Battery Questions/Comments

[surffishjimmy]

I have just a few battery questions.  I will try to keep them short.

I am getting ready to go on my first trip with my new to me PUP.   I went to charge the battery in the PUP and it was only charging to 75%.   So I went out to get a new battery.   I went to the local dealership that will be the servicer for my Viking PUP.  They had an Interstate model Hd24-DP's on sale for $69.99, so I bought it.   My camper had what looked to be a pretty new Interstate SRM24.   I called interstate to decipher the code to see if it was under warranty and it was already 4 years old so it wasn't.    Looking at the code on the new battery, that battery was made in May 2008, almost a year old.  I put the charger to that one and it registered 8% but then charged to a full 100%.    I called Interstate to ask about the fact that I was sold a battery that was almost a year old and would it be ok?  They didn't say yes or no but did say that the distributor should at month end return all batteries made in May 2008 because a year after they were made they get recycled if not sold.   I think this is why it was on sale for $69.99.   I was kind of pissed because I just spent about $1,000 at this dealer getting my TV and my PUP ready.    Maybe $1,000 isn't a lot of money, maybe people spend much more than I did, but to me $1,000 is a heck of a lot of money.  Should I be annoyed?   I ended up returning the battery before I used it because I wanted something closer to the manufacture date.

I ended up going into Sam's Club and they had Optima batteries (blue top) for $155.  They also carried Energizer Deep Cycle batteries for about $60 for a size 24.    I ended up buying the Energizer batter to see if it would last a few seasons.  For $60 it was worth the try to me.  

Do anyone know anything about Energizer Deep Cycle batteries?  Has anyone used one with good or bad comments?  Let me know.

Any comment would be appreciated.  I am off on my first trip this Friday.

Thanks.........

[wavery]

I have just a few battery questions.  I will try to keep them short.

I am getting ready to go on my first trip with my new to me PUP.   I went to charge the battery in the PUP and it was only charging to 75%.   So I went out to get a new battery.   I went to the local dealership that will be the servicer for my Viking PUP.  They had an Interstate model Hd24-DP's on sale for $69.99, so I bought it.   My camper had what looked to be a pretty new Interstate SRM24.   I called interstate to decipher the code to see if it was under warranty and it was already 4 years old so it wasn't.    Looking at the code on the new battery, that battery was made in May 2008, almost a year old.  I put the charger to that one and it registered 8% but then charged to a full 100%.    I called Interstate to ask about the fact that I was sold a battery that was almost a year old and would it be ok?  They didn't say yes or no but did say that the distributor should at month end return all batteries made in May 2008 because a year after they were made they get recycled if not sold.   I think this is why it was on sale for $69.99.   I was kind of pissed because I just spent about $1,000 at this dealer getting my TV and my PUP ready.    Maybe $1,000 isn't a lot of money, maybe people spend much more than I did, but to me $1,000 is a heck of a lot of money.  Should I be annoyed?   I ended up returning the battery before I used it because I wanted something closer to the manufacture date.

I ended up going into Sam's Club and they had Optima batteries (blue top) for $155.  They also carried Energizer Deep Cycle batteries for about $60 for a size 24.    I ended up buying the Energizer batter to see if it would last a few seasons.  For $60 it was worth the try to me.  

Do anyone know anything about Energizer Deep Cycle batteries?  Has anyone used one with good or bad comments?  Let me know.

Any comment would be appreciated.  I am off on my first trip this Friday.

Thanks.........

I used to be a Dealership Service Manager. We were also an Interstate Battery Dealer at that time. I must admit, it's been a long time but I doubt that their distribution system has changed much.

When I was a dealer, the Interstate truck came to us every month, filled our shelves and rotated our inventory. They NEVER left a battery on the shelf for 3 months.

I guess that's a mute point but I do have a lot of faith in the Interstate brand. I don't know anything about this new Energizer brand but I'd be willing bet that it is imported from China.........on that note alone, I wouldn't buy it......but that's just me. :sombraro:

[treephiz]

Good point on checking on manufacturing dates of a battery.  I would not have thought of such a thing.  as far as energizer batteries,  I have been using them in motorcycles for years and never had a problem with them at all.  You might get another season or two from another brand but you have to justify the cost differences.  I do keep my batteries on tenders during the winter.