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Help. How would you interpret installation date on this battery label?

Stewie26

Stewie26

Feb 15, 2012
1,557
13,571
Redondo Beach-Palos Verdes, California
#1
I bought a used boat in 2013. The boat was built in September of 2001. I was in the engine room topping off the water in the batteries and noticed the batteries had install date of 9-1. Maybe it is just a happenstance that the batteries have the same install date as when the boat was built or perhaps they were replace in September of 2011?
I am thinking there is no way batteries could last 15-1/2 years. ? The Marine batteries are still putting out a strong current. What do you think?

Port engine start battery.jpg
 
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#2
You can pretty well guarantee they date from 2000 on.

But if they put out the current there's nothing wrong with them. Afaik they store fine when kept charged up. Charge and discharge cycles ''wear'' them out, the deeper the discharge cycle the less they like it.
 
#9
ArtechnikA said:
Because the only digits available are 0-9.
I'd be assuming 'this decade' so September 2011.
Click to expand...
My guess too.
I doubt a car/boat battery, under any circumstances, is going to last 16 years.
I'm sure it's possible to build batteries that last decades but then the manufacturers
wouldn't get to sell you 4-5 batteries over a 16 year period.
The space probe, Voyager 1 left earth 36 years ago and it's batteries are still working and in extremely harsh conditions.
 
#11
dtripoli said:
My guess too.
I doubt a car/boat battery, under any circumstances, is going to last 16 years.
I'm sure it's possible to build batteries that last decades but then the manufacturers
wouldn't get to sell you 4-5 batteries over a 16 year period.
The space probe, Voyager 1 left earth 36 years ago and it's batteries are still working and in extremely harsh conditions.
Click to expand...
I think the batteries in question are deep cycle for powering lights, refrigerator and sound system at anchor. A big difference in lifestyle to auto starting do it all batteries.
 
#13
fhm555 said:
If it's just the cranking battery it could well be that old and still working fine.
Click to expand...
Yes, these batteries are dedicated to starting-cranking the diesel engines only. Lights, refrigeration, etc are on another bank of batteries.

Downunderwonder said:
You can pretty well guarantee they date from 2000 on.
But if they put out the current there's nothing wrong with them. Afaik they store fine when kept charged up. Charge and discharge cycles ''wear'' them out, the deeper the discharge cycle the less they like it.
Click to expand...
The boat is always in the water. When at dock, the boat is plugged into shore power. The electrical system has built chargers so the batteries are always being topped off. When at sea, the main engine alternators and/or 13.5 kw generator are charging the batteries.

Just thinking if these batteries are from 2001, they should be replaced before they go bad.
If the are from 2011, I don't want to replace them yet.
 
#17
dtripoli said:
I'm sure it's possible to build batteries that last decades but then the manufacturers
wouldn't get to sell you 4-5 batteries over a 16 year period.
Click to expand...

In fact, there are batteries commonly available in stores that are far superior in performance and longevity to the ones most people buy. I buy them, even though they cost more, because I consider it to be money well spent.

Yet almost everyone else buys batteries based on price alone. The superior battery is ignored while the cheap junk flies off the shelves. You can't blame manufacturers for that.
 
#18
What usually kills lead-acid batteries is the build up of lead sulphate (that crusty, powdery white stuff) inside the battery. When it builds up enough to bridge across a pair of plates, they short out. When enough of them short out, the battery's dead. And what lets lead sulphate build up inside a battery, is low fluid level that exposes the plates. What causes low fluid levels is the battery drying up with heat and age. Which is why "sealed" batteries don't last very long. That battery has removable cell caps, so the fluid level can be checked and adjusted. And they look like they've been removed a time or two, as well. If the cells have been kept full, and it's never been left to sit completely discharged? It's perfectly likely that that battery is fine; and if you take care of it, it will stay that way. When I was a kid, and batteries all had removable cell caps, my father very, very seldom had to buy a new car battery, 'cause he did all his own car maintenance; and that included checking the battery once a month...:laugh:
 
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#19
2011 Deep Cycle battery. There is also a burned in mark on the side of the battery that will corroborate the date of manufacture. At least that was the way of it when I delt with batteries on a daily basis.

Deep Cycle batteries have a shorter life span than regular batteries typically all things being equal.
 
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#20
Funky Ghost said:
2011 Deep Cycle battery. There is also a burned in mark on the side of the battery that will corroborate the date of manufacture. At least that was the way of it when I delt with batteries on a daily basis.

Deep Cycle batteries have a shorter life span than regular batteries typically all things being equal.
Click to expand...
My intuition always thought it would the opposite. But I'm no expert so that is why I am seeking advice.
 

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