Do I have a freaky battery?

[alfagtv58]

Last night I loaded up up the race car to take down to Hugh in preparation for PI Historics, it was parked after Sandown Historics in November last year, not touched since.  Turned the key and away she went.  I keep remembering a thread from ages ago where Doug Gould dispelled some old wives tales about batterys and saying that you can expect 3 years, after that you're on borrowed time (for those playing along at home, it's this thread http://www.alfaclubvic.org.au/forum/index.php?topic=1672.0 ).

My car goes to half a dozen meetings a year, and does not get started in between, no trickle charger, no special treatment (just make sure isolation switch is off).  I have one of those small cheapish units (brand escapes me now, but it is an Oddessy copy) that I bought from Battery World in 2006!  6 years later......this battery seems to be a freak and just keeps on keeping on.

[Barry Edmunds]

Phil

I think I'm a candidate for your freaky battery group. I have had one of the small sealed batteries (Pulse brand) in my daily driver Super since November 07 and it has been faultless so I guess that I, like you, am on borrowed time.
Barry

[dehne]

I also can join that group, I never changed the one in my 156 since I have owned at I got it in April 2006 and who knows when the last guy changed it,

[colcol]

I remember, shortly before the invention of electricity, when i was a kid, my dads FC Holden had a flat battery, and he was a bit skint, so we went down to Bob Jane in Preston, [still there!], bought the cheapest battery the had for $6, [1970], no special treatment, lasted 8 years, Colin.

[Gary Pearce]

Phil, now that you have dared to mention this, it can only mean that failure is probable, about the second week in March.

[Neil Choi]

I think I know a thing or two about those dry cell batteries.

Don't worry, I got a spare one for you.

[Neil Choi]

Phil, now that you have dared to mention this, it can only mean that failure is probable, about the second week in March.

failure is probable imminent

[Ray Pignataro]

All the way through this thread Neil I kept thinking of you. Thankfully you have thrown your hat or is that dry cell into the ring.

[alfagtv58]

Phil, now that you have dared to mention this, it can only mean that failure is probable, about the second week in March.

failure is probable imminent

Gary, Neil - That thought had occurred to me too!!

[Neil Choi]

All the way through this thread Neil I kept thinking of you. Thankfully you have thrown your hat or is that dry cell into the ring.

How wonderful people think of me for the wrong reasons!!!!!!!!

[hmd]

Neil,

I also think of you when people talk about throttle linkages 

[Gary Pearce]

I think of Neil when I hear someone's son drives 3 secs faster with not much experience.
Oops is this a battery thread?

[dehne]

i think they are all doomed as after mentioning mine im having some very strange electrical issues

[Evan Bottcher]

So in seriousness, how's the performance of the dry cell batteries in people's experience?  I was thinking of getting one for the Sud.  I've heard people say that they are good, retain charge for a long time (which would be good for the track car), but don't like being completely discharged.  What's the story?

[hmd]

Evan,

All good in my experience.
Isolate the battery when car not in use, even when I forgot and drained it a few times I could still recharge them and get them back to normal.

All my experience is with the Odysey.