VCCA Home Forums TECHNICAL - GENERAL Electrical - 6 volt Battery life

What life expectancy do you guys get for your wet cell rubber 6V batteries? has anyone tried the gel type batteries ? I battle to get 4 years out of my batteries and wonder if the new gel types will last longer. The Optima is too expensive.

For the last 45 years have used nothing but conventional old fashioned batteries. I generally replace them every six or seven years just to be safe. Never charge them during winter storage and if they get the engine started in Spring I know they are good for another year.
Back in the '50's the a average battery lasted two or three years for normal service if you were lucky.

Over the years my conventional 6 volt batteries have lasted anywhere from 2 to 9 years. The average is 3 to 4 years.

My rule of thumb is a buck a month. That is:
$36.00 battery = 36 months
$48.00 battery = 48 months
$60.00 battery = 60 months

You get the idea. The above is general. Batteries are more nowadays.

Charlie

I have a standard Exide 6 volt battery, purchased at Tractor Supply.

I credit my Battery Tender Plus, for keeping my battery, alive, well and always "ready to start" the car.

My Exide is now 8 years old.

Bought my Battery Tender Plus for $45 online, but that was 8 years ago.

http://www.batterytender.com/Chargers/

Thanks for your replies. I think our batteries are poorly made.If the postage wasn't so high or the batteries so heavy I would try one from e-bay.

I don't know about you guys but here is how I know its time to get a new battery. If it has a 3 year warranty it goes out in 3 years 1 month. A 4 year warranty goes out in 4 years and 1 month, never fails.

I have Battery Tender Plus I picked up on Sale and love it, it kept my old lead acid happy and healthy, and is now working on my Optima Red !!

The $45 spent for each of my Battery Tenders (6 volt and 12 volt) have paid for themselves, by prolonging battery life.

I have a "tender", and I don't bother to use it, either...No problems...Optima...? I checked, won't even fit where the original battery goes on my '47 coupe...Too big...

Thanks for all your replies. I stopped using my battery tenders after one failed during a thunderstorm,they also cause the batteries to use more water.

I have used a battery tender for a couple of years made by Battery Butler and it keeps the battery fully charged and I have not had to add any water. I had one battery that I had to add water but it was on the tender for a little over a year.

"I have used a battery tender for a couple of years made by Battery Butler and it keeps the battery fully charged and I have not had to add any water"

Same for my batteries.

I use battery tenders on all 3 of my old cars, my boat, and one tractor. I have a lot less battery trouble than I did before I started using them.


I haven't noticed having to add anymore water than before.

I have used a Battery Butler on my car as well and it has been in constant use for about four years now and I have never had the need to add water to the battery.

I have been using battery tenders for over 15 years, both on my collector vehicles and on our volunteer fire dept trucks. Never been any problems and I purchase the "cheapies" from Harbor Frt. Two misconceptions are common- these devices will not act as chargers for run down batteries. They only deliver fractions of an amp.On old sulfated batteries the maintenance demand may exceed that so that a person blames the tender for a dead batt. Secondly, I have had folks tell me the tenders "go bad" with age. I have some of the first used and still going. Like most solid state devices-very long lives. Also, I have not experienced the need to add water.

Someone mentioned Optima dry cell batteries.They may not look right and not always fit the battery "box" but they are light weight, deliver power as well or better than lead acid types and tolerate long periods of partial discharge. At my son's advice (he has been using them in collector vehicles and boats for 12 years) I purchased both a 6 and 12 volt last year and love them! With four 6 volt and eight 12 volt vehicles (infrequently used) I tired of the expense and time spent keeping them all in heavy lead acid batteries. Much easier to swap the Optima in and out. I admit to minor batt box mods in several cases. Oh well, it works for me. Dan

Probably would have gone for the Optima, but alas, I didn't want to modify the battery box...It was about a 1/2 inch short on the width as I recall...I start altering things and before you know it the top would be "chopped"...lol

Go here to see how to renew your old battery: Works on 6 volt batteries, too. Of course, you then have to dispose of the waste products. BTW, always disconnect the negative first and reconnect the positive first to prevent sparks or "welding" of the wrench to anything it touches.

I was shown this by an old biker whose motorcycle battery had died. He dumped it out, poured in Coke to clean it out, rinsed with clean water and poured in acid to fill. I thought he was crazy, but it worked.

good video Richard! ....I wonder if the battery will hold the charge for an extended time disconnected from the truck ?

If it doesn't hold a charge, he'll be in a pickle!!

Sorry, couldn't resist.

Dean

Probably if you put a trickle charger on it. But I'm just passing on second hand info. And, like I said, the biker put regular battery acid in his.

I have heard of the coke cleaning idea before but I believe it worked for 6 weeks.
Tony

Yeah coke is great for cleaning up battery acid...

learned that trick as a kid.

Will a properly operating tender really extend the life of a battery?

How does it do that? I sure don't know and am a little skeptical of such a claim. Seems that the acid and plates are being used up at a fairly constant rate over time. I'd appreciate being educated on the subject.

Anyone? Chipper? (no need to go into deep chemistry. I probably wouldn't understand it. So make it as simple as you can. Can't tell who may be reading your response.

Charlie

Charlie

If a 3 year battery goes out in 3 years, then the same 3 year battery lasts years longer with a battery tender, that's a good thing, right?

Plus, no dead batteries ever, when you want to crank up and cruise !

Want to know how the battery tender makes the battery last longer ???

I dunno.