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Tractor Talk Discussion Forum

New gel cell batteries

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Jim in NC

12-13-2003 05:18:40




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i recently purchased a new gel type sealed battery from NAPA for use in our utility tractor. it sits a fair amount and the generator doesn't always keep it up. My dad(Ohio State, electrical eng., class of '39)has always used a meter to both check the operation of the charging system as well as to gauge the relative charge of the battery. He uses 12.8 volts as a measure of a "hot" battery(one that is fully charged). The gel cell never gets to that even when placed on the charging bench for extended periods. It actually seems harder to charge than a regular battery and while its too early to tell may not hold a charge as well as a regular battery. What do you folks know about gel cells....any experience good or bad?

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MikeH-Tx

12-13-2003 17:21:35




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 Re: New gel cell batteries in reply to Jim in NC, 12-13-2003 05:18:40  
I think they are decent. Just ask the 500,000 Miata owners out there. All of these cars have a WestCo gel cell in the trunk running the electrics. Mine has worked well.



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Larry NE IL

12-13-2003 14:27:20




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 Re: New gel cell batteries in reply to Jim in NC, 12-13-2003 05:18:40  
I've had many gel-cell bats. Used them in my Pitts Special bi-plane. ( I was Illinois unlimited aerobatic champ 1993 & 1994) The design keeps the material IN the battery and not all over corrosion sensitive areas, like the steel tubes that hold the whole thing together. A bust at a 9G pull could ruin your day! But other than that, I don't know why anyone would spend the extra $ on one. My experiance with them is very eratic performance. Some would last a long time, others just over a year. Larry

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Rlach

12-13-2003 07:36:51




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 Re: New gel cell batteries in reply to Jim in NC, 12-13-2003 05:18:40  
Personnally i have had a good experience with these batteries, but my battery supplier have had a very bad experience; he told me that i was the only satisfied customer; it was 19 years ago.
Rlach



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Robert in W. Mi

12-13-2003 08:26:12




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 Re: Re: New gel cell batteries in reply to Rlach, 12-13-2003 07:36:51  
WOW, 19 years ago, bet things changed a lot since then.

I keep hearing how good the Optima brand gell cells are. They can sit with a low or no charge for months at a time and it doesn't seem to hurt them at all. I'm told what DOES kill them is over chargeing. They are very sensitive to this.

For me, it's $108.00 price that has kept me from trying one.

Robert



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Jon H

12-13-2003 11:31:17




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 Re: Re: Re: New gel cell batteries in reply to Robert in W. Mi, 12-13-2003 08:26:12  
Are you sure it is a gel cell battery? The exide Orbital is an AGM(absorbed glass mat) battery as is the Optima. I can't say much about the life of an Exide orbital as the oldest I have is only 4 years old. Cranking power and and ability to stay charged in long term storage is exceptional.I have Optima batteries that are 15 years old and still crank like new. One 15 year old in the service pickup has been abused badly by leaving a light or accessory on sometimes for days and running it stone dead many times. We have jump started it from another machine and just let the 60-80 amp alternator hammer away at it untill it is recharged with no problems. This same battery has jump started many large diesels in winter. I love the way you can mount them anywhere and have no terminal corrosion. As the other poster stated,about the only way to ruin them is to boil out the little electrolite that is contained in the glass mat seperators by severe overcharging. I think the normal voltage spec for a fully charged 12V battery is 12.4 Volts.

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Bad Optima

12-13-2003 18:37:14




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 Re: Re: Re: Re: New gel cell batteries in reply to Jon H, 12-13-2003 11:31:17  
I just bought a group 31 Optima. It was shipped with 11.1 volts. Would not hold a charge. I returned it to Batterymart.com They refunded the cost & the UPS back to them- minus $6 for some chicken $hit excuse. Beware if you are looking into Optima group 31 batteries. There is currantly some hushed up recall going on. I was extremely disappointed by the deal. Mike D.



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