Batteries...

[The Tradition]

So, I got home from vacation and here in Florida it apparently rained the entire time I was gone. The lawn was loving it, and Lake Tradition is way up.

Anyway, Mrs. Tradition (no pics) tried to go to work on the front yard with our climate-friendly Skil electric mower. She doesn't want me to mow with the rider up front because she says it scalps the grass. But the battery wouldn't work even though it's fully charged. She would get like 10 minutes of mowing time, put it on the charger, and do it again. After a few rounds of that the battery completely died. So, ordered a new one for $200.

While all that was going on, I was going to move the wife's car and it wouldn't start either. Put it on the charger and went to the auto parts store to get a new one. Another $200.

Finally, the lawn tractor to attack the lake side of Tradition Manor. Guess what? The freaking battery is toast. Wouldn't even take a charge. Another $100.

And to top things off, the upstairs thermostat was flashing "REPLACE BATTERY" when we got home, too.

$500+ on batteries in one day!

Batteries suck. That is all.

 

[The Tradition]

Just checked the rain gauge and it's showing 4 1/2 inches (was emptied before we left).

 

[TJ8869]

Our plan worked, guys!

 

[SoProudNole]

Phuk, you’re back?

 

[Phenomenally Frantastic]

So, I got home from vacation and here in Florida it apparently rained the entire time I was gone. The lawn was loving it, and Lake Tradition is way up.

Anyway, Mrs. Tradition (no pics) tried to go to work on the front yard with our climate-friendly Skil electric mower. She doesn't want me to mow with the rider up front because she says it scalps the grass. But the battery wouldn't work even though it's fully charged. She would get like 10 minutes of mowing time, put it on the charger, and do it again. After a few rounds of that the battery completely died. So, ordered a new one for $200.

While all that was going on, I was going to move the wife's car and it wouldn't start either. Put it on the charger and went to the auto parts store to get a new one. Another $200.

Finally, the lawn tractor to attack the lake side of Tradition Manor. Guess what? The freaking battery is toast. Wouldn't even take a charge. Another $100.

And to top things off, the upstairs thermostat was flashing "REPLACE BATTERY" when we got home, too.

$500+ on batteries in one day!

Batteries suck. That is all.

It may behoove you to learn battery maintenance or maybe invest in a $25 trickle charger.

 

[franklinman]

It may behoove you to learn battery maintenance or maybe invest in a $25 trickle charger.

yep, they work like magic.

 

[TJ8869]

You didn’t happen to find an ancient tiki idol necklace while you were in Hawaii, did you?

 

[ericram]

So, I got home from vacation and here in Florida it apparently rained the entire time I was gone. The lawn was loving it, and Lake Tradition is way up.

Anyway, Mrs. Tradition (no pics) tried to go to work on the front yard with our climate-friendly Skil electric mower. She doesn't want me to mow with the rider up front because she says it scalps the grass. But the battery wouldn't work even though it's fully charged. She would get like 10 minutes of mowing time, put it on the charger, and do it again. After a few rounds of that the battery completely died. So, ordered a new one for $200.

While all that was going on, I was going to move the wife's car and it wouldn't start either. Put it on the charger and went to the auto parts store to get a new one. Another $200.

Finally, the lawn tractor to attack the lake side of Tradition Manor. Guess what? The freaking battery is toast. Wouldn't even take a charge. Another $100.

And to top things off, the upstairs thermostat was flashing "REPLACE BATTERY" when we got home, too.

$500+ on batteries in one day!

Batteries suck. That is all.

Apparently karma is bitch.

 

[Joes Place]

It may behoove you to learn battery maintenance or maybe invest in a $25 trickle charger.

They also make things for lead-acid car batteries (or lawn tractor starter batteries) called "desulfators", which can recover a battery that's failing due to non-use. Cleans the sulfate deposits off the plates that build up on partly discharged (or non-maintained) batteries.

They are even cheaper than trickle chargers (but you need to disconnect from your car, because they could mess with your car's electronics systems w/ the pulses they push into the battery)

 

[SolarHawk]

So, I got home from vacation and here in Florida it apparently rained the entire time I was gone. The lawn was loving it, and Lake Tradition is way up.

Anyway, Mrs. Tradition (no pics) tried to go to work on the front yard with our climate-friendly Skil electric mower. She doesn't want me to mow with the rider up front because she says it scalps the grass. But the battery wouldn't work even though it's fully charged. She would get like 10 minutes of mowing time, put it on the charger, and do it again. After a few rounds of that the battery completely died. So, ordered a new one for $200.

