Quote:
Originally Posted by bapos
This would be my suggestion for the starting batteries...... bite the bullet and go buy 2 MAXX batteries from walmart. They have a 3 year replacement warranty.
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This is my line of thinking, as well. New batteries will not only be able to hold a charge better, but will probably have more 'umph' than reconditioned batteries of the same rated capacity.
Quote:
Originally Posted by ascend
I've been using "reconditioned" batteries that I pick up from ProBattery locally and tbh, they usually only last a year and then don't hold their charge worth crap (though at $40 a pop compared to $150, I'm ok with replacing them yearly).
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I'm thinking this is probably the most expensive way to keep oneself in batteries. No disrespect intended.
I don't know if the batteries in my truck relate to those in a bus, but the Cummins engine in my Dodge is virtually the same as in many buses. The OEM batteries in my pickup lasted for seven years before I replaced them, and they still had not failed. I replaced them due to their age, my cautious nature, and I detected a little dragging when starting. They lasted a pretty long time for me living in a very hot location, but I went to Wally world and bought the biggest MAXX batteries they had at around a hundred bucks each and I would expect that they last five years. That is, if I get anywhere near the similar service from them as the factory supplied batteries. If they last five years, that amounts to $20 a year for each, or $40 a year total.
Buying reconditioned batteries at $40 each and replacing them yearly (I assume you mean both of them), then that is twice as much as buying new batteries that should last much longer. Not only that, but at my age, I would not want an annual battery hassle.
Now, my truck gets driven every day and, thus, the batteries are kept charged; where a bus would not be driven as much and would not keep the same level of charge. This is admittedly not as good for a battery, so it might be reasonable to expect them to not last as long as the batteries on my truck anyway. YMMV (Your mileage may vary).
Just my two cents and I hope I didn't step on any toes. I'm open to comments if I may be viewing this incorrectly.