Another 18 days off grid, time for dump again.Tried to fire the V-10, nothing, hardly a click.Finally got it fired, run for 20 minutes, but noticed the 0-150 ammeter setting on about 20, just like it was full charged,...strange. Shut it down, and hardly a click again.I'm thinking,..this exact same thing happened here last year. The battery was toast. Installed new interstate, (from "Gamblers RV" in Qtzs Az 13 month ago. Drove it there, they tested, that battery was toast ! After a hassle, the battery had only 18 month warranty...free replacement, no prorate anymore....so he said. I got lucky, only $22.50 to install it. And I keep my original sales tag, and have only5 months left on the brand new battery. A coincidence that this happened exactly the same way, in the same place, and only 13 months ago ?And ask about warrantys when buying interstate batteries. ! I think I can do better else where.

I would be looking at why the batteries does this over time. If it is sitting unused it probably is drawing some parasitic drain. Perhaps getting a battery disconnect setup is in order...If no disconnect is in your liking then setup a low wattage solar trickle charge perhaps..I monitor all these things when I am camping especially when off the power grid. When off the power gird its not very nice to find surprises. Got to always take care of the Horse that brings you back home first...Roy Ken

Rich:Starter-batteries do not last long if they get discharged heavily only about 1/2 dozen times.Do you have a way to keep the starter-battery charged from your solar setup while sitting down there in "Q"? People have been commenting about this newer prorating change (replacement battery having only what was unused on the battery it replaced) for the last few years.

Sears no longer pro-rates DieHards either. They will replace it under the 36 month warranty (This was Gold model) and after that zero.

I just bought a Duralast from Autozone yesterday for a car. It has a 3 yr replacement warranty and then 2 yr pro rated after that. Was not their cheapest or most expensive model. About 130.00 with anti corrosion gel and installation. Did not have time to shop around but seemed like a good deal.

I have a Sears Platinum Marine AGM and it has a full 3 year warranty! After that, they start to prorate - so I'm happy! Have 1 in the truck and 2 in the TT.WoodGlue

Whats w/ Interstate No Prorate ? | Good Sam Community

30 Replies

dougrainer
Nomad
Feb 24, 2014
MEXICOWANDERER wrote:
I am puzzled. "Load of What?"

A motorhome. Engine, headlights, tail lights, chassis AC, maybe a refrigerator maintaining at 100 watts.

How does this differ from a pickup truck, Honda Civic or Zil limousine?

If you read my post. Load is with the new Autos and all the Ipads/dvd players and phones connected to the 12 volt system. Lots of 12 volt items that draw on a system where there were none a few years ago. Also, in response to something you said. Interstate did not build something and then look to sell it. The Auto makers designed a vehicle and then went to the battery makers with the specs they required and Interstate came up with the AGM that met the Auto Engineers specs and passed their tests. YES, the Interstate AGM's are built in the USA. Doug
MEXICOWANDERER
Explorer
Feb 24, 2014
elmorc wrote:
In the southwest most interstate batterys are manufactured at the johnson control factory in MEXICO check the top of the battery it is stamped mexico. I sold interstate batt for 15 years when I owned my diesel electric shop, it was the best batt.I sold in 30 years, sold the shop in 08.

At the LTH manufacturing facility in Monterrey Nuevo Leon. Mexico is a major lead producer along with antimony, wages are cheaper, EPA rules are less strict. I would not be surprised at all if LTH ends up tendering an offer to purchase the battery manufacturing rights from Johnson Controls. The details are murky in NAFTA regulations.
MEXICOWANDERER
Explorer
Feb 24, 2014
I am puzzled. "Load of What?"

A motorhome. Engine, headlights, tail lights, chassis AC, maybe a refrigerator maintaining at 100 watts.

How does this differ from a pickup truck, Honda Civic or Zil limousine?
dougrainer
Nomad
Feb 24, 2014
MrWizard wrote:
clarification ?
assuming "start/stop" tech refers to Hybrid car
or
electric with aux generator
straight gas or diesel, does NOT turn off at the stoplight

The point they made was, at a STOP, the Alternator system cannot supply the 12 volt supply for the continued 12 volt LOAD while stopped, hence they require a much more beefed up battery. Doug
MrWizard
Moderator
Feb 23, 2014
clarification ?
assuming "start/stop" tech refers to Hybrid car
or
electric with aux generator
straight gas or diesel, does NOT turn off at the stoplight
Dutch_12078
Explorer III
Feb 23, 2014
down home wrote:
The majority of Automotive type batteries are built by just three companies; Deka, Johnson Controls, and East Penn to "Manufactures's specifications. Johnson controls manufactured, I guess that is still the word, in the current scheme most Interstates. I bought several at Wal Mart for my Daughter's pickup. They generally lasted 11 to 13 months. They had shopping carts full of returned batteries.
It will take a while to track down the specifications of each one. Die Hard is now at or near the bottom. Use to put them in everything, with a 72 month warranty but that is back when.
Batteries are now produced or manufactured to the price point of the "Manufacturer" or Retailer of the batteries.
Advertising and puffing is just that and isn't reliable. I'm not sure what the huge 12 volt starting battery, is in the coach but the House batteries are Trojan T105s and last set lasted 7 years and I killed them. I bought Deka for my F150 and it leaked acid, around the post and ruined the fender. batteries Plus "Manager" said they all do that. His boss replaced it, later but he damage was done.
It is Buyer beware on everything now. Reading experiences here, is perhaps a better choice when buying.

