Used Batteries

[Red-Dwarf]

Any thoughts on buying used batteries? I have an opportunity to buy 2 used Trojan 6V AGM batteries (200 AH), that I am told are only a year old, for $140 for the pair.

Is there any way to reliably tell how old they are?
Is it a good idea to buy used batteries at all?

Thanks,
Noel

[Eddie Longest]

There is a molded in mfg date stamp on most batteries. I found the code on the internet, search battery date code. Around here you can take a battery to any chain auto parts store and they will do a load test on the battery for free.
Eddie

[Daniel A.]

I'd buy them if they were close by. One year old they have another five at least good batteries.

[Raz]

Here is how the manufacturer recommends testing there batteries. Find someone with a hydrometer.

Trojan Battery Company

Good luck and be careful, Raz

[mary and bob]

Can't use a hydrometer on most newer batteries, load test is the best way

[Raz]

Originally Posted by mary and bob

Can't use a hydrometer on most newer batteries, load test is the best way

Quite correct. I missed that they are AGM batteries. Raz

[Carol H]

As suggested you should be able to get up to 5 years good use out of a battery but in my experience the life of a battery and how well it holds a change will be greatly impacted by how often it was allowed to go below 50%.

[honda03842]

When we sold our Motorhome the 6 volt Trojan105 batteries were 14 years old and still functioning well. They had always been connected to a 3 stage Converter, we never shut the convertor off except when dry camping or driving.

[Red-Dwarf]

Thanks all.

I think I'm gonna go around and have a look at them.

Noel

[john warren]

wow,,,i have no idea what those batteries are,,,,or what any of you just said....

[honda03842]

John,

The typical motorhome has 3 batteries. One battery is a traditional truck battery primarily used to start the motorhome's engine.

The other two batteries, often made by the Trojan battery company, are usually 6 volt batteries wired in series used to run the motorhome's 12 volt system. These two batteries are heavy duty, have particularly thick lead plates and can last a really long time if their taken care of.

Some motor homes will have four of these batteries for even more staying power. They are similar to golf cart batteries.

[Raz]

Originally Posted by john warren

wow,,,i have no idea what those batteries are,,,,or what any of you just said....

The batteries Norm is referring to are flooded lead acid batteries often called golf cart batteries because one of there applications is powering golf carts day in and day out. Very heavy duty, long lived ,rugged. Trojan is the manufacturer and T105 is the model. Apparently what Noel is looking at is an AGM ( Absorbed Glass Mat) battery. A newer technology, they are similar to gel cells. Sealed, maintenance free and also long lived as well. Since Noel hasn't given a model number it is hard to know what model he is looking at but here is an example. Notice the price! Raz

AGM Batteries: Trojan 6VAGM - 6V 150Ah AGM Battery: BatteryClerk.com