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Old 11-16-2018, 03:35 PM   #1
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New new Battery!

My battery wasn't sitting flat which I am sure isn't good. I changed it and it's only 7.5 volts. I know someone that works at Johnson Controls, they make car batteries. He can get me any battery they make for $35. I'm curious if it's better to get a higher amp battery than I have now, or would that cause problems?



Thanks for the help!
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Old 11-16-2018, 03:53 PM   #2
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In a single word YES!!! Get the biggest that will fit or 2 smaller ones for $35 each! Make sure it’s deep cycle. If your friend can’t get a deep cycle than a marine would be the next best. If he can’t get that get a “south” battery (s)
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Old 11-16-2018, 04:16 PM   #3
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My battery wasn't sitting flat which I am sure isn't good. I changed it and it's only 7.5 volts. I know someone that works at Johnson Controls, they make car batteries. He can get me any battery they make for $35. I'm curious if it's better to get a higher amp battery than I have now, or would that cause problems?



Thanks for the help!
You DON'T want a car battery.
You at least need a dual purpose marine battery. Better would be a true 12v deep cycle battery but those aren't common and Johnson Control probably doesn't make them.
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Old 11-16-2018, 04:28 PM   #4
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Johnson Controls makes a substantial percentage of all the batteries -- regardless of brand -- in North America.

Reserve Capacity is paramount. As much as you can get and fit on the trailer tongue. A pair is better albeit twice the weight. Deep cycle is what you want. Too many "marine" batteries are dual purpose (starting and house). Definitely don't want a battery designed for starting automobiles.

But at $70 for a pair? Get the best he can get and don't worry about what they are.

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Old 11-16-2018, 06:10 PM   #5
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Here is the battery I have now (see pic). I just checked and it's 12.9 volts. How can I test the battery to see if it is good?


Anybody else have trouble uploading pics? I select the file and click UPLOAD and get a "400 Bad Request". Takes 5-10 attempts before the picture uploads.
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Old 11-16-2018, 06:30 PM   #6
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The notation of Cold Cranking Amps (CCA) indicates it's a car starting battery. These have internal structures designed to dump lots of power quickly but not handle low loads for a long time as a Deep Cycle battery would do.

Not an ideal battery but for $35 I'd take two.

(Note it's not branded for Johnson Controls as they make batteries for "everyone.")

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Old 11-16-2018, 06:42 PM   #7
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Here is the battery I have now (see pic). I just checked and it's 12.9 volts. How can I test the battery to see if it is good?

If you have a battery charger that you can control the charge rate, and it will put out at least 40 amp, there is an old test that gives a good idea if you have a sulfated battery or not. It's called the 3 minute sulfation test and was used for years in repair shops (before computerized testers).

Connect the battery charger and set it at a 40 amp charge rate and check voltage over a 3 minute period. If the voltage rises over 15.5 volts during that 3 minute period it's an indication that the battery is sulfated and may never take a full charge again.

This test is best done after the battery has been discharged enough to take away any "surface charge". If you don't have a load tester, and the battery is attached to a vehicle/trailer, just turn on lights, fans, etc for 10 minutes or so. Then run the test.

Of course another test is to just turn on all the various loads in the trailer and see how long the battery stays above the fully discharged voltage for whatever temperature is that day. The battery in the picture should last just over 3 hours with a load of 25 amp when brand new. Whatever time you get could just be used to determine a percentage of battery "life" you have remaining.
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