Re: (ET) Battery help needed

["SteveS" <ssawtelle fcc net>]

Two points:

1. I tend to agree about used batteries on an unknown machine. I think I
have shortened the life on the new set of Trojans I bought last year 
because
the charger was not putting out quite enough voltage. I now 'top' them off
with a 12V charger two at a time, but I think damage has been done.

B. It has been alluded to, but not specifically mentioned, that lead-acid
batteries come in different flavors. The golf cart batteries are built for
deep discharge - automotive batteries are not, and will not perform well
over the long haul. Marine batteries are somewhere in between, but I get 
the
sense they are more like automative than golf cart.

III. (ok 3 points) I also note that someone on the list mentioned running
with three 12V batteries (I assume the lift gets connected as 24V). This
could be a viable solution if you don't need to run extended times on a
charge and want to save money - It also makes the tractor lighter which can
be good or bad. I'm not sure what's available in deep discharge 12V.

- SteveS
E12S, E20


----- Original Message -----
From: "Christopher Zach" <czach computer org>
To: "David Roden (Akron OH USA)" <roden ald net>; <>
Sent: Friday, January 03, 2003 11:09 PM
Subject: Re: (ET) Battery help needed


> I'd agree with what David said, except for the comment about used. If 
> this
> is your first Elec-Trak, give a good set of used batteries a shot. They
> should be able to give you a matched set.
>
> That way you can do the foolish things people do, abuse the batteries, 
> and
> get a new set down the road instead of nuking a new set of batteries.
>
> Chris
>
> ----- Original Message -----
> From: "David Roden (Akron OH USA)" <roden ald net>
> To: <elec-trak cosmos phy tufts edu>
> Sent: Friday, January 03, 2003 10:31 PM
> Subject: Re: (ET) Battery help needed
>
>
> > On 3 Jan 2003 at 22:16, Bauerle, Dave wrote:
> >
> > > Just got an e-15 and need to get batteries. What is the group size of
> the
> > > batteries? What is the normal amp. rating (amp hour or CCA)?
> > >
> >
> > All the ETs except the smallest use conventional golf car batteries
> (usually
> > GC-2).  The standard is about 220-235 amp hour and 105-115 minute
reserve
> > capacity.  This would be a US Battery 2200 or Trojan T-105.  These
should
> > cost no more than $50-55 each if purchased from a competitive dealer.
> Call
> > a nearby golf course and ask where they get their batteries.
> >
> > The golf course folks may even be willing to sell you some used ones.
> Some
> > people swear by these, but I think new ones are worth the extra cost.
> Don't
> > pay more than $15-20 each for used batteries.
> >
> > There are also cheaper brands.  Some people have used them (lots of
people
> > like the private brand $40 ones from Sam's Club) and think they're 
> > fine.
> > These vary from excellent to barely acceptable, depending on who
supplies
> > your local store.  I prefer to buy US Battery (also sold as Interstate
> > Workaholic) and Trojan, getting (IMO) more reliability for more money.
> >
> > If you have a very large yard to mow or lots of area to plow or throw
snow
> > from, you can get higher capacity batteries such as the US-125 and
Trojan
> T-
> > 125.  The next capacity tier batteries (US-145 and T-145) are a bit
taller
> > and may be harder to fit into the battery boxes.
> >
> > [Cold] Cranking Amps is not usually specified for cyclic-use batteries.
> >
> > Good luck and enjoy your new tractor!
> >
> >
> > David Roden - Akron, Ohio, USA
> > 1991 Solectria Force 144vac
> > 1991 Ford Escort Green/EV 128vdc
> > 1970 GE Elec-trak E15 36vdc
> > 1974 Avco New Idea 36vdc
> > = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = =
> > Thou shalt not send me any thing which says unto thee, "send this to 
> > all
> >
> > thou knowest."  Neither shalt thou send me any spam, lest I smite thee.
> >
> > = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = =
> >
> > Est. yearly US cost to safeguard Persian Gulf oil supply: $50 billion
> >
> > Est. 2001 value of US crude oil imports from Persian Gulf: $19 billion
> > -- Harper's Index, April 2002
> > = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = =
> >
> >
> >
> >
>
>