Battery guarantee

[emnick]

Hi all ,I am going to replace my domestic battery bank. I have a short list of (1) The powermax from Barden it the 110 powermax leisure (actually 90ah) or the xplorer via eBay I am looking at the 125ah from alpha-man

They are similar weight, this is my usual way of checking if a battery is any good apart from all the other figures quoted.

They are similar weights (about 25-27kg) The xplorer comes with a 4 year guarantee the powermax with one year.

Could you seriously make a claim that a battery was no good after 4 years use?? Or are Barden being more honest with their guarantee??

Bit confused as to which one to go for.

 

[maxi77]

To be honest if the battery supplier claims misuse how do you prove it wasn't for less than the battery is worth

 

[macd]

The xplorer comes with a 4 year guarantee the powermax with one year.

Could you seriously make a claim that a battery was no good after 4 years use?? Or are Barden being more honest with their guarantee??

It's certainly possible to kill a battery with perfectly reponsible use in a well set-up system in four years living aboard (which isn't to say that some don't last longer). So, either Xplorer is almost offering batteries for life or their small print (real or implied) means they aren't. On the grounds that if it sounds too good to be true, it probably is, logic also suggests the latter.

But even if that's the case, it doesn't necessarily mean the Xplorer is inferior to the Powermax.

 

[AIDY]

i've just bought 3 batt's from the batterymegastore (google it).... lot cheaper than barden.... and even quoted a cheaper price than there internet site as they are on offer.

ordered yesterday and delivered this morning.

 

[sailorman]

i've just bought 3 batt's from the batterymegastore (google it).... lot cheaper than barden.... and even quoted a cheaper price than there internet site as they are on offer.

ordered yesterday and delivered this morning.

i use them too, nxt day del in the price

 

[Plevier]

I can tell you from years in the industry that
1 - guarantee is as much marketing as technical
2 - there are many ways out of conceding claims

We used to make for a major car aftermarket supplier. They sold at 2 prices, one with 3 year warranty and one with lifetime warranty for original owner only (which they would honour, I have to say). There were 2 differences between the ranges - the price, and the colour. That's all. Same battery.

Don't make your choice on the basis of the guarantee!

PS Yes weight is a good guide. There ain't no substitute for lead!

 

[AIDY]

i use them too, nxt day del in the price

alphline 125a/h for £83 quid delivered

 

[KellysEye]

From the description of the Barden it is a deep cycle battery which is correct for domestic use. i.e. Not a cranking battery for engines/winches. If you are looking for deep cyle another oneto consider is Trojan which we use and if charged correctly last on long time.

 

[sailorman]

From the description of the Barden it is a deep cycle battery which is correct for domestic use. i.e. Not a cranking battery for engines/winches. If you are looking for deep cyle another oneto consider is Trojan which we use and if charged correctly last on long time.

not according to a disgruntled livaboarda few weeks ago.
Barden left him to sort his duff trojan batteries originally purchased from them

 

[VicMallows]

Read the guarantee very carefully if it's something that bothers you. Problem is you won't usually get to see the detail until after you've bought the battery (especially mail-order). Every one I've read says that in order to bring a claim you have to submit a report 'from a qualified auto-electrician' that your alternator is not at fault. What a joke.....we all know that would cost more than the battery is worth, even if they eventually do replace it, which is an open question. Many will then make a deduction based on how long it has lasted relative to the guarantee ---- against their 'normal' price for said battery.

Of course if it is genuinely faulty, and you pursue them through Small Claims you will quite likely succeed .... but would you REALLY bother?

I buy at the best price I can find and take any guarantee with a pinch of salt. Never had a bad battery yet.

 

[emnick]

From the description of the Barden it is a deep cycle battery which is correct for domestic use. i.e. Not a cranking battery for engines/winches. If you are looking for deep cyle another oneto consider is Trojan which we use and if charged correctly last on long time.

I did consider Trojans but I don't think I want to be a slave to my batteries I.e. always checking what Amps are left and if I am doing damage to them, I am bad enough since I fitted the battery monitor!
I guess that i would not get much change from £1k and they could be ruined just as quick as the powermax or Xplorer If not treated right I could buy three sets and still break even.

 

[dmmbruce]

Another strong recommendation for BatteryMegastore.

Good price, and it includes VAT and delivery, makes it exceptional price.

Quality excellent on all purchases so far.

Had one potential guarantee problem. They were positive and helpful. Problem turned out to be my fault, so I rang and said so, they laughed and thanked me for admitting it!

Mike

 

[neale]

+4? for batterymegastore. Great service. Had them delivered to the boat for a time when I knew I would be there.

 

[Solent sailer]

i wouldent wory about the guarranty they will always find a way around it, i tryed to claim once, they offered to sent it back to the manufacturers at my expence (more than the value of the battery).
dont forget that if you have a 2 year guarantee and the battery is 1 year old they will only pay out 1/2 the value as you have already had 1/2 the life of the battery, its not new for old!

 

[Bosun Higgs]

We used to make for a major car aftermarket supplier. They sold at 2 prices, one with 3 year warranty and one with lifetime warranty for original owner only (which they would honour, I have to say). There were 2 differences between the ranges - the price, and the colour. That's all. Same battery.

Dont see a problem with that approach. All they are doing is building the cost of claims into the price.

 

[Plevier]

Dont see a problem with that approach. All they are doing is building the cost of claims into the price.

I didn't call it a problem; I was just illustrating my point that warranty is a marketing as much as a technical matter. The dearer, longer warranty battery is not necessarily technically superior.