[NLRS] Battery tale

[aduhawk at comcast.net]

Over the years we have refined our battery usage for roving and goin' mobahl on HF.

Our latest is a big honkin' Trojan deep cycle that had been in service about a year.  Sometimes we remove it from the back of the SUV where it is by secured 1200 pound test web-type strapping.  This bad boy weighs in at 70 plus pounds, so sometimes it is in there for a few months between expeditions.

About a month ago, we were off road in EN42 when we went over a rough patch.  Unbeknowst to us, the battery tipped on its side.  It was my fault -- the strapping wasn't tight enough.  When we next opened the back hatch in a couple of days to put some groceries in I saw what had happened.  Some acid had leaked out, melting an umbrella and eating through one of the straps.  The connecter on the positive terminal was badly corroded.  I did some damage control, got it back right-side up, and tightened it down.  I put it back in the circuit by putting the fuse between the isolator and the battery back in.  It tested at 12.5v, so I thought all was well.

However, it had lost enough acid to be bubbling away back there.  So, in another week the new strapping had been eaten through and more acid had leaked into the case holding the battery. I bought it at a local Batteries Plus so I returned there to get some acid to top it off.

The young man working there asked me why I needed the acid and I told him the story, admitting that it had all been my fault.  He took it out of the vehicle and tested it.  It came out "Good Battery" on the display.  He offered to top it off, but they were out of acid (it was a Saturday) and would have some on Monday.  He told me that they would clean it up and that it would be good to go.  We were going away for a week on Monday and told him that it would be a few days after that before I could pick it up.

I just got back from Batteries Plus.  They reported the incident to Trojan, and guess what?  They replaced the battery at no charge and gave me a new warranty.

I just wanted everybody to know of this good service.  We should be out for the 2m Sprint, and hope to work you all.

73, Tim K0PG
























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