While all that was going on, I was going to move the wife's car and it wouldn't start either. Put it on the charger and went to the auto parts store to get a new one. Another $200.

Finally, the lawn tractor to attack the lake side of Tradition Manor. Guess what? The freaking battery is toast. Wouldn't even take a charge. Another $100.

And to top things off, the upstairs thermostat was flashing "REPLACE BATTERY" when we got home, too.

$500+ on batteries in one day!

Batteries suck. That is all.

Riveting stuff

 

[Kelsers]

So, I got home from vacation and here in Florida it apparently rained the entire time I was gone. The lawn was loving it, and Lake Tradition is way up.

Anyway, Mrs. Tradition (no pics) tried to go to work on the front yard with our climate-friendly Skil electric mower. She doesn't want me to mow with the rider up front because she says it scalps the grass. But the battery wouldn't work even though it's fully charged. She would get like 10 minutes of mowing time, put it on the charger, and do it again. After a few rounds of that the battery completely died. So, ordered a new one for $200.

While all that was going on, I was going to move the wife's car and it wouldn't start either. Put it on the charger and went to the auto parts store to get a new one. Another $200.

Finally, the lawn tractor to attack the lake side of Tradition Manor. Guess what? The freaking battery is toast. Wouldn't even take a charge. Another $100.

And to top things off, the upstairs thermostat was flashing "REPLACE BATTERY" when we got home, too.

$500+ on batteries in one day!

Batteries suck. That is all.

How old were all the batteries?

 

[Joes Place]

How old were all the batteries?

More importantly: how well-maintained were all the batteries?

 

[ihawk in FWB]

Skil? Please!

 

[Kelsers]

More importantly: how well-maintained were all the batteries?

Not really as batteries are maintenance free, as long as they aren't inactive for a long period of time.

 

[Joes Place]

Not really as batteries are maintenance free, as long as they aren't inactive for a long period of time.

Li ion are, so long as you don't leave them uncharged after use.

Lead acid, not so much.
High or low temps w/o ensuring they are well charged reduces their lifespans. It's when the sulfates start building up on the lead plates. So, vehicles that are not driven much, and then only on short trips never fully get the battery back to a full charge. A battery tender is the tool you want to keep those in shape when you're not driving much.

Most batteries will last a while if you fully charge them between uses.

 

[Capital1Hawk]

So, I got home from vacation and here in Florida it apparently rained the entire time I was gone. The lawn was loving it, and Lake Tradition is way up.

Anyway, Mrs. Tradition (no pics) tried to go to work on the front yard with our climate-friendly Skil electric mower. She doesn't want me to mow with the rider up front because she says it scalps the grass. But the battery wouldn't work even though it's fully charged. She would get like 10 minutes of mowing time, put it on the charger, and do it again. After a few rounds of that the battery completely died. So, ordered a new one for $200.

While all that was going on, I was going to move the wife's car and it wouldn't start either. Put it on the charger and went to the auto parts store to get a new one. Another $200.

Finally, the lawn tractor to attack the lake side of Tradition Manor. Guess what? The freaking battery is toast. Wouldn't even take a charge. Another $100.

And to top things off, the upstairs thermostat was flashing "REPLACE BATTERY" when we got home, too.

$500+ on batteries in one day!

Batteries suck. That is all.

I've noticed our batteries don't last in Florida. I replace car battery down there every 2 years but back in midwest it's around 4 years. Thought it would be the opposite with cold winters. That's even with having a trickle charger on the Florida battery when not there.

 

[Kelsers]

Li ion are, so long as you don't leave them uncharged after use.

Lead acid, not so much.
High or low temps w/o ensuring they are well charged reduces their lifespans. It's when the sulfates start building up on the lead plates. So, vehicles that are not driven much, and then only on short trips never fully get the battery back to a full charge. A battery tender is the tool you want to keep those in shape when you're not driving much.

Most batteries will last a while if you fully charge them between uses.

If car batteries don't sit unused for weeks, they last a long time. I know as I have 6 operable vehicles I keep maintained. The oldest battery is 7 years, and the second oldest is 6 years.

 

[Kelsers]

I've noticed our batteries don't last in Florida. I replace car battery down there every 2 years but back in midwest it's around 4 years. Thought it would be the opposite with cold winters. That's even with having a trickle charger on the Florida battery when not there.

