicle will last up to 5 years and the replacement ones will only go for a couple of years.
My deep cycle battery is a Delcor on and it is now 2 years old with no signs of fading away yet in spite of frequently run flat. I put it on the trickle charger and away it goes again.
Cheers and hope to catch up again soon. The beds are already made up. LOL
Alpaca
AnswerID:
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Follow Up By: Bonz (Vic) - Sunday, Apr 17, 2005 at 21:38
Sunday, Apr 17, 2005 at 21:38
I think I need me a Delkor too, they sound like the good oil. The current battery was the right price ($0) so I cant really complain.
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Follow Up By: Mainey (WA) - Sunday, Apr 17, 2005 at 22:10
Sunday, Apr 17, 2005 at 22:10
Bonz,
when you
check out the Delkor range ask to see a DC27 or DC30.
You can then leave starter batteries for starter motors, and get a Deep Cycle battery for the fridge, as they are designed to do two different jobs, however both types of batteries will power a fridge, the deep cycle battery does it longer due to it's construction!
As you have had a few recomendations for Delkor batteries I will add
mine also, my batteries are four years old and still going strong doing the job they were designed to do.
FollowupID:
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