(ET) batteries When to replace, when to move.

["Hazen, Dwight L" <hazen indiana edu>]

Well I just had to add my two cents worth.. I use the principle of its time
to change batteries when they do not do the job expected of them. Notice I
said change not replace. I have two working ElecTrack's one 24V UPS system
and a 12v home power system. It should come as no surprise that they all 
use
6 volt batteries. So if you have other uses for your aging batteries that 
do
not require as great an amp hour rating you can help justify buying new
batteries for the tractor by moving the old batteries to a  lower demand
use.

So my 24 volt pack is on it's last leg. How do I know? Well they are 7 
years
old, I have to water them every month, never had to do that two years ago.
Do they still keep the UPS running? Yes and the day they do not I get six
new Trojans for the E14 my highest demand load, move the six no-names to 
the
E12 and move four of the E12 Trojans to the UPS. Then I get the fun of
deciding which of the remaining batteries go back to be recycled and which
ones I keep for the 12 volt system. Make sure you can read the date codes 
on
your cells and put your own date on any new batteries you purchase. As you
can see I like playing with batteries! 

If you do go with mixed batteries try to match them as close as you can.
Look at terminal voltage after the pack has been discharged. The one with
the lowest voltage is the weak one and should be moved to a different pack
of like cells or recycled. Steam distilled water is the only thing that you
should be watering your cells with. 

 Trojan T105 here in Bloomington Indiana cost $64.00 at a golf car place.
They DO last longer. I can get Interstate and no-names for around $50.00 


   Dwight 



Dwight L. Hazen, Indiana University, UITS 
Bloomington, In. 47408-7378 Phone 812-855-5367 hazen indiana edu
http://php.ucs.indiana.edu/~hazen/ Ham Radio wb9tlh arrl net
NetMeeting Directory server for IU ils.iu.edu



> -----Original Message-----
> From: Oasis654 aol com [SMTP:Oasis654 aol com]
> Sent: Tuesday, June 12, 2001 8:49 PM
> To:   daveb seanet com; owner-elec-trak cosmos phy tufts edu;
> roden ald net; elec-trak cosmos phy tufts edu
> Subject:      Re:  Re: (ET) batteries
> 
> 
> In a message dated 6/12/1 4:27:25 PM, daveb seanet com wrote:
> 
> <<just replace the two batteries with perhaps 2 used golf 
> cart batteries.  Can I expect to get some from a local golf course?  How
> much 
> should I expect to pay?>>
> 
> hi dave, i vote for used batteries.  in a used machine i bought 10 years
> ago, 
> there were a bunch of mixed used batteries.  and they're still going.   
> batteries from golf courses are getting harder to find but are usually 
> 10 
> each.  same with a local battery dealer that will often save the better
> used 
> batteries if you ask.  
>     and i've found that thru use, and cycling, poor batteries can often 
> be
> 
> given a 2nd life.  good luck, jon k