93 Battery Drain

[Joe L.]

Re: 93 Battery Drain

All-----


Something to keep in mind: it's true that there really are just a few major battery manufacturers and these manufacturers supply the batteries which are branded under all sorts of consumer brand names. However, that does not necessarily mean that they manufacture all of the batteries for all of the brands the same. It's very possible that they manufacture batteries to the particular specifications of some or all of the particular consumer brands. Thus, a Johnson Controls-manufactured battery for, say, AC Delco might not be the same as one they manufacture for, say, Autozone. The external battery case might be the same but "what's inside" could be different. With a battery, it's mostly "what's inside" that counts. Few, if any, of us are going to get involved in "autopsying" batteries and studying and comparing "what's inside". So, "what's inside" remains mostly a mystery. Even if one did open one up, I doubt that many of us would be qualified to evaluate the innards.

One thing that makes me think that they might not all be the same inside is the Consumer Reports tests. If they were all the same or, even, all the same within a certain class (price range) of battery, then I would expect all the Consumer Reports tests to conclude that all the batteries performed about the same. But, that's not how it is. Consumer Reports usually shows a rather wide difference among battery brands for any particular group size and class battery.

By the way, there is at least one smaller battery manufacturer that makes outstanding, albeit pricey, batteries. This is Odyssey Battery. I believe they also manufacture the Sears Diehard Platinum line of batteries. These sell for about twice as much as the next best Sears Diehard, the Diehard Gold line, and they carry a 4 year free replacement guarantee. I'd love to use one. However, I've got to be honest here. There's just something about a non-Delco battery in a Corvette that just doesn't "sit right with me". I know, I know, all it really is now is possibly a label on a battery but even if that's the case, I like to see that Delco label. I don't claim to be always rational.

[Jim D.]

Re: 93 Battery Drain

By the way, there is at least one smaller battery manufacturer that makes outstanding, albeit pricey, batteries. This is Odyssey Battery. I believe they also manufacture the Sears Diehard Platinum line of batteries. These sell for about twice as much as the next best Sears Diehard, the Diehard Gold line, and they carry a 4 year free replacement guarantee. I'd love to use one. However, I've got to be honest here. There's just something about a non-Delco battery in a Corvette that just doesn't "sit right with me". I know, I know, all it really is now is possibly a label on a battery but even if that's the case, I like to see that Delco label. I don't claim to be always rational.

Odyssey batteries are the best money can buy. They are used exclusively by the U.S. government on nuclear subs. They have a 12 year life and are 100% made in the U.S.A. If you buy a maintenance free repo. battery from Antique auto battery (the manufacturer) or Restoration Battery (reseller), it is a repo. case with an Odyssey battery inside.

[Paul J.]

Re: 93 Battery Drain

Don't forget that a battery's longevity and performance is greatly affected by the way it's used and cared for.

Our discussion has been about companies, not what is produced at different plants.

It is highly unlikely that a specifically rated battery produced at a plant that makes different brands would be different from those other brands made at that plant. Although I've seen this happen with other products, it doesn't occur very often and the retailer doesn't care as long as it meets the contract specifications.

However, batteries made in different plants should be different, even if the ratings are the same. One example is Interstate, who was bought by Johnson Controls and continued to produce their batteries supposedly without change. You would expect these batteries to have differences from those made at say, former Delphi plants because there were technical differences in their development, as well as manufacturing differences. There are other examples too.

Joe, I've spent a lot of time working with lead acid battery recyclers and observing their case cracking lines. It's very difficult to see the differences between expensive and cheap batteris, they are so small. But if you look closely you will sometimes see differences in the plate configurations, spacer membranes, and electrolyte.

Paul

[Joe W.]

Re: 93 Battery Drain

Thanks to everyone for your input, I believe the battery drain has been isolated to the radio control box or CDM located behind the passenger seat and under the rear storage compartment. After connecting my meter I began to remove fuses one at a time in the underhood fuse block #2 and when I pulled the fuse for interior lighting my amp reading went from 80ma to 20ma. At this point I thought I had a lighting problem, but found when I removed the lighting fuses from the panel near the glove box my reading remained at 80ma. The service manual indicated that the fuse also provided power for the CDM and passive keyless entry which is fuse #40. When removing the power leads to the CDM my reading dropped to 20ma.

I'm in the process of sending the CDM out for repair.

Thanks again,
Joe

[Richard M.]

Re: 93 Battery Drain

Gordon Killebrew mentioned one time not to store a C4 with the doors locked, it activates the alarm system which draws more current
from the battery.