Heat is as bad as cold on batteries, and maybe worse.

 

[Gimmered]

So, I got home from vacation and here in Florida it apparently rained the entire time I was gone. The lawn was loving it, and Lake Tradition is way up.

Anyway, Mrs. Tradition (no pics) tried to go to work on the front yard with our climate-friendly Skil electric mower. She doesn't want me to mow with the rider up front because she says it scalps the grass. But the battery wouldn't work even though it's fully charged. She would get like 10 minutes of mowing time, put it on the charger, and do it again. After a few rounds of that the battery completely died. So, ordered a new one for $200.

While all that was going on, I was going to move the wife's car and it wouldn't start either. Put it on the charger and went to the auto parts store to get a new one. Another $200.

Finally, the lawn tractor to attack the lake side of Tradition Manor. Guess what? The freaking battery is toast. Wouldn't even take a charge. Another $100.

And to top things off, the upstairs thermostat was flashing "REPLACE BATTERY" when we got home, too.

$500+ on batteries in one day!

Batteries suck. That is all.

Did you remember to check Mrs. Trad's nightstand? Those are probably toast too.

 

[seminoleed]

Other than that, how was the trip, Trad? The strikers mess anything up?

 

[Joes Place]

I've noticed our batteries don't last in Florida. I replace car battery down there every 2 years but back in midwest it's around 4 years. Thought it would be the opposite with cold winters. That's even with having a trickle charger on the Florida battery when not there.

Batteries do not perform as well in cold
But heat is what can really lower their lifespan.

 

[SB_SB]

So, I got home from vacation and here in Florida it apparently rained the entire time I was gone. The lawn was loving it, and Lake Tradition is way up.

Anyway, Mrs. Tradition (no pics) tried to go to work on the front yard with our climate-friendly Skil electric mower. She doesn't want me to mow with the rider up front because she says it scalps the grass. But the battery wouldn't work even though it's fully charged. She would get like 10 minutes of mowing time, put it on the charger, and do it again. After a few rounds of that the battery completely died. So, ordered a new one for $200.

While all that was going on, I was going to move the wife's car and it wouldn't start either. Put it on the charger and went to the auto parts store to get a new one. Another $200.

Finally, the lawn tractor to attack the lake side of Tradition Manor. Guess what? The freaking battery is toast. Wouldn't even take a charge. Another $100.

And to top things off, the upstairs thermostat was flashing "REPLACE BATTERY" when we got home, too.

$500+ on batteries in one day!

Batteries suck. That is all.

Trad, this is one time I'm with you. I try to stay away from batteries except for things like a drill. Everything else is gas or AC. i just purchased a small corded blower to use when I don't want to use my gas blower. I don't have to worry about charging or the battery going bad, it just works every time and I have no problem winding up the cord. That's certainly easier and lasts longer than having to do "battery maintenance".

 

[Joes Place]

That's certainly easier and lasts longer than having to do "battery maintenance".

Battery maintenance is far simpler than draining oil and refilling.
It's literally "plugging something in" once a week or two.

 

[SB_SB]

Battery maintenance is far simpler than draining oil and refilling.
It's literally "plugging something in" once a week or two.

It's simpler for me, especially when i just pug it in. I'm not sold on the use of batteries because they make the device (drill, car, etc) basically throw away when the battery goes bad. Until there's more standard battery options, I'll stick with what I have.

 

[Joes Place]

It's simpler for me, especially when i just pug it in. I'm not sold on the use of batteries because they make the device (drill, car, etc) basically throw away when the battery goes bad.

You're unable to get replacement "drill" or "car" batteries?

Maybe shop for better quality stuff that you can easily purchase replacements for...

 

[SB_SB]

You're unable to get replacement "drill" or "car" batteries?

Maybe shop for better quality stuff that you can easily purchase replacements for...

When I say, car, I mean EV batteries. The cost to replace many drill batteries is basically the cost to buy a new drill. Like many things in the world today, it's through away.

 

[The Tradition]

You're unable to get replacement "drill" or "car" batteries?

Maybe shop for better quality stuff that you can easily purchase replacements for...

The replacement battery for the electric lawn mower is $200… same as a car battery.

 

[BlIIlken2]

Amazon.com: Batteries

Online shopping for batteries at Amazon.com.

www.amazon.com