Jell Batteries

Minnie Mo John 2 · Jan 19, 2010

With all of the discussion about batteries lately I decided to share my experence with jell batteries. Mother in law bought an electric mobility with the larger wheels and four wheels to get around on the farm. Unit worked great all summer. Parked the machine with batteries at full charge in late fall before the deep snow came. Next spring batteries tested full charge but WOULD NOT move the unit. Batteries replaced under warranty. Worked good all summer. Next spring same thing, NO GO. Seller would not replace batteries. I put my small 12 volt trolling into the and they are still doing good 12 years later and they were 4 and 6 years old when I put them in the unit. Yes I know it is not a tractor but some of us are of the age and condition that we need to use a mobility unit.
John

JDemaris · Jan 19, 2010

"Absorbed Glass Mat" batteries have their place, due to the fact they can be used right side up, sideways, upside down, etc. They can also be shipped by air. But otherwise, usually a waste of money. They are overpriced and very intolerant to "less then perfect" charging. In fact, most cheaper battery chargers are not setup to charge them properly. I've been working with AGMs for 10 years now, and most of my work has been to take them out and replace with good old-fashioned flooded lead acid batteries.

ddl · Jan 19, 2010

a battery that lasted 17 years? wish you could buy one now that would do that. we'd all go solar since the storage problem would be fixed.

440roadrunner · Jan 19, 2010

(quoted from post at 06:49:20 01/19/10) I put my small 12 volt trolling into the.................................... and they are still doing good 12 years later........................ and they were 4 and 6 years old when I put them in the unit.

In ham radio we have these things called "Q" signals. There are some unofficial ones.

One of them is 'QBS'

JDemaris · Jan 19, 2010

Not sure what you're getting at. There are many anecdotal reports of the good and bad of all battery types. There are also exceptions.
There are conventional flooded lead acid batteries available that last well over 30 years. Just happen to be expensive and there is no net savings. Many telecom companies use them, and buy them in 2 volt cells. You sting them in series and make any voltage you want. When you buy a 12 volt battery from the store, it's just a sealed box holding 6 little batteries already hooked in series.

If you use batteries over time, you can calculate battery costs per month, year, etc. Makes little difference how long they last, unless figured in with the cost.

440roadrunner · Jan 19, 2010

(quoted from post at 09:26:12 01/19/10)
There are conventional flooded lead acid batteries available that last well over 30 years. .................................Many telecom companies use them, and buy them in 2 volt cells. .

Many of the big Telco battery banks are not lead--acid, but rather "Edison cells" but regardless of the type, these are normally in VERY controlled situations, that is, not subject to the high and low extremes of temps that auto/ truck batteries are, and certainly not the mechanical shock of either auto or "mobility" rigs. The charging systems are expensive and VERY well thought out and regulated, AND they are normally not even cycled. They normally just "sit" there on a tightly controlled float charge.

This is a far cry from the average car/ truck/ garden tractor/ bike/ mobility battery that are subjected to a huge array of conditions.

Walterdavies · Jan 19, 2010

My chair uses the regular batteries. I get replacements at Batteries + its a half the price of the ones you get at the medical supply store. They last about 4 years then I need to replace them.
Walt

JDemaris · Jan 19, 2010

Yes, you're correct. But, I made no mention of it in the context of batteries in cars or trucks. I brought it up in reply to the comments about solar electric and battery bank storage solutions. And, these 2 volt batteries are often used for that purpose.

buickanddeere · Jan 19, 2010

AGM or even liquid electrolyte cells would be better. Gell cells are best used in emergency exit lights.

RayP(MI) · Jan 19, 2010

We had an automotive sized battery that came (new) on our JD 140 garden tractor, JD battery that lasted 30 years. We didn't baby the battery or the tractor either. Even used it as a jump starter for other vehicles around the farm.
Wish I could get that quality battery again!

RodinNS · Jan 20, 2010

No doubt you know this anyhow... but Surette rates their batteries in terms of discharge cycles. I think there's a rating for 80% and 50% discharge.
Those 2V cells are expensive suckers tho...

Rod

Jell Batteries

Minnie Mo John 2

Member

JDemaris

Well-known Member

ddl

Member

440roadrunner

Member

JDemaris

Well-known Member

440roadrunner

Member

Walterdavies

Member

JDemaris

Well-known Member

buickanddeere

Well-known Member

RayP(MI)

Well-known Member

RodinNS

Well-known Member

Similar threads