Battery Longevity

[Industrial Toys]

But ruined a $110.00 pair of overalls in the process! lol

You would have to be pretty desperate or cheap to flush out a battery. And then risk destroying your starter motor (and all the trouble associated with that) when the thing became weak starting again in six months.

For the number of starts you get out of a new battery, it's a bargain.

 

[Cougsfan]

I have an electric UTV I use every single day for getting around my place. It has 8 ea. 6v marine style batteries. It is 4 years old and the perfect rig for how I use it. The thing is supposed to be good for 45 miles on a charge, but these days it is more like 25 miles. It will cost about $1,100 to replace the batteries. Probably wont do it til it goes down to 10 miles per charge (I charge it every night and seldom drive it more than 10 miles a day). Lead acid batteries are stone age technology (relatively speaking). There is improved battery technology out there but it isn't retrofittable in most applications. The development of better batteries is probably one of the main things holding back technological progress these days.

 

[Industrial Toys]

I simply LOVE my E-Gator, Get's used a hundred times more often than my Diesel Mule. I do wish I had gone for the slightly larger(replacement) batteries though. The colder temps really do have a negaive effect on the batteries, but soon it won't be used any longer when we get more snow.

 

[fried1765]

I have an electric UTV I use every single day for getting around my place. It has 8 ea. 6v marine style batteries. It is 4 years old and the perfect rig for how I use it. The thing is supposed to be good for 45 miles on a charge, but these days it is more like 25 miles. It will cost about $1,100 to replace the batteries. Probably wont do it til it goes down to 10 miles per charge (I charge it every night and seldom drive it more than 10 miles a day). Lead acid batteries are stone age technology (relatively speaking). There is improved battery technology out there but it isn't retrofittable in most applications. The development of better batteries is probably one of the main things holding back technological progress these days.

I have a "Club Car" golf cart to get around my place.
Bought it used last year for $2,300, and replaced wheels and suspension for more ground clearance.
I now have $3,100 in it, and absolutely love it!
Rear seat folds down and forms a flat bed.
It has 4 - 12V batteries that are now 4 years old.
Charger stays hooked up when cart is not in use, and will cycle as required.

 

[oldballs]

I have a neighbor that cruises his acreage in one of those electric golf cart thingy.......He scares the liven crap out of me when I'm out working on the perimeter...and don't see him coming.

 

[cqaigy2]

I have a neighbor that cruises his acreage in one of those electric golf cart thingy.......He scares the liven crap out of me when I'm out working on the perimeter...and don't see him coming.

Reminds me of an electric wheelchair scare i had. Standing I was talking to a buddy of mine and was just about to step back a step, when a women in electric wheelchair comes zooming along, right behind, i felt my pant leg get flipped by the chair. She had to have been going 15mph or so. I yelled at her for going too fast on the sidewalk, i got a nice response from her, a gesture showing i was number 1 in her world.

 

[Jstpssng]

I just had to boost the original battery on my 2015 to get it started. I last ran it about 8 hours earlier, but temps got down into the teens last night.
It came with a block heater but that item has never worked.

 

[fried1765]

I just had to boost the original battery on my 2015 to get it started. I last ran it about 8 hours earlier, but temps got down into the teens last night.
It came with a block heater but that item has never worked.

Sounds like it will soon be dead.
Probably right at the end of a big storm, when you absolutely must move snow.

 

[Jstpssng]

Sounds like it will soon be dead.
Probably right at the end of a big storm, when you absolutely must move snow.

I have a 2 year old battery from my Ranger, just need to put it in. We had 1/2 inch of snow up here today, then I was moving compost; on the hill I was really wishing that I had my chains on.

 

[goeduck]

I use the NOCO Genius maintainers.

 

[fried1765]

I use the NOCO Genius maintainers.

The NOCO Genius maintainer/chargers are nice, but relatively expensive.
I have a mix of "Battery Tenders", "Battery Tender Jrs."., and "Battery Maintainers",.... 16 total.

