Re: [SilverStreak] Newbie battery question

["Bev Harris" <zia@xxxxxxxxxxxxx>]

Eddie,

Thanks!!  I was certainly headed in the cheapest, biggest direction -- but 
that's the kind of consumer I am.  

I did not think Walmart; I plan on going there today so I'll check what our 
little Walmart (no auto service section, no tire install, etc) has.

Bev

On 12 Apr 2008 at 7:51, Eddie wrote:

From:           	"Eddie" <Eddie@Huffstetter.com>
To:             	<sslist@tompatterson.com>
Subject:        	Re: [SilverStreak] Newbie battery question
Date sent:      	Sat, 12 Apr 2008 07:51:56 -0500
Send reply to:  	sslist@tompatterson.com

> Bev,
> You are thinking correct. Lead acid. You want best replacement non-prorated 
> warranty, biggest that will fit, least cost, and a exchange core to avoid 
> the high $10+ core cost. Any core will usually do. Wal-Mart has a big yellow 
> battery, usually a two or three year exchange warranty. Why?
> 
> Batteries are short-lived. Will last three to five years in your car, but 
> that is used every day or with some regularity. That is good for the battery 
> and is what makes it last. Batteries have cycles. Cycles are limited. You 
> would naturally think that less cycles may mean longer life, but not so. No 
> battery will last sitting in one state. The state of non-use either 
> discharged or charged will most rapidly cause failure versus use. So 
> batteries cannot just sit in any one state. Either use it like if in your 
> car or you must have a deliberate usage you schedule. RV's mostly sit. So to 
> make the battery last it needs to be run down some, and then charged some. 
> No, you don't need to run it dead. No, you must not keep it topped off and 
> constantly charged. So in your rv or collector car use the car one day each 
> month and simulate rv use about once each month and then re-charge it, but 
> don't overcharge it and thus "cook it away" by charging too long.
> 
> Manufacturers rotate battery stock every three to six months. A new battery 
> six months old on the shelf is considered junk. It is an old wives tale that 
> a battery sitting on the ground or concrete gets the life "sucked" out of 
> it. It is in a plastic case! It simply sits and sulfates. Even if you were 
> to shrink wrap it and put it in your fridge, it would be just as dead. Use 
> is the key to keeping a battery healthy!
> 
> When you buy a battery, look at the little sticker on it. All are date 
> marked. When using letters, the letters are A thru Z for each month, January 
> equals A, Feb B, and so on. Most batteries have a dual sticker so it is easy 
> to figure out. The sticker will have a color for each month. Sticker will be 
> round. The size of a dime. One half will be D8 and the other half will be 
> 4/8. Retailers are smart. They push the old stock. Don't buy an old battery! 
> Make them give you, or you look to the back and pick the month current. 
> Don't buy a Feb 08 battery! This is April 08! Forget about the CCA (cold 
> cranking amps). Bigger is heavier and is better. Heavier equals more lead. 
> More lead equals more battery.
> 
> Most charger converters in rv's are the old style and will cook a battery to 
> death so don't just leave it on. Charge for about 4 hours maximum only! Best 
> to buy a cheapy automatic charger from some place like wal-mart, charge till 
> done and disconnect. The old chargers and a lot of new ones will "finish 
> rate" at 15.1 volts or higher. When charging above 14.6 volts indicated, the 
> battery is being destroyed!
> 
> Keep that receipt and exchange the battery before the warranty period 
> expires. Make sure you run it stone dead if not already dead before you 
> exchange it or the clerk will decide you still have something left and deny 
> the exchange. The warranty period will run off the date you bought it, not 
> off the date sticker on the battery.
> 
> No need to "over think" batteries. Just buy cheap as you can with the 
> longest warranty non-prorated exchange. Use it at least once a month for at 
> least one to four hours. Then re-charge it the next day for no more than 
> three to four hours. It will last thru the warranty period.
> 
> I know batteries. I work on electric forklifts, carts, and man-lifts. Most 
> forklift batteries cost $3000. At that cost you must learn batteries and 
> what makes them last or fail.
> 
> -Eddie-
> Houston, TX
> 
> ----- Original Message ----- 
> From: "Bev Harris" <zia@ix.netcom.com>
> To: <sslist@tompatterson.com>
> Sent: Friday, April 11, 2008 10:32 PM
> Subject: [SilverStreak] Newbie battery question
> 
> 
> > So I'm ready to buy a deep cycle battery for my 64 SS 20 foot Sabre.  I've
> > done my research via the web and the result is ... I'm totally confused!
> >
> > I thought the best thing was to buy a lead acid battery that was JUST deep
> > cycle without cranking power ... but the more I look, the more I find I 
> > can't
> > find that in a lead acid.  Even when they claim to be deep cycle 
> > batteries,
> > they still seem to have 500 CCA or more.
> 
> > like it.  Offer any advice you think might be helpful.
> >
> > Bev
>