Quote Originally Posted by EarlWaynetom View Post
i sold batteries for 32 years. The truth about them....... There ain't but 3 battery manufactors in North America. Deka, Exide, and Interstate. Look at all the name brand stickers on them. You'll find out all the battery outside cases match. For instince, the carring handle on Exide batterys. The ridged ege of Interstate. The smooth flat surface of Deka. We get Motorcraft and AC delco from a Deka delivered factory truck every Wedsday. Then he's headed to Walmart, Advanced, Autozone, Sears, and Sam's. I learned this some years back when I went to Deka factory. But let me say some companys that buy from the big 3 put some extra plates in there batterys. Such as Catapillar. Hope this helps.
Interstate doesn't make their own batteries, I'm thinking Exides making them now since we have Interstate blems in our factory outlet store. Exide and Johnson Controls are the 2 big makers. Johnson recently opened up a massive batt plant down in Mexico. Some interesting info on grids (plates),7 grids/batt for conductivity, 8 won't fit or charge, 6 will charge and bridge for maybe a year. Heavier grids are used in marine, equipment and recharge areas so the batt can withstand vibrations and jolting. When comparing brands or styles, pick them up the heavier they are, the longer they CAN run and last. I hate to say this but, contract length is the best indicator of batt life, they're usually 5 yrs. If they're not renewed those last runs can have some pure crap to fill quota's, WalMart is notorious for the dump. I've worked for Exide right here in my hometown and I'm amazed at how many labels they run. Now another bomb, Exide uses tap water to fill their batteries, it's an electrolyte thing.