 

[goeduck]

The NOCO Genius maintainer/chargers are nice, but relatively expensive.
I have a mix of "Battery Tenders", "Battery Tender Jrs."., and "Battery Maintainers",.... 16 total.

I would not call NOCOs expensive. Amazon has their 5A for less than the Battery Tender 5A. This NOCO has a repair (desulphate) mode, not sure if this BT does. My smaller NOCOs do not have the repair mode. Both brands have smaller models. Both seem to be good brands.

Amazon.com: Battery Tender 5 Amp, 12V Battery Charger, Battery Maintainer: Fully-Automatic Battery Charger for Cars, Trucks, SUVs and More - Smart Automotive Battery Chargers - ?22-?186G-DL-WH: Automotive

Amazon.com: NOCO GENIUS5, 5-Amp Fully-Automatic Smart Charger, 6V And 12V Battery Charger, Battery Maintainer, And Battery Desulfator With Temperature Compensation: Automotive

 

[fried1765]

I would not call NOCOs expensive. Amazon has their 5A for less than the Battery Tender 5A. This NOCO has a repair (desulphate) mode, not sure if this BT does. My smaller NOCOs do not have the repair mode. Both brands have smaller models. Both seem to be good brands.

Amazon.com: Battery Tender 5 Amp, 12V Battery Charger, Battery Maintainer: Fully-Automatic Battery Charger for Cars, Trucks, SUVs and More - Smart Automotive Battery Chargers - ?22-?186G-DL-WH: Automotive

Amazon.com: NOCO GENIUS5, 5-Amp Fully-Automatic Smart Charger, 6V And 12V Battery Charger, Battery Maintainer, And Battery Desulfator With Temperature Compensation: Automotive

I only buy/use the smaller maintenance units.
1.5 Amps or less.

 

[fried1765]

I would not call NOCOs expensive. Amazon has their 5A for less than the Battery Tender 5A. This NOCO has a repair (desulphate) mode, not sure if this BT does. My smaller NOCOs do not have the repair mode. Both brands have smaller models. Both seem to be good brands.

Amazon.com: Battery Tender 5 Amp, 12V Battery Charger, Battery Maintainer: Fully-Automatic Battery Charger for Cars, Trucks, SUVs and More - Smart Automotive Battery Chargers - ?22-?186G-DL-WH: Automotive

Amazon.com: NOCO GENIUS5, 5-Amp Fully-Automatic Smart Charger, 6V And 12V Battery Charger, Battery Maintainer, And Battery Desulfator With Temperature Compensation: Automotive

NOCO must have a newer maintainer.
Amazon is now selling a NOCO 1 Amp battery maintainer for $32.51.
That is much cheaper than the $49.99 1.25 Amp Battery Tender.
I stand corrected !!!

 

[goeduck]

NOCO must have a newer maintainer.
Amazon is now selling a NOCO 1 Amp battery maintainer for $32.51.
That is much cheaper than the $49.99 1.25 Amp Battery Tender.
I stand corrected !!!

Both are comparable prices for good brands. NOCO did come up with a new line a while back.

 

[fried1765]

Both are comparable prices for good brands. NOCO did come up with a new line a while back.

I bought four 1.25 Amp Battery Tenders 3 years ago, for $30 each at COSTCO.
Now $50 each......in 3 years.... WTF ???

 

[ultrarunner]

I bought four 1.25 Amp Battery Tenders 3 years ago, for $30 each at COSTCO.
Now $50 each......in 3 years.... WTF ???

I bought the same on impulse... actually bought 3 packs.

 

[cqaigy2]

I have a few of the costco units too. Five years, so far so good.

 

[Industrial Toys]

A 1.25 amp tender probably has two dollars worth of parts in it. $30.00 seems a lot, never mind $50, never mind it being in REAL money!

 

[fried1765]

A 1.25 amp tender probably has two dollars worth of parts in it. $30.00 seems a lot, never mind $50, never mind it being in REAL money!

Ouch..... that $50 would even be $65.78CAD today.