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Old 04-01-2022, 01:32 PM   #1
Lesherp
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Question What bateries would you buy?

I'm looking to replace the two 6V Costco batteries I bought for my TM . They were ½ the price of Trojan at the time so I took a chance. I got 8 years of use out of them. After 2 years of being home bound I'm ready to hit the road again (I hope). New batteries and tires are on the list.

I can get Interstate batteries from Costco for about $100 (not what I had before). I'm on DC 99% of the time but they seldom drop below 50% (go solar). Most here seem to be sold on the Trojans. I'm thinking of being thrifty again unless someone here can tell me why I shouldn't.

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Old 04-01-2022, 01:43 PM   #2
Wavery
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I'm looking to replace the two 6V Costco batteries I bought for my TM . They were ½ the price of Trojan at the time so I took a chance. I got 8 years of use out of them. After 2 years of being home bound I'm ready to hit the road again (I hope). New batteries and tires are on the list.

I can get Interstate batteries from Costco for about $100 (not what I had before). I'm on DC 99% of the time but they seldom drop below 50% (go solar). Most here seem to be sold on the Trojans. I'm thinking of being thrifty again unless someone here can tell me why I shouldn't.

That's really good life out of those Costco Interstates. They have a reputation of getting weak prematurely.

I say, "Costco Interstates" because Costco has Interstate build them to fit into a price range.

The basic rule of thumb is that you want to compare lead/acid batteries (which is what we are talking about here) by weight. You will find that the higher quality batteries that have a longer life contain more lead (thus comparing by weight).
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Old 04-01-2022, 02:38 PM   #3
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The basic rule of thumb is that you want to compare lead/acid batteries (which is what we are talking about here) by weight.
Do you have any feeling for the proportionality factor? In other words, if one battery weighs 20% more than another, will it have 20% more life?

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Old 04-01-2022, 03:19 PM   #4
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Do you have any feeling for the proportionality factor? In other words, if one battery weighs 20% more than another, will it have 20% more life?

Bill
I think that the market place demands that you pretty much get what you pay for. This may be a good time to get some of those Costco batteries. It seems that their prices have not kept up with the price of lead YET. Probably due to current inventory being built at the older lead prices.

My favorite are the Trojan batteries but their supply hasn't kept up with demand and the lead prices are reflected in the available inventory.
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Old 04-04-2022, 12:04 PM   #5
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I think that the market place demands that you pretty much get what you pay for. This may be a good time to get some of those Costco batteries. It seems that their prices have not kept up with the price of lead YET. Probably due to current inventory being built at the older lead prices.

My favorite are the Trojan batteries but their supply hasn't kept up with demand and the lead prices are reflected in the available inventory.
Silly Q of the day:
I baught a Trojan 105 to replace a bad (craced case) Trojan. Here they are about $175.00 each. So now I have one new and one semi old battery and I need to get a new 6v battery to make sure I have two new.

Should I make them a "matched pair" by buying another 105, or go the Costco route and have one new Trojan 105 and one Costco...

...But I think i already know the answer.
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Old 04-04-2022, 02:18 PM   #6
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Silly Q of the day:
I baught a Trojan 105 to replace a bad (craced case) Trojan. Here they are about $175.00 each. So now I have one new and one semi old battery and I need to get a new 6v battery to make sure I have two new.

Should I make them a "matched pair" by buying another 105, or go the Costco route and have one new Trojan 105 and one Costco...

...But I think i already know the answer.
A matched set (Brand/model/date code) is best. Any variation from that shortens the life expectation.

What happens is, if you buy a 6V Costco (~4-5 year life expectancy) and a 6V Trojan 6-7 year life expectancy, you end up with lower real life for both batteries. A matched pair will equalize one another more easily and give you the longest life (everything else being equal). There is little too no struggle between the 2 batteries.

When 1 battery is stronger than the other, the stronger battery is constantly trying to charge the other battery to an equal state. As time goes on, the weaker battery will finally degrade the stronger battery and that is how they will equalize.
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Old 04-04-2022, 02:36 PM   #7
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A matched set (Brand/model/date code) is best. Any variation from that shortens the life expectation.

What happens is, if you buy a 6V Costco (~4-5 year life expectancy) and a 6V Trojan 6-7 year life expectancy, you end up with lower real life for both batteries. A matched pair will equalize one another more easily and give you the longest life (everything else being equal). There is little too no struggle between the 2 batteries.

When 1 battery is stronger than the other, the stronger battery is constantly trying to charge the other battery to an equal state. As time goes on, the weaker battery will finally degrade the stronger battery and that is how they will equalize.
That's what I thought.... That's why I said it was a silly Q of the day!
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Old 04-04-2022, 02:43 PM   #8
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That's what I thought.... That's why I said it was a silly Q of the day!
Kory
No such thing a a "Silly question". If you were thinking it, 20 others were too but were afraid to ask.
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Old 04-04-2022, 02:46 PM   #9
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As a former professional educator, I used to say the only stupid question is one that is asked three times...

... I have two to go!
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