In reading these battery threads, it seems that our batteries don't wear out at the same rate. Is their any consensus on this?
My next question is, if they don't, would it make any sense to rotate them periodically? Would this even out the wear?

Thanks!

 

I'm thinking it's just the nature of each battery and how well each individual battery is made.

Stewart

 

the thing is that when 1 losses a cell it will kill off a lot of the amps from the other battery that it will never get back, 600 not 1000 CCA. so if you check your battery's you could but if you wait until there is a problem it is to late for the other 1. i just replace them together

 

Would not help to rotate them.. they are hooked up in parallel and act as if they are one big battery.. like they say..change both of them as the same time..

 

Some batteries will last for years others for months.It don't matter where they are in a group (or alone) they will die or live.Rotating would do no good

 

A beneficial thing to do would be to read about a "equalizing charge" (Google is your friend) and then perform it on a routine schedule.

It will involve removing the batteries from the truck, but that's a good time to make sure the electrolyte level is up-to-snuff, and the terminals are spotless.

Maintenance, maintenance......

Pop

 

Thanks a lot for the responses!

 

Interesting read Marv. Do you have to remove the batteries from the truck. Would not disconnecting them, be sufficient?

Do you have any recommendations for a charger, or the best place to look?

Thanks!

 

Does anybody know of a aftermarket batteryminder that will open the circuit at some predetermined voltage?

I drive a lot for work and have to run a powered cell phone antenna most of the time to get reception, then I get home and forget to shut it off and then the next morning.

 

Clux how about an auxiliary battery with an isolator relay that powers your antenna?
I'm not familiar with how it connects to your cell phone, but if it's wireless, it could all be mounted in the bed of the truck or something.

 

There are a lot of factors that go in to how long you battery will last. The condition of the starter, GPR, weather, alternator. All of these are factors that determine how long it will last

 

I'd thought about that too Kwikk, I just figured that since newer vehicles have batteryminders somebody smart would have made an aftermarket system.

If there's not any available maybe I'll invent one and make a million or two on it...............

 

Yes, a simple disconnect will suffice. It's just easier for me to completely clean them when they're out.

No, sorry. I use an old Hewlett Packard laboratory power supply with both modes that I picked up years (decades) ago at a surplus store. As an example though, there's a couple of HP-6264B's on eBay right now that are pretty reasonable (if they work) that would fit the bill.

A highly-accurate DVM and an accurate thermometer are also good things to have when servicing these.

Pop

 

Thanks for the comments and info, guys!

I've seen chargers before that had a "High Charge" setting on them, would that be the same as a equalizing charge? No reference to the voltage that would need to be 16+ volts.

 

Someone does or did make one you could at one time buy them for the little 12V refrigerators to keep from killing the battery
Might check an RV store