On board batteries not used for starting.

So yesterday, during my conversation with JR @ RBS, the topic of batteries came up, which happens to be what I do for a living.

JR specifically pointed me to the MSD Pro Mag Battery Pack (p/n 8162), which is a 14.4V, 3 Amp Hour Nickel Metal Hydride battery pack weighing in at 2.6 Lbs. at a cost of approximately $330.00 plus the $288.00 charger.

I import and distribute high discharge Lithium Polymer Batteries for the Remote Control Hobby Industry, as well as some applications with NASA and the US Military.

We offer, as part of our normal product line, a 4-Cell Lithium Polymer Battery, 3.8 Amp Hours, with a voltage range of 12V-16.8V. This pack can be discharged at up to 76 Amps continuous, and can be charged at up to 7.6A, going from empty to fully charged in as little as 40 minutes.

Dimensions: 40mm (1-5/8") Thick x 42mm (1-11/16") Wide x 139mm (5-5/8") Long

Weight: 1 Lb, .5 Oz.

This pack has a street price of $145.99, and a 12V DC input charger can be had for as little as ~$50.00. This is a HUGE savings over the ~$600 investment into the MSD battery/charger.

Cautions: The pack is not vibration/shock proof, and would have to be mounted within foam to absorb the vibration. The pack can be permanently damaged if over discharged below 12V.

Would there be any interested parties in trying this at an even greater reduced cost?

Mr. Hanna, I'm sorry if this is not appropriate for the site. If you feel it's not, please remove this thread.

 

Orvac's Electronics in Fullerton, CA sells a variety of small sealed gel cell batteries all the way up to one the size of a regular car battery. I use a small 5.0 amp battery that is similar in size to the one Racepak used to sell. It has push on connectors, is grey plastic with a black or blue top and very compact in size.

These batteries are also used as back up batteries for home and business alarm systems sold by Brinks. The key pad on my home alarm displayed "LOW BATT" after 10 years of service so I popped the panel open. Low and behold it's the same battery I run in my TA/FC. Brinks wanted a bunch of money for one, so I saved them the trouble and replaced it with one I had in stock in my trailer.

The cost is about $15.00 and they sell the correct chargers for not much more. Dennis Taylor runs one, too. The key is to mount it in your box behind the fuel tank/dry sump tank, not in the back where tire shake kills it. They last for a couple years no matter how hard you shake the tires or hit the wall. I keep a couple of them charged up in the trailer at all times.

Charging rediculous amounts of money for things like batteries is just plain wrong. But if anyone wants one, I'll go to Orvac's, buy one or two for $15.00, put my sticker on them and gladly charge you $300.00 each if you like.

Randy

 

Randy I do the same thing also alarm batts.
www.myspace.com/daveloweswr

 

batterys

I also use the alarm battery. Been using it for 3 years with no trouble.

 

How Do I Go About Buying These $15.00 Batteries ? What Do I Ask For Or Phone # To Call ?

 

Well, if the majority are using a $15.00 lead acid, no point in spending more to save a few pounds.