Gjac wrote:msmith1199 wrote:I don't think you can beat the Sam's Club or Costco 6 V batteries for life cycle costs. I paid $74 apiece for 2 6v GC Sam's Club batteries in 2007 and I just dry camped for a week and they still only used 50% of the 230 ahs. They partially froze in Mt last year when I had to leave the MH there 4 mo's waiting for repairs. At first they would not accept a charge and I thought they were ruined. But after adding water and starting with a 2 amp charge they came back to life. I mostly dry camp and get a lot of corrosion on the terminals and usually have to add water several times a year, so might try Bruce's suggestion of mineral oil. Not sure if mineral oil would minimize corrosion or not?
Yikes! I see what you mean on the price difference with AGM batteries. Maybe adding water on occasion isn’t so bad after all.
kdk wrote:Keith, thanks for your detailed explanation.
I have been using the mineral oil since 2008. First set of batteries were National Interstate and 2 years old when 2 oz.of oil was added to each cell. The corrosion after that was almost nonexistent, and only added water about once a year and half. Those batteries lasted over 8 years and went in my golf cart for 4 more years. New batteries are 4 years old now and oil installed when new, have only added water twice. As an engineer from nation interstate explained to me when that as a battery is charging the gas bubbles reach the surface of the electrolyte and burst microscopic droplets of electrolyte spray up to the cell cap and is forced through the vent causing loss of electrolyte and corrosion. With the mineral oil on the surface, the gas goes through but the liquid stays in the cell this also reduces evaporation. I can't prove all of this scientific stuff but my watering is minimum, no more corroded terminals and battery tray. Just my 2 cents and truth is in pudding.
Blessings; Keith
kdk wrote:
As an engineer from nation interstate explained to me when that as a battery is charging the gas bubbles reach the surface of the electrolyte and burst microscopic droplets of electrolyte spray up to the cell cap and is forced through the vent causing loss of electrolyte and corrosion.
Gjac wrote:
I don't think you can beat the Sam's Club or Costco 6 V batteries for life cycle costs.
msmith1199 wrote:I don't think you can beat the Sam's Club or Costco 6 V batteries for life cycle costs. I paid $74 apiece for 2 6v GC Sam's Club batteries in 2007 and I just dry camped for a week and they still only used 50% of the 230 ahs. They partially froze in Mt last year when I had to leave the MH there 4 mo's waiting for repairs. At first they would not accept a charge and I thought they were ruined. But after adding water and starting with a 2 amp charge they came back to life. I mostly dry camp and get a lot of corrosion on the terminals and usually have to add water several times a year, so might try Bruce's suggestion of mineral oil. Not sure if mineral oil would minimize corrosion or not?
Yikes! I see what you mean on the price difference with AGM batteries. Maybe adding water on occasion isn’t so bad after all.
Bruce Brown wrote:
The mineral oil trick is to put about 1-2 oz of mineral in each cell - I think I used 1.5 oz. The idea is since it stays on top of the water it stops evaporation and gassing.
I had read about it and most gave it good reviews. I figured I'd give it a shot. Best case it worked as suggested, worst case I'd shorten the life of some cheap batteries.
So far I'd say it was a success and I'd do it again. Maybe I won't feel that way in 3-4 more years, but the early results are encouraging. I'm 2 years into it now, they're still clean, they're working well, and I haven't touched them since they were installed. I'm happy.
