Brand new bad batteries? Really?

[CDCustoms]

So I've heard of people getting bad batteries when a retailer sells them a new bank of batteries. But my question is this...What was the first indication you had a bad battery? The fact that your run cycle from "100%" charge is horrible? This is my experience. I bought a new bank of batteries a couple months ago and installed them. I have been working on a number of items (complete restore and upgrade) and haven't been able to drive it much at all. in fact maybe 5 minutes here and there for testing then charged afterwards with a Summit II 1050W. Anyhow today I decided to go for a longer ride to start the motor (New Admiral) break in. I drove for a total of about 20 minutes and about 2 miles tops. Returned to the shop and plugged it in only find my battery capacity per the Summit II was about 48%!! This of course shocked me and realized now that I should have taken individual battery voltage readings. Anyhow when I bought the batteries I did notice that some of the batteries where manufactured in Feb 2020 and the half in Oct 2020. Oh...they are also Duracell SLIGC8V 8 volt batteries from Battery Plus+ (48 volt system). Any ideas or is this to be expected until I get a few good run and charge cycles complete?

[CP241]

Duracell’s are also sold at Sam’s. They’re not “bad” batteries but you won’t get the range that you would from a set of Trojans or crowns. But you also pay several hundred dollars less so there will always be a bit of a trade off.

That said, they’re new batteries. No matter what brand they are they will require a bit of a break in process and you’ll notice the performance improving the more you use them. General consensus tends to be 15-20 charge cycles before they’re broken in. Search around here for battery break in... there is no “right” or “approved” method just like breaking in a freshly rebuilt dirtbike engine. Some people like to do heat cycles and swear by it. Some people will rip it right out of the trailer and never had a failure. To each their own. But I’d sorta draw from all that information and come up with what works best for yo, your time, and your schedule.

[golf cart man]

Did you follow proper break in procedures and consult the battery state of charge chart on this site? New batteries do take some time go get to full capacity but that chart will help to show you where your batteries are sitting % wise.

[CDCustoms]

Thanks guys, I am currently "breaking" them in I suppose. I haven't run them but just a couple times for testing as I stated so I suppose I'll do so and hope that they manage to get me through a game of golf later..? hahaha.... Don't want to find myself in trouble later due to a bad battery. Wouldn't be fun to be stranded somewhere specially if my dad or wife was with me. I could hear it already!

[WalterM6]

Just like driving slow with a ICE car uses more gas, driving slow with a electric motor uses more electricity. Going 2 miles in 20 minutes is 6mph. Another thing to consider.

[Mooncarter]

I would be a bit concerned that 3 of them were a year old when you bought them. I doubt "Battery Plus" kept them charged.

I would never buy "new" batteries that are that old and that much difference in age.

[Reddawg454]

Agree with Moon.

[CDCustoms]

I also agree with Moon, unfortunately I neglected to really check them out prior to driving off with them. Definitely my bad on that one.

[Mooncarter]

Originally Posted by CDCustoms

I also agree with Moon, unfortunately I neglected to really check them out prior to driving off with them. Definitely my bad on that one.

I would take them back right now and show them the dates. They have at least a one year warranty right?

Warranty or not, a one year old battery should not be sold as "new."

They would see me, and those batteries the next minute they are open. We are not talking about flashlight batteries here.

[CDCustoms]

Originally Posted by Mooncarter

I would take them back right now and show them the dates. They have at least a one year warranty right?

Warranty or not, a one year old battery should not be sold as "new."

They would see me, and those batteries the next minute they are open. We are not talking about flashlight batteries here.

You make a good point, think I'll be calling them tomorrow if they're open and raising a little sink. If they aren't open I'll have to wait till next Friday. But yes, the batteries are under warranty luckily.