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02-12-2018, 12:29 PM | #1 |
Not Yet Wild
Join Date: Apr 2015
Posts: 16
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US Battery Denying warranty on 12 month old Batteries, Thoughts?
I have a 2004 TXT with a set of 12 month old batteries that are completely shot. I took the cart in and the battery rep is refusing to replace them under warranty stating that I "boiled them dry"
I know for a fact that this set was never allowed to get low on water, not even once. The previous set of batteries was ruined by a failed charger that did boil them dry while we were out of town. Ever since I ruined that pack I check the battery level every week. Additionally I have replaced the original suspect charger. So my quandary is this... Either the shop that sold me the batteries sold me a **** fine looking set of batteries that were previously boiled down, ruined and exchanged under warranty as new. (that shop is gone so i cannot go to them) Or US battery is Full of CRAP, The battery rep stated the batteries were out of electrolytes (can you determine that in the field?) Does anyone have any ideas, I hate that i have a crapped out set of well cared for batteries and I am out $800 |
02-12-2018, 12:36 PM | #2 |
Happy Carting
Join Date: Dec 2007
Location: Southern California
Posts: 73,418
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Re: US Battery Denying warranty on 12 month old Batteries, Thoughts?
The SOC or state of charge will determine how much electrolyte is active in the battery. You can accurately take this measurement for each cell with a refractometer.
Another way to kill batteries is to let them sit without recharging for long periods of time. OR running them low and letting them sit for even short periods. |
02-12-2018, 12:50 PM | #3 | |
Not Yet Wild
Join Date: Apr 2015
Posts: 16
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Re: US Battery Denying warranty on 12 month old Batteries, Thoughts?
Quote:
The rep used a hydrometer not a refractometer to test the batteries. |
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02-12-2018, 12:52 PM | #4 |
Gone Wild
Join Date: Apr 2017
Location: SE TN
Posts: 2,226
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Re: US Battery Denying warranty on 12 month old Batteries, Thoughts?
The battery rep stated the batteries were out of electrolytes (can you determine that in the field?)
Yes, take the caps off and see if you can see any liquid. The water/acid mixture is the electrolyte. |
02-12-2018, 01:28 PM | #5 |
Not Yet Wild
Join Date: Apr 2015
Posts: 16
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Re: US Battery Denying warranty on 12 month old Batteries, Thoughts?
The batteries were filled to the proper level as they always have been. His claim was that all that was in the batteries was just water and that they would not hold a charge since the "electrolytes were used up" when the batteries were boiled down (allegedly)
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02-12-2018, 01:53 PM | #6 |
Happy Carting
Join Date: Dec 2007
Location: Southern California
Posts: 73,418
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Re: US Battery Denying warranty on 12 month old Batteries, Thoughts?
Given what the customer is saying I find it hard to believe the rep is correct.
What if the electrolyte was not installed to the proper level in the first place. I think you could tell him that Your use and care was within the manufactures guidelines and you feel the batteries were not made or prepared properly and you are will to give US battery another chance if they pro-rate this set by the 2 yrs use you got out of them. |
02-12-2018, 05:01 PM | #7 |
Not Yet Wild
Join Date: Apr 2015
Posts: 16
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Re: US Battery Denying warranty on 12 month old Batteries, Thoughts?
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02-12-2018, 10:33 PM | #8 | |
Gone Wild
Join Date: Nov 2016
Location: near Calgary, AB, Canada
Posts: 1,516
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Re: US Battery Denying warranty on 12 month old Batteries, Thoughts?
Quote:
In high school chemistry terms, the chemical reaction of a flooded lead acid battery can be written as: Pb(s) + PbO2(s) + 2H2SO4(aq) → 2PbSO4(s) + 2H2O(l) Lead (solid) + Lead Oxide (solid) + Sulfuric Acid (liquid) → Lead Sulfate (solid) + Water (liquid) When a lead acid battery is recharged, the chemical reaction is reversed and the Lead Sulfate and Water are converted back to Lead, Lead Oxide and Sulfuric acid. So when a lead acid battery is fully charged, the liquid phase is a strong mixture of Sulfuric Acid and Water. When a lead acid battery is discharged, the Sulfuric Acid concentration is reduced to a low level and the liquid phase becomes primarily water. So in a discharged state, the electrolyte in your battery is primarily water. The water concentration of the electrolyte is also the reason why a fully charged battery (which has a high sulfuric acid concentration / low water concentration) freezes at -92 F and a 20% charged battery (which has a low sulfuric acid concentration / high water concentration) freezes at +19 F. So the reason why your battery is primarily water right now is because it is in a highly discharged state. The presence of water is NOT a factor of the "electrolytes were used up", rather is a result of being at a low state of charge. The sulfuric acid should still really be in the battery ... it is just now in the Lead Sulfate chemical form! I call BS on the theory that the "electrolytes were used up when the batteries were boiled down" and would suggest that you pursue your warranty claim further. |
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02-12-2018, 08:57 PM | #9 |
Gone Wild
Join Date: Apr 2017
Location: SE TN
Posts: 2,226
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Re: US Battery Denying warranty on 12 month old Batteries, Thoughts?
If you still got the batteries and you feel that you are right and willing to risk 25 dollars do what Scotty suggested and buy a refractory not a hydrometer and check them yourself. I'm not a chemist but I believe that when you charge batteries no acid is lost in the process just water. If acid was lost you would have to add acid along with water after normal charging.
https://smile.amazon.com/gp/product/...?ie=UTF8&psc=1 |
02-12-2018, 10:08 PM | #10 | |
Not Yet Wild
Join Date: Apr 2015
Posts: 16
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Re: US Battery Denying warranty on 12 month old Batteries, Thoughts?
Quote:
After charging and allowing to rest 2 hrs the pack reads 37.2v With a 50 amp load test we get about 11 mins of simulated run time before hitting 35v... |
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