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LockedDrycell Batteries for automobiles

posted on April 15, 2009 at 09:28AM Inappropriate?

I haven't seen these batteries on sale at KMART,however, I've seen them at the place where the inspection and tuneup was done on my 1989 Dodge Caravan. I am referring to dry cell batteries for automobile's. The one I've seen look like six dry celled batteries hooked in series to be used in a twelve volt battery system on an automobile. They are about $125,almost double the price of batteries found at Sears or KMART. They are supposed to hold a charge better in cold weather. There is a place called Ralph Champion's near Lodi ,New York where old automobiles and auto accessorise are laid to rest. From people I know who do buisness here, there is a more than average number of these batteries here. These batteries have failed due to explosions. Has anyone else experienced this phenomenon and has Sears decided to market this type of battery as a Die Hard. A top of the line Die Hard would go for the same price.

replies: 4 latest post: August 17, 2009 at 12:00AM by AdamO
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posted on April 15, 2009 at 09:39AM
 

The Die Hard Platinum is a gel-based battery, with the qualities you refer to. The batteries you saw are/were carried by Sears (at our store, we carried them until last year, when the Platinum series was introduced at auto centers). The Platinums are better in cold weather than liquid batteries, and should last much longer. Check them out on sears.com in the automotive section.

posted on April 20, 2009 at 09:21AM
 

I think the battery you're referring to is the Optima.  The DieHard Platinum and the Optima are the two high-end, premium batteries out there.  They both have better technology than other batteries.  The DieHard Platinum has been ranked #1 by consumer reports for the past 2 years, and as far as I know, has the best warranty out there: 4-year free replacement, 100-month prorated limited warranty.  Just do a google search on either one, and you can see what people are saying about them.

posted on July 11, 2009 at 12:46AM
 

 

Sears sells the Diehard Platinum. They are not a dry cell or a gel cell battery. AGM stands for absorbed glass mat, the difference between an AGM battery and a conventional battery is the lead plates are physically separated by this glass mat. This allows more plates to be placed closer together thus increasing the surface area in which the electrical current producing chemical reaction can occur within the voltaic cell. Basically its a bigger battery in a smaller box. Any battery can explode usually due to overcharging or an internal short which causes the liquid battery acid to "boil" and hydrogen gas is released faster than the battery can expel the pressure through its vents. All of the AGM batteries I know of including the diehard platinum are sealed batteries meaning they do not have vents. The advantage of sealed batteries is the maintenance of the battery is reduced and allows the battery to be mounted sideways without spilling the acid. Sealed batteries have a safety valve that in the event of overcharging, the battery can release the pressurized hydrogen. The problem is that this mechanical valve is much more likely to fail than an open vent on a traditional battery, and this is why sealed batteries have a reputation for exploding. The bottom line is that these explosions are very rare. If there was a measureable threat to your safety these probably wouldn't be sold to just anyone. These batteries are better however they are expensive at close to $200. For nearly half the price you can buy a quality battery such as the Diehard Gold (since we are on the Sears site) that typically well exceeds the vehicle requirements.

posted on August 17, 2009 at 12:00AM
 

Got me a replacement DieHard gold tractor battery for my Craftsman Deluxe Lawn Tractor.

Good battery!

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