oladulce
Super Nomad
Posts: 1625
Registered: 5-30-2005
Location: bcs
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Cost of Green living costing more green $$- solar batteries
Just bought 2 more batteries for the solar system.
Price in Sept. 2005= $280 each.
Price today 2007= $633 each
Looks like solar panel prices haven't changed much and it seems like there's more available now, without the waiting list as in the past. Don't know
what happened to warrant the radical jump in battery prices.
These work well for us: Concorde AGM - 212 amp, 12 volt, sealed batteries (require no maintanence so we don't have to give someone a key to come in
and add h20 when we're away for several months) and no off-gassing so no vent required. Long life, hot climate efficient, and made for solar power.
But for that price, I wish they did a little more than just sit there - maybe download itunes or receive satellite TV signals or something. 
Concorde Sun Extender
[Edited on 12-15-2007 by oladulce]
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BajaWarrior
Super Nomad
Posts: 2307
Registered: 9-27-2006
Location: Mission Bay, San Diego. Playa Hermosa, San Felipe.
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Mood: Anxious to get south
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Costco 6 volt batteries jumped an additional $15 last week.
[Edited on 12-15-2007 by BajaWarrior]
Haven't had a bad trip yet....
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Packoderm
Super Nomad
Posts: 2116
Registered: 11-7-2002
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Maybe the price increase is because of the price of lead?
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BajaWarrior
Super Nomad
Posts: 2307
Registered: 9-27-2006
Location: Mission Bay, San Diego. Playa Hermosa, San Felipe.
Member Is Offline
Mood: Anxious to get south
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Yes, that is definately it, Trojan T-105's have been well over $100 for 6 months now.
You think then that we would get more for our cores then?
Haven't had a bad trip yet....
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bajadock
Super Nomad
Posts: 1219
Registered: 12-20-2006
Location: Punta sur de \'Nada
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Pack, you are a wealth of info, thanks. I'm still puzzled by the lack of solar construction in BCN. Lots of concrete block and few windows facing
south.
OD, is my math correct, $50/month for batteries?
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Packoderm
Super Nomad
Posts: 2116
Registered: 11-7-2002
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I'm not the wealth of info. I just googled the price of lead and found the chart. I bought two 6volts for my houseboat about 6 years back, and that's
my history on the issue.
"You think then that we would get more for our cores then?"
I think they believe they are doing us a service for taking the cores. I'm surprised they don't charge us for that.
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oladulce
Super Nomad
Posts: 1625
Registered: 5-30-2005
Location: bcs
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| Quote: | Originally posted by bajadock
OD, is my math correct, $50/month for batteries? |
Bajadock,
Sorry, my post wasn't very clear. We're adding 2 more batteries to the bank of 4 we already have; not replacing batteries that are only 2 years old.
Lordy, at that price jump I would have had a tizzy if they only lasted 2 years!
They say optimally, one's batteries should be all the same age. But the Baja construction schedule and finances don't always work that way so we're at
least are trying to purchases them in batches.
The Wind-Sun website gives the deep cycle AGM batteries a ballpark of "4-7 yr" lifespan. The first one we had was still going strong at our former
residence at 10 years.
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Russ
Elite Nomad
Posts: 6742
Registered: 7-4-2004
Location: Punta Chivato
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Ouch! I just replace some Trojen L-16's at $300 each. Plus core and tax. Use to be $100 and no core or tax going to Mexico. Next batch I'm shopping.
Have heard that the company out let in Chico for US Batteries will make some adjustments for us in Mexico. Not sure about that though.
Bahia Concepcion where life starts...given a chance!
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BajaRob
Senior Nomad
Posts: 722
Registered: 9-15-2003
Location: Bahia Santa Maria y Newport Or
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Mood: Life is good
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I just purchased 20 Energizer golf cart batteries at Sam's Club in Yuma to replace 16 Trojan T-105s. The Energizers are made in Mexico by Johnson
Controls. The cost was $61.48 each plus a core charge of $5 and sales tax. They are 6 volt, 220 amps. The case size is the same as the Trojans so all
of the interconnects worked and I made up 7 more for the added batteries.
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