In fairness, I’ve got to agree that stationary batteries do not last anywhere near 20 years. For fire alarm systems, the National Fire Alarm and Signaling Code requires SLAs to be replaced every four years or five years from the date of manufacture. Batteries used for engine-driven emergency generators have similar requirements. Centralized emergency lighting systems are probably one of the least strenuous applications for stationary SLAs (no engine starting and a long run-time is not required), and I’ve never seen them left in service for even ten years.
So, I have a 4-year old battery in my car that has a 3-year warranty. I haven’t had any problems starting, but I’m getting ready to go on a 2-month road trip and it would be a bummer to have it die on me. Should I consider getting a new battery proactively so I don’t have to deal with the inconvenience of replacing it on the road somewhere?
Of the many things I am not, one is an auto mechanic. But I’d certainly be giving a replacement battery some consideration. Most auto stores can do a free battery test…but a new battery would certainly increase my peace of mind.
I have one of those portable battery packs I always take along, though it wouldn’t make as much sense if I had the alternate option to simply spend the same money towards a new battery.
My friend does, too, and thinks I’m very silly to always keep mine at home. But the reality is that when I drive somewhere, the battery always gets at least a nominal charge, and typically only sits for a few hours at most. If the battery were to fail away from home under those conditions, it likely wouldn’t have started in the first place. My battery failures have always been at home, and almost always after sitting for some number of days. I figure that carrying the booster pack around with me would subject it to extremes of cold and heat that would cause it to deteriorate more quickly. I might take it with me if I have to go somewhere and have reason to be really suspicious of the battery, but that hasn’t happened yet.
You can get a place that sells batteries to do a free load test. If it passes, then there is a good chance you’re fine, but you can’t know for certain. If you’re only traveling in populated areas, and your car doesn’t take some rare kind of battery, then getting a replacement won’t be too onerous. Of course, there will be quite a cost and convenience difference between replacing it on your terms versus coming out after lunch on a road trip, and the car won’t start. Now you’re dealing with who can do it quickest and closest in a city you’re not familiar with.
It will almost certainly die sometime in the next 1-36 months.
Last year I had the battery in my truck die out of warranty. I was planning a trip to the northwest part of Colorado, where population is not very dense, and even a Walmart with a battery might be an hour away.
I decided prudence was the better option, so I pulled out the old battery, and put in a new one. As soon as the new one went in, One of the map lights came on. That explained what killed the battery, and maybe it would have been fine if I’d just charged it. Either way $100 was a cheap insurance against being stranded on the Colorado/Utah border with my in-laws in 100F temperatures.
If you are going on a long road trip having some type of 24h emergency service (battery, lockout, tire, tow) makes more sense than preemptively changing the battery to me. They can handle more problems and change batteries if needed.
I think this one’s mostly about your risk tolerance. You got your money’s worth out of the existing battery. If you could replace it now without it being a major inconvenience, then – assuming that having to replace it on your road trip would be a major inconvenience – it may be worth your while to just put the new one in now.
Also, people peeking under your hood (like: to change the battery) and “quickie lube” oil changes – who, at least, promise to check X number of things on your vehicle – are often a good preventive step before a road trip. They tend to check things like fluid levels, tire pressure, windshield wiper condition, etc.
If you aren’t mechanically inclined yourself.
Longer road trips often imply you’ll be in the boonies, often out of cell phone range. Traditionally, these are suboptimal places to have a vehicle break down on you. DAMHIKT.
Safe travels!
Unless the timer battery fails, then the battery lasts forever.
Yeah, I’ve learned from other threads that car batteries nowadays are more likely to fail suddenly, as opposed to gradually, than they used to be.
I’ve been looking for one of these. Can I ask what brand you own, and/or the approximate cost?
Once a battery reaches 5 years of age (if it even makes that), it could go sideways on you in the blink of an eye. I don’t know where you live but, if it is getting hot, heat will finish off a battery just as easily as the cold. My SiL had a battery that old, and it literally croaked overnight.
Mine is a Winplus. About the size of my Samsung cell phone but about 3/4 inch thick. It comes in a little case that I just keep underneath my car seat. Has a couple USB ports and will charge a laptop computer 3 times or a cell phone about 6 times. Good thing to take with you if you go backpacking or camping.
It also has a small, short, set of jumper cable attachements that you plug in. A guy at the mini-mart asked me for a jump because his car wouldn’t start. Plugged this thing in, attached the jumper clamps and the lights on it blink back and forth for a minute or so and I said, “try it now”. Vrooom!. Did you just jump start my car with your cell phone? He was amazed.
For people asking about lithium based jump packs, here is a Project Farm video reviewing several models.
TLDW:
His picks were
Yesper YJS 40 ($100)
Gooloo ($200)
NOCO GBX155 ($315)
I have no personal experience with any of those.
We’re gonna’ test that!!
Thanks for the information, folks.
Dumb question: can the jump packs be recharged while driving, or do you need to plug them into an electrical outlet?
Yes, mine can. It has a plug for 110 household current and another plug in adapter for a car accessory port, otherwise known as where the cigarette lighter used to go. But you really aren’t going to need to charge it that way very often, unless you live in your car.
In the States (based on Canadian prices, the dollar and the fact auto stuff is often 20% more here), I would guess they start around US$100 for a model that can start cars and trucks, then go up a little more.
Be aware that there is a lot of hype on some of these. I’ve seen claims of ridiculous amounts of starting power that couldn’t begin to be true. Read reviews. But read reviews with a cynical eye towards those with dozens of 5 star reviews in the last 2 months, etc.
Also, be aware of what you might ask it to do. The one I USED TO have started my wife’s car easily, but wouldn’t turn over my truck. I replaced it based on a Project Farm test (mentioned above).
Expect to pay ~$100-$200 for a reasonable, general purpose one.