Dead 3 year old battery

I think "Use it, or lose it" applies here. Fully charged batteries endure
cold weather much better than partially charged ones do. I get 3 or 4 years
out of my tractor and mower batteries. They frequently sit from late
September to mid April here in Oregon.
Jim Hupy
Salem, Or
78 GMC ROYALE 403

> > Geez, what are you using for standbys for ten years? We ran several 35
> KVA 3 phase UPSes and did batteries every four years.
> >
> > --johnny
>
>
> At the electric utility I worked at our substation batteries last over 20
> years. Before we started a more stringent replacement cycle we usually ran
> them to 25 years. They were required to serve load for at least 8hrs. I
> did a study to try and justify earlier replacement due to loss of capacity.
> Even the 25yo batteries passed. Analysis of failures showed failures were
> almost always connection failures or shorted cells.
>
> These batteries are spec'd for this service and the cost refelects this.
> How you treat a battery has a lot to do with it's life. My mother would
> only get 2 years out of a battery, and exhaust system. However she very
> seldom made a trip over 2 miles but was out al;most every day. MIL hardly
> ever took her Ford Escort out at all. Only real running it got was when I
> would give it a good 1hr run to exercise it about twice a year. She never
> had battery problems but old gas was always a concern. Always filled it
> with premium to avoid the ethanol. Also added Sta-bil to every tank.
>
> I wonder how long a battery lasts on a big rig that is almost always on
> the road?
> --
> Steve Southworth
> 1974 Glacier TZE064V100150 (for workin on)
> 1975 Transmode TZE365V100394 (parts & spares)
> Palmyra WI
>
> _______________________________________________
> GMCnet mailing list
> Unsubscribe or Change List Options:
> http://list.gmcnet.org/mailman/listinfo/gmclist_list.gmcnet.org
>
 
My Vette used to eat batteries every couple of years, now I just shut it off when not in use and they last a lot longer.

I throw a charger on it once in the winter for a few hours, but other than that nothing.

I'm thinking parasitic loads are the killers here, it probably cycles the battery at the top of it's charge and slowly beats it to death.

Time to add a shut off to the ol MH, I wonder if the charger would be happy without a battery load.

If I turn the batteries off and use the interior lights will the charger go poof?

________________________________
From: Gmclist on behalf of James Hupy
Sent: Tuesday, February 21, 2017 12:11:12 PM
To: gmclist
Subject: Re: [GMCnet] Dead 3 year old battery

I think "Use it, or lose it" applies here. Fully charged batteries endure
cold weather much better than partially charged ones do. I get 3 or 4 years
out of my tractor and mower batteries. They frequently sit from late
September to mid April here in Oregon.
Jim Hupy
Salem, Or
78 GMC ROYALE 403

> > Geez, what are you using for standbys for ten years? We ran several 35
> KVA 3 phase UPSes and did batteries every four years.
> >
> > --johnny
>
>
> At the electric utility I worked at our substation batteries last over 20
> years. Before we started a more stringent replacement cycle we usually ran
> them to 25 years. They were required to serve load for at least 8hrs. I
> did a study to try and justify earlier replacement due to loss of capacity.
> Even the 25yo batteries passed. Analysis of failures showed failures were
> almost always connection failures or shorted cells.
>
> These batteries are spec'd for this service and the cost refelects this.
> How you treat a battery has a lot to do with it's life. My mother would
> only get 2 years out of a battery, and exhaust system. However she very
> seldom made a trip over 2 miles but was out al;most every day. MIL hardly
> ever took her Ford Escort out at all. Only real running it got was when I
> would give it a good 1hr run to exercise it about twice a year. She never
> had battery problems but old gas was always a concern. Always filled it
> with premium to avoid the ethanol. Also added Sta-bil to every tank.
>
> I wonder how long a battery lasts on a big rig that is almost always on
> the road?
> --
> Steve Southworth
> 1974 Glacier TZE064V100150 (for workin on)
> 1975 Transmode TZE365V100394 (parts & spares)
> Palmyra WI
>
> _______________________________________________
> GMCnet mailing list
> Unsubscribe or Change List Options:
> http://list.gmcnet.org/mailman/listinfo/gmclist_list.gmcnet.org
>
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Hi Jim,
I use lots of batteries, golf cars, hot rod, & a few other vehicles. I've always used epson salt, a couple of tablespoons per cel & make sure the water level is above the plates. Then fully charge. It may take a couple of days, but you get about another 20% or so of extra life out of them. Seems to clean up the cells & doesn't damage the batteries.
Just for your info.

Cheers,
Graham Mace
Nanaimo, bc
1976 - 26' Palm beach, modified.

From: "James Hupy"
To: "gmclist"
Sent: Tuesday, February 21, 2017 10:11:12 AM
Subject: Re: [GMCnet] Dead 3 year old battery

I think "Use it, or lose it" applies here. Fully charged batteries endure
cold weather much better than partially charged ones do. I get 3 or 4 years
out of my tractor and mower batteries. They frequently sit from late
September to mid April here in Oregon.
Jim Hupy
Salem, Or
78 GMC ROYALE 403