Probably something like 90% of the automotive/marine batteries that Walmart sells involve a trade-in of one brand or another. Shopping carts full of old batteries only indicate they sell a lot of batteries.
down_home
Explorer II
Feb 23, 2014
down home wrote:
The majority of Automotive type batteries are built by just three companies; Exide, Johnson Controls, and East Penn to "Manufactures's specifications. Johnson controls manufactured, I guess that is still the word, in the current scheme, most Interstates. I bought several at Wal Mart for my Daughter's pickup. They generally lasted 11 to 13 months. They had shopping carts full of returned batteries.
It will take a while to track down the specifications of each one. Die Hard is now at or near the bottom. Use to put them in everything, with a 72 month warranty but that is back when.
Batteries are now produced or manufactured to the price point of the "Manufacturer" or Retailer of the batteries.
Advertising and puffing is just that and isn't reliable. I'm not sure what the huge 12 volt starting battery, is in the coach but the House batteries are Trojan T105s and last set lasted 7 years and I killed them. I bought Deka for my F150 and it leaked acid, around the post and ruined the fender. batteries Plus "Manager" said they all do that. His boss replaced it, later but he damage was done.
It is Buyer beware on everything now. Reading experiences here, is perhaps a better choice when buying.
down_home
Explorer II
Feb 23, 2014
The majority of Automotive type batteries are built by just three companies; Deka, Johnson Controls, and East Penn to "Manufactures's specifications. Johnson controls manufactured, I guess that is still the word, in the current scheme most Interstates. I bought several at Wal Mart for my Daughter's pickup. They generally lasted 11 to 13 months. They had shopping carts full of returned batteries.
It will take a while to track down the specifications of each one. Die Hard is now at or near the bottom. Use to put them in everything, with a 72 month warranty but that is back when.
Batteries are now produced or manufactured to the price point of the "Manufacturer" or Retailer of the batteries.
Advertising and puffing is just that and isn't reliable. I'm not sure what the huge 12 volt starting battery, is in the coach but the House batteries are Trojan T105s and last set lasted 7 years and I killed them. I bought Deka for my F150 and it leaked acid, around the post and ruined the fender. batteries Plus "Manager" said they all do that. His boss replaced it, later but he damage was done.
It is Buyer beware on everything now. Reading experiences here, is perhaps a better choice when buying.
elmorc
Explorer
Feb 23, 2014
In the southwest most interstate batterys are manufactured at the johnson control factory in MEXICO check the top of the battery it is stamped mexico. I sold interstate batt for 15 years when I owned my diesel electric shop, it was the best batt.I sold in 30 years, sold the shop in 08.
MEXICOWANDERER
Explorer
Feb 22, 2014
Yes and McDonalds have their own cattle ranches.

PURE LEAD. There are various grades of Pb., the highest being VIRGIN Pb. Pure lead is allowed to contain "X" amount of impurities, anything as long as it isn't radioactive.

Interstate is a RESELLER the only thing they manufacture is HYPERBOLE.

That being said, if a customer is satisfied with a product, that's all that need be said.

WITH REGARD to the quip, "They'll manufacture a battery to the specifications of a vendor". That should read "To the specification of the vendor WITHIN THE MANUFACTURING CAPABILITIES of the manufacturer. Johnson Controls or Oxide is not going to run around looking for Virgin Pb because a vendor demands it. It is going to cost the vendor A FORTUNE to custom craft a battery with non warehoused raw materials or sub assemblies like jars, and hardware. Interstate does not have that punch. No vendor does. When RAMCAR decided to consider using envelope separators to inhibit plate mossing shorts, it took a corporate act of God to accomplish and they ARE manufacturers.

A vendor can specify the plate thickness and count, the quality (expense) of separators, the electrolyte density, and then fine points. When Pb is PURCHASED from the marketplace the ONLY WAY to get it at a reasonable coat is to purchase twenty tons at a time. A hundred or even a thousand tons is better. Most of the Pb market now consists of RECYCLED Pb. Quirks like STRONTIUM additives can be MOSTLY removed by refining, but some battery Pb alloys are damned difficult to remove. The lead must be FURTHER processed and that is expensive, step-by-step. Lead refineries are EXPENSIVE to operate because of EPA rules.

I hope this helps