I found the problem...

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02-04-2008, 12:19 PM
stumpbumpers

I found the problem...

One of the cheap ever start batteries I purchased back in April 07 was built backwards at the factory. I haven't had the boat out since July and it must have been running on 12 volts then. The other battery is still fully charged. That is what has been frying everything. Fuses blowing, wires melting... It has been on a parrallel circuit for my trolling motor, which at this point seems to be fried. This 24 volt system is also rigged to an onboard triple bank charger, which seems to be fine. It melted the wires for the other 12 volt system so bad it fried my Garmin.

They found the problem immediately at Wally World and said that, Excide was the ones to pay up. I called Excide but the lady I need to speak with comes in tomorrow.

I hope they pay... that stuff is expensive.

ANY TIME YOU FELLAS BUY BATTERIES, HAVE THEM CHECK POLARITY TO MAKE SURE NEGATIVE IS NEGATIVE AND POSITIVE IS POSITIVE.
02-04-2008, 12:23 PM
Cane Pole

Quote:

Originally Posted by stumpbumpers

One of the cheap ever start batteries I purchased back in April 07 was built backwards at the factory. I haven't had the boat out since July and it must have been running on 12 volts then. The other battery is still fully charged. That is what has been frying everything. Fuses blowing, wires melting... It has been on a parrallel circuit for my trolling motor, which at this point seems to be fried. This 24 volt system is also rigged to an onboard triple bank charger, which seems to be fine. It melted the wires for the other 12 volt system so bad it fried my Garmin.

They found the problem immediately at Wally World and said that, Excide was the ones to pay up. I called Excide but the lady I need to speak with comes in tomorrow.

I hope they pay... that stuff is expensive.

ANY TIME YOU FELLAS BUY BATTERIES, HAVE THEM CHECK POLARITY TO MAKE SURE NEGATIVE IS NEGATIVE AND POSITIVE IS POSITIVE.

Good troubleshooting.
02-04-2008, 12:33 PM
SUNDROP

I tell ya!!! Quality is just shot to HEII these days!!! Fried alot of stuff, ruined a good part of a season! I would be fired up!!!... Well, I hope you get nice new goodies at their expense, make sure they cover travel,gas, testing/repair bills and general depression from no fishing!!!!!...LOL!!
02-04-2008, 12:34 PM
Barnacle Bill

Wow! I've never heard of a battery marked backwards before but then there are a lot of things I've never heard of. And a lot I've forgot. They should definitely make good on that screw up. Keep us posted. That kind of stuff is good to know.
02-04-2008, 12:40 PM
stumpbumpers

I hpe to have the SI finder and the new minn kota w/ ap and cp, as my TM only has the AP.

If they pay the original cost of my Garmin, I can get a SI unit:D

The battery wasn't "marked" backwards, it was internally backwards... HOW DO YOU DO THAT?
02-04-2008, 12:42 PM
SUNDROP

Plates where placed in the opposite relation to the terminals. Must a been the new guy...LOL!!!
02-04-2008, 12:44 PM
stumpbumpers

Quote:

Originally Posted by SUNDROP

Plates where placed in the opposite relation to the terminals. Must a been the new guy...LOL!!!

Probably one of the veterans f'n with him:rolleyes:
02-04-2008, 01:57 PM
SUNDROP

LMAO!!!:eek:
02-04-2008, 02:46 PM
CatFan

Virtually impossible to rearrange the plates accidentally. The battery works better when charged the right way, but it will also work fine when charged backwards. It can generate a bunch of heat when it is being switched. I've run across this a few times working on old tractors when the owner didn't understand positive ground.

Good luck, but my bet is that Exide will tell you the Walmart guy is wrong.
02-04-2008, 02:54 PM
stumpfinder

hecho in mexico
02-04-2008, 03:07 PM
stumpbumpers

Quote:

Originally Posted by CatFan

Virtually impossible to rearrange the plates accidentally. The battery works better when charged the right way, but it will also work fine when charged backwards. It can generate a bunch of heat when it is being switched. I've run across this a few times working on old tractors when the owner didn't understand positive ground.

Good luck, but my bet is that Exide will tell you the Walmart guy is wrong.

It wasn't the "Wal-mart Guy"... it was an electronic test that said switch cables. When the cables were switched the battery read fine. The battery is on hold by the manager for delivery to Excide, when contact is made by me. Also depending on the situation Excide may or may not care to have the battery. I have all the necessary documentation needed on the battery and the findings by the Wal-mart manager.

If they do not decide to make good on the damage I will consult with my lawyer and the BBB.
02-04-2008, 03:08 PM
Cane Pole

Quote:

Originally Posted by IBNFSHN

Wow! I've never heard of a battery marked backwards before but then there are a lot of things I've never heard of. And a lot I've forgot. They should definitely make good on that screw up. Keep us posted. That kind of stuff is good to know.

I ain't ever heard of it either, but anything that can get screwed up will eventually happen.

Just curious, who figured the polarity is wrong and how did you make that deduction?

Don't count on getting any comps from any big company. They got too many lawyers.
02-04-2008, 03:17 PM
stumpbumpers

My tester kept saying check battery, never had that reading... tried another tester and it said check connection. I checked three other batteries and was bum fuzzled. When I took it back to Wally World their tester said to switch the cables, we did, and the battery checked out fine. We checked multiple batteries including the one they gave me to replace the old one with. Everything checked out as suspected.

I had an electrical problem on a boat motor once and we never could figureout the problem, until we replaced the flywheel and it worked. We had the flywheel check and some how some of the magnets had reversed polarity.
02-04-2008, 03:22 PM
stumpbumpers

By the way Cane Pole... I blew the motor on a three year old 25hp that I borrowed from a friend and it was not under warranty. I called Mