Interstate battery dead or not?

[frank10]

I have an Interstate HD-24-DP under warranty

It's OC voltage after being charged is 3.6 V

First place I took it to, said it's bad and spent a week trying to find a replacement. They finally said they couldn't get it and to go some where else.

I find another interstate retailer, they test the fluid and tell me the battery is just fine.

Battery experts, does this sound right?

[cruzbill]

I took a quick look at the info for your Group 24 battery. Nothing special, its a maintenance free Group 24 battery. Any Group 24 batt will do, marine stores will carry as they are used in boats, deep cycle, sort of. Take it to a NAPA store for a load test.

[frank10]

Originally Posted by cruzbill

I took a quick look at the info for your Group 24 battery. Nothing special, its a maintenance free Group 24 battery. Any Group 24 batt will do, marine stores will carry as they are used in boats, deep cycle, sort of. Take it to a NAPA store for a load test.

It's under warranty, so i want to get it replaced without buying a new one.

I could take it to NAPA, but they can't handle the warranty and the interstate dealer could care less whether some other store had it fail.

[cruzbill]

To your question, 3.6v for a 12v battery of course is not right, If Interstate doesn't want to warranty your battery, you might be stuck. Can you find another Interstate dealer?

[8.3Oilbuner]

Hi Frank10; See if you can locate a Interstate battery DISTRIBTOR. I have had better luck dealing with the above as they are the source, not a retailer. The retailer gets their batteries from the distributor. You might have to drive a little further, but I think you will get better service. Call ahead and talk to someone on the shop floor and explain you situation with the battery before you make the trip. Get their name and contact number so you don't get any surprise before you arrive. This has worked well for me in the past dealing with Interstate. Good luck! Also just checking the specific gravity is only one test to do on a battery. Need someone with a lot more knowledge. I have run into many retailers over the years that do not have the proper knowledge of how to test a battery. Just my own experience over the last 45 years.

[frank10]

unfortunately, most of the other interstate dealers don't handle RV batteries.

I'll try taking it back again in the spring, maybe it will fail.

[cruzbill]

Warranty is pro-rated by month, is it not? By Springtime might not be much warranty left. Good Luck.

[frank10]

Originally Posted by 8.3Oilbuner

Hi Frank10; See if you can locate a Interstate battery DISTRIBTOR. I have had better luck dealing with the above as they are the source, not a retailer. The retailer gets their batteries from the distributor. You might have to drive a little further, but I think you will get better service. Call ahead and talk to someone on the shop floor and explain you situation with the battery before you make the trip. Get their name and contact number so you don't get any surprise before you arrive. This has worked well for me in the past dealing with Interstate. Good luck! Also just checking the specific gravity is only one test to do on a battery. Need someone with a lot more knowledge. I have run into many retailers over the years that do not have the proper knowledge of how to test a battery. Just my own experience over the last 45 years.

Thanks, I may try that. I've had 3 trips for this already. I called all three before going. If this battery can be reconditioned/charged so that it's safe to use for a camping trip, that's great. I also understand that a good number of returned batteries are still good.

I wouldn't take this battery on a trip. What if the trailer came off and the trailer brakes didn't engage because of the battery?

[Winemaker2]

Sounds like you are not in an emergency or rush situation.

I think I would make contact w/ Intestate Corp Support and tell them your local dealer can't find a replacement and ask for a written confirmation that either the dealer or corp will find a replacement and ship to the dealer.

Is the dealer you went to the one you purchased it from?
Shouldn't matter but seems like you would have a little more leverage.

[aether_one]

Originally Posted by frank10

unfortunately, most of the other interstate dealers don't handle RV batteries.

I'll try taking it back again in the spring, maybe it will fail.

If by OC you mean Off Charge, voltage is 3.6 VDC after charging for an extended period then it has already failed.

[egwilly]

Here in the west, Costco Stores are Interstate dealers. Never had an issue returning a defective battery there.

[Phil Perrin]

I've been in the battery business for 20+ years. Any battery under 10V is recycled.
And, while some people swear by Interstate, from what I've seen, their best quality is marketing!
And, I agree, contact the company and tell them what's going on. If they can't help you, go find an Exide dealer!

[wa8yxm]

Since it is a Group ## battery and not a GC battery at 3.x volts it is dead, I mean Dead, I mean Deceased, I mean re-cycle it it's done Bo hope of recoery

Even GC batteries atr 3.6 volt for the pair it would be IFFY but recovery NIGHT happen.. You don't know till you charge 'em back up.

Do you have just one or do you have 2 and if you have 2 do you have a couple inches extra "headroomn">

Reason for asking, A pair of GC-2 will fint in a pair of Group 24 tray but hey are taller

Group 24 abou 25 amp hours each 150 total and you can use perhaps 20-25 percent of that or around 30-35 amnp hours

A pair of GC-2. 220 amp hours give or take a bit and you can use halfm that's 55-70 amp hours.. DOUBLE the power.. for the same cost

NOTE the GC-2's need to be wried in series

-6V+=-6V+ = 12 volts

-12+
-12+ also = 12 volts.

[frank10]

I tried returning it to a costco, and they said they only handle returns for batteries purchased there.

the battery dealer ran a 24 hour charge test and said it passed. I'm supposed to pick it up. I'm curious what the OCV is.