Buying used batteries

FLmedic · 05-26-2015, 10:54 PM

Hello all,

Local craigslist ad has Trojan and Crown batteries that are 1.5 yrs old. Guy says he had them in an electric car he got rid of and is now selling them. Says he has 20 and they are all 6 volt batteries.

He did not iclude the models. I asked him for the date codes and actual pics.

Other than checking the cells for water and using a volt meter is there anything else I can do to check the condition?

Ty

Gregorio · 05-27-2015, 09:33 AM

You can try load testing them if you have a portable device.

eminence_front · 05-27-2015, 02:57 PM

Have the guy charge them .

Take a Hydrometer with you and check the Specific Gravity of them. The active charge doesn't tell you a whole lot about the battery other than it currently has "xVolts of potential between poles."

A hydrometer at the auto parts store is about $4

Volt_Ampere · 05-27-2015, 03:47 PM

I would not touch used batteries unless they are very cheap and known good. Age is not the major factor either.

cgtech · 05-27-2015, 05:15 PM

Age is about 50% of factor, and the only half you can quantify. How the batteries were used & cared for is the other half. (im sure the story goes "they were rarely used, always charged, and meticulously cared for", right.

). I would likely pass on the deal, unless the deal is so cheap it doesnt matter if they only last a year.

scottyb · 05-27-2015, 05:35 PM

Good flipper materials...

FLmedic · 05-27-2015, 10:12 PM

40 bucks a piece. He says he has trojans and crowns

Nate · 05-27-2015, 10:33 PM

The only way to know for sure is to do load and capacity tests or know the batteries history. Load test easy, capacity test takes more time than most sellers are willing to give.
I tend to agree with Volt_Ampere here.

jjance · 05-28-2015, 07:58 AM

He must have had 3 and 1/3 carts. I'd pass on that deal.

05-26-2015, 10:54 PM	#1
FLmedic Not Yet Wild Join Date: Apr 2015 Posts: 31	Buying used batteries Hello all, Local craigslist ad has Trojan and Crown batteries that are 1.5 yrs old. Guy says he had them in an electric car he got rid of and is now selling them. Says he has 20 and they are all 6 volt batteries. He did not iclude the models. I asked him for the date codes and actual pics. Other than checking the cells for water and using a volt meter is there anything else I can do to check the condition? Ty
FLmedic Not Yet Wild Join Date: Apr 2015 Posts: 31

05-27-2015, 09:33 AM	#2
Gregorio Gone Wild Join Date: Apr 2015 Location: NorCal Posts: 718	Re: Buying used batteries You can try load testing them if you have a portable device.

05-27-2015, 02:57 PM	#3
eminence_front Not Yet Wild Join Date: May 2015 Location: Forney, TX Posts: 23	Re: Buying used batteries Have the guy charge them . Take a Hydrometer with you and check the Specific Gravity of them. The active charge doesn't tell you a whole lot about the battery other than it currently has "xVolts of potential between poles." A hydrometer at the auto parts store is about $4

05-27-2015, 03:47 PM	#4
Volt_Ampere Gone Wild Join Date: May 2012 Location: Rio Verde, Az Posts: 7,170	Re: Buying used batteries I would not touch used batteries unless they are very cheap and known good. Age is not the major factor either.

05-27-2015, 05:15 PM	#5
cgtech Over This Interview Is... Join Date: Jun 2012 Location: AZ Posts: 17,449	Re: Buying used batteries Age is about 50% of factor, and the only half you can quantify. How the batteries were used & cared for is the other half. (im sure the story goes "they were rarely used, always charged, and meticulously cared for", right. ). I would likely pass on the deal, unless the deal is so cheap it doesnt matter if they only last a year.

Today
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05-27-2015, 05:35 PM	#6
scottyb Happy Carting Join Date: Dec 2007 Location: Southern California Posts: 73,406	Re: Buying used batteries Good flipper materials...

05-27-2015, 10:12 PM	#7
FLmedic Not Yet Wild Join Date: Apr 2015 Posts: 31	Re: Buying used batteries 40 bucks a piece. He says he has trojans and crowns
FLmedic Not Yet Wild Join Date: Apr 2015 Posts: 31

05-27-2015, 10:33 PM	#8
Nate Gone Wild Join Date: Dec 2006 Posts: 679	Re: Buying used batteries The only way to know for sure is to do load and capacity tests or know the batteries history. Load test easy, capacity test takes more time than most sellers are willing to give. I tend to agree with Volt_Ampere here.
Nate Gone Wild Join Date: Dec 2006 Posts: 679

05-28-2015, 07:58 AM	#9
jjance Gone Wild Join Date: Feb 2011 Location: Chattanooga TN Posts: 2,105	Re: Buying used batteries He must have had 3 and 1/3 carts. I'd pass on that deal.

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