> > Geez, what are you using for standbys for ten years? We ran several 35
> KVA 3 phase UPSes and did batteries every four years.
> >
> > --johnny
>
>
> At the electric utility I worked at our substation batteries last over 20
> years. Before we started a more stringent replacement cycle we usually ran
> them to 25 years. They were required to serve load for at least 8hrs. I
> did a study to try and justify earlier replacement due to loss of capacity.
> Even the 25yo batteries passed. Analysis of failures showed failures were
> almost always connection failures or shorted cells.
>
> These batteries are spec'd for this service and the cost refelects this.
> How you treat a battery has a lot to do with it's life. My mother would
> only get 2 years out of a battery, and exhaust system. However she very
> seldom made a trip over 2 miles but was out al;most every day. MIL hardly
> ever took her Ford Escort out at all. Only real running it got was when I
> would give it a good 1hr run to exercise it about twice a year. She never
> had battery problems but old gas was always a concern. Always filled it
> with premium to avoid the ethanol. Also added Sta-bil to every tank.
>
> I wonder how long a battery lasts on a big rig that is almost always on
> the road?
> --
> Steve Southworth
> 1974 Glacier TZE064V100150 (for workin on)
> 1975 Transmode TZE365V100394 (parts & spares)
> Palmyra WI
>
> _______________________________________________
> GMCnet mailing list
> Unsubscribe or Change List Options:
> http://list.gmcnet.org/mailman/listinfo/gmclist_list.gmcnet.org
>
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Buy one of the small battery packs and never be without power to start your coach, or any other 12v vehicle. They will even start a diesel. Plus, you
have back-up for cell phone, etc.
I have used mine for independent operation of several USB powered devices. Beats digging out the bench power supply to power something off-site.
Tom, MS II
--
1975 GMC Avion
KA4CSG
 
"I wonder how long a battery lasts on a big rig that is almost always on the road?"

Chuck Boyd alert!

--johnny
--
'76 23' transmode Norris upfit, 76 26' Eleganza(?) with beaucoup mods and add - ons.
Braselton, Ga.
"The road goes on forever, and the party never ends" --Robert Earl Keen
 
>
> I wonder how long a battery lasts on a big rig that is almost always on the road?

Well, I don't know about OTR trucks because I never drove one enough for it to need a battery. But the steamships all had a diesel backup for
E-lights. They always had a big starting battery that was often as old as the ship, that being about 20 years at that point. They were kept charged
by a constant current charger from the ships service (DC). The high tech constant current charger consisted of a string of light bulbs. As they
outgassed a lot, they were fed (often my job) a diet of 100 megohm (pretty good) distilled water (there is a lot of this available on steamships).
The system was tested regularly. (Surviving chief engineers are always a little paranoid.)

My house bank is now 8 years old and pretty close to its original capacity, but it has been maintained by a PD9145w/wizard and gets fed water from the
shops dehumidifier (with the sawdust filtered out).

My main engine battery did not last as long, and the APU start battery is good for 4 years at best, but both of the those are maintenance proof.
Reminds me, I should crack the caps off both of those before departure for Shawnee.

Matt

--
Matt & Mary Colie - '73 Glacier 23 - Members GMCMI, GMCGL, GMCES
Still Loving OE Rear Drum Brakes with Applied Control Arms
SE Michigan - Twixt A2 and Detroit
 
Do you just add the epsom salt to the battery acid? or do you do something else prior to? Will it work also on battery's that are older but still
holding a charge?
--
Dan Gibb
1977 Eleganza II
Tucson, Az
 
Yes, just add to the cells, open caps and put in. Very good for older batterys also. Make sure you charge them fully after.
On my golf car, I put in the epsom salt, & got a couple more years service out of them.

Cheers,
Graham Mace
1976 Palm Beach
Nanaimo, bc

From: "Dan Gibb"
To: "gmclist"
Sent: Wednesday, February 22, 2017 11:38:12 AM
Subject: Re: [GMCnet] Dead 3 year old battery

Do you just add the epsom salt to the battery acid? or do you do something else prior to? Will it work also on battery's that are older but still
holding a charge?
--
Dan Gibb
1977 Eleganza II
Tucson, Az

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OK How much?

________________________________
From: Gmclist on behalf of Graham Mace
Sent: Wednesday, February 22, 2017 2:40:06 PM
To: gmclist
Subject: Re: [GMCnet] Dead 3 year old battery

Yes, just add to the cells, open caps and put in. Very good for older batterys also. Make sure you charge them fully after.
On my golf car, I put in the epsom salt, & got a couple more years service out of them.

Cheers,
Graham Mace
1976 Palm Beach
Nanaimo, bc

From: "Dan Gibb"
To: "gmclist"
Sent: Wednesday, February 22, 2017 11:38:12 AM
Subject: Re: [GMCnet] Dead 3 year old battery

Do you just add the epsom salt to the battery acid? or do you do something else prior to? Will it work also on battery's that are older but still
holding a charge?
--
Dan Gibb
1977 Eleganza II
Tucson, Az

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http://list.gmcnet.org/mailman/listinfo/gmclist_list.gmcnet.org
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2 tablespoons per cel. then make sure to top up above plates with water. CHARGE.

From: "Keith V"
To: "gmclist"
Sent: Wednesday, February 22, 2017 1:43:30 PM
Subject: Re: [GMCnet] Dead 3 year old battery

OK How much?

________________________________
From: Gmclist on behalf of Graham Mace
Sent: Wednesday, February 22, 2017 2:40:06 PM
To: gmclist
Subject: Re: [GMCnet] Dead 3 year old battery

Yes, just add to the cells, open caps and put in. Very good for older batterys also. Make sure you charge them fully after.
On my golf car, I put in the epsom salt, & got a couple more years service out of them.

Cheers,
Graham Mace
1976 Palm Beach
Nanaimo, bc

From: "Dan Gibb"
To: "gmclist"
Sent: Wednesday, February 22, 2017 11:38:12 AM
Subject: Re: [GMCnet] Dead 3 year old battery

Do you just add the epsom salt to the battery acid? or do you do something else prior to? Will it work also on battery's that are older but still
holding a charge?
--
Dan Gibb
1977 Eleganza II
Tucson, Az

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Unsubscribe or Change List Options:
http://list.gmcnet.org/mailman/listinfo/gmclist_list.gmcnet.org
_______________________________________________
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