Is killing batteries three times too much?
I use a set of 6V golf cart batteries from Costco. The pair that is in my rig now is two years old and they only last a couple of nights before the low voltage alarm on my CPAP starts sounding. When t...
Forum Discussion
For years I worked at a marine chandlery in San Diego where among other things we sold lots of Trojan golf cart batteries(for use as the "house Bank" on cruising sailboats. I spent a lot of time with the Trojan factory reps and I will let you in on an industry secret they shared with me. All, repeat all batteries(starting, dual purpose and pure deep cycle to include golf carts), have a working life/planned obsolescence of 3 years... Period!
Can you get more, even far more than 3 years out of a battery? You betcha! But the industry model remains that their products, all of their products, are built on a 3 year time line of "normal" use. Auto parts stores will sell you, for a very inflated price, an 84 month battery for your vehicle. What you are getting is the very same 36 month battery that costs a lot less just dressed up and marketed to be something "special".
The battery industry knows that most folks will either not own that vehicle (with their 84 month battery), 3 years down the road or they will have lost the paper work. Most warranties are for full replacement for one year and pro rated for "X" number of months after that. Trust me the battery manufacturers and retailers are not losing money on any of their warranties.
Bottom line, if you get 3 years out of a properly maintained battery (any battery), congratulations, you win. Anything beyond that is just gravy. Now I have read on this forum of folks getting 12 to 16 years out of a battery (and 175,000 miles on a set of brakes, 25 mpg on a Sprinter etc.) :R... these folks also saw Elvis at the Mall... but I digress.
Maintain your batteries (BTW: There are NO maintenance free batteries, period . "No maintenance" much like "water proof" is an Oxymoron and thrill to getting more than 3 years of decent performance out of them (if you can).
As always.... Opinions and YMMV.
:B
Can you get more, even far more than 3 years out of a battery? You betcha! But the industry model remains that their products, all of their products, are built on a 3 year time line of "normal" use. Auto parts stores will sell you, for a very inflated price, an 84 month battery for your vehicle. What you are getting is the very same 36 month battery that costs a lot less just dressed up and marketed to be something "special".
The battery industry knows that most folks will either not own that vehicle (with their 84 month battery), 3 years down the road or they will have lost the paper work. Most warranties are for full replacement for one year and pro rated for "X" number of months after that. Trust me the battery manufacturers and retailers are not losing money on any of their warranties.
Bottom line, if you get 3 years out of a properly maintained battery (any battery), congratulations, you win. Anything beyond that is just gravy. Now I have read on this forum of folks getting 12 to 16 years out of a battery (and 175,000 miles on a set of brakes, 25 mpg on a Sprinter etc.) :R... these folks also saw Elvis at the Mall... but I digress.
Maintain your batteries (BTW: There are NO maintenance free batteries, period . "No maintenance" much like "water proof" is an Oxymoron and thrill to getting more than 3 years of decent performance out of them (if you can).
As always.... Opinions and YMMV.
:B
