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| Battery Experts needed | |
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| Topic Started: Aug 24 2015, 03:12 AM (1,820 Views) | |
| Trotsky | Nov 4 2015, 02:49 AM Post #31 |
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Big City Boy
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Ni Cads or NiMH? Suggestions needed: Our ONT (optical network terminal for cable, internet and phone) uses a small 12 volt sealed lead storage battery (6" x 2.6" x 3.7") as phone backup in case of electrical outage. VOIP phones over cable do not have their own power like old phones have had since the time of Alexander Graham bell. It has started beeping occasionally, one beep every half hour, as a warning for replacement but CUSTOMERS are responsible for the $20+ dollars. This battery is only 4 years old, and has never been even 5 degrees away from 72 degrees room temperature, has never been discharged, or even USED, not even during Superstorm Sandy, and I know car batteries are good for 10 years give or take. Any suggestions for getting a couple more years out of this battery. I know a freezer is not a good idea because cold weather causes fatal sulfation of lead acid batteries. How about if I shake the bejesus out of it? I gave away my car battery charger when I moved, having decided I will not drive again, unless we win tonight's Mega-Ball lottery ($114 M.) Edited by Trotsky, Nov 4 2015, 03:13 AM.
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| campy | Nov 4 2015, 02:59 AM Post #32 |
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Handyman Extraordinaire
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Nimh. Cheapos. Low capacity. |
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| Trotsky | Nov 4 2015, 03:18 AM Post #33 |
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Big City Boy
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I am juggling 10 NiMH's which I really LOVE. If any of them give up the glost I will try your freezer trick. (Soon they will be the only battery I will use except in a couple big emergency flashlights that need D cells or 6 volters.) Edited by Trotsky, Nov 4 2015, 03:22 AM.
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| Delphi51 | Nov 4 2015, 05:19 AM Post #34 |
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Member title
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Here in the north we don't keep car batteries for ten years - it is asking for serious trouble on a cold winter night! You might try "equalizing" if you have access to a 15 or 16 volt source. See "charging" near the end of this page: http://www.marxrv.com/12volt/12volt.htm |
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| campy | Nov 4 2015, 05:35 AM Post #35 |
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Handyman Extraordinaire
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I would guess that five years is the max you can keep a battery in Canada in the cold part of the country. I have a booster battery that I keep charged up just in case and we do have plug ins to circulate the coolant and keep the car engine warm. I wouldn't bother with equalizing. Just too much trouble. |
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| Trotsky | Nov 4 2015, 08:54 AM Post #36 |
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Big City Boy
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Really, You guys get only 5 years from a car battery...how dreary. For real? I got more than 10 years from my last Hyundai battery until a drunk cop smashed the poor little car to bits. So now tell me, any suggestion on getting more life from my sealed 12 volt backup battery in my cable system? Edited by Trotsky, Nov 4 2015, 08:58 AM.
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| campy | Nov 4 2015, 09:11 AM Post #37 |
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Handyman Extraordinaire
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I read somewhere that the way to shorten a battery's life is to overcharge it. In the good old days, many a battery was ruined by the voltage regulator not cutting out. It wasn't digital. It was mechanical and sometimes the contacts stuck. You could smell sulfur when that happened. |
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| Trotsky | Nov 12 2015, 09:20 AM Post #38 |
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Big City Boy
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I LOVED those old mechanical voltage regulators...that cost $10 to replace. |
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| Delphi51 | Nov 12 2015, 10:02 AM Post #39 |
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Member title
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I was helping a guy with a new computer the other day and noticed he had a nice new looking battery sitting outside, so I started a battery conversation and he said that one had failed. I offered to dispose of it for him, thinking I would turn it in at Costco when I bought a new one, saving me a return trip. Anyway, I noticed it was dated 2014 so I used my fancy charger on it. It was way discharged, less than 12 volts but wouldn't draw more than two amps. So I put it on equalize, which took a few hours, then on "recondition" ( desulfate), which takes 24 hours. I am now using it on my old van which had an 8 year old battery - a temporary expedient. It seems to be fine but only a cold day will tell the whole story. The old battery left me walking on Monday. I drove to the dentist in another town, about an hour away, through fog and left the lights on for two hours while in the chair. The lights were still on when I got out but of course it wouldn't start. So I stood on the street with my booster cables and got a boost about ten minutes later from a friendly young guy in a truck. I hate to admit it, but that is better than I did in my own town last winter. |
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| Trotsky | Nov 13 2015, 02:01 AM Post #40 |
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Big City Boy
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They recommend you don't DO that. "Two hours in a dental chair." That sounds suicide inducing. Edited by Trotsky, Nov 13 2015, 02:02 AM.
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| Trotsky | Nov 13 2015, 06:54 AM Post #41 |
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Big City Boy
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Nuts' My backup battery for the cable/phone/TV has started beeping twice an hour again. Time to reboot the ONT/battery...again. |
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| campy | Jun 22 2016, 08:07 AM Post #42 |
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Handyman Extraordinaire
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Those old voltage regulators ruined many a battery by overcharging and there was no way you could tell if it was overcharging because all we had was idiot lights on the dash and they only indicated undercharging. |
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| wildie | Jun 22 2016, 04:07 PM Post #43 |
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Veteran Member
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My battery failed me in down-town Toronto. I had dropped my wife and grands off for a tour of the CN tower. I was hungry and drove away to get some fast food. Whwn I tried to start up the battery was dead. Knowing thateverybody would be waiting for me and having no way to phone them, I flagged down a taxi. Intending to meet my family and let them know about the problem. I mentioned my predicament to the cabbie, and he told that thats not a problem. He had the longest jumper cables that I have ever seen. He hooked up to my van I was quickly underway. I offered to pay the cabbie, but he refused to take my money! TORONTO THE GOOD! |
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| campy | Jun 23 2016, 01:22 AM Post #44 |
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Handyman Extraordinaire
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I bought a portable battery setup from CT quite a few years back. Just keep it in the trunk and keep it charged up. It has an indicator on it for when it needs recharging. It has never failed me and has saved me a ton of money and grief. I think I paid $25 for it. |
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| Trotsky | Jun 23 2016, 02:08 AM Post #45 |
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Big City Boy
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I always carried a charged 12 V battery with me and a pair of long cables. Helped me and several strangersover the half century that I drove. When we moved last, I gave away my battery charger to a very grateful neighbor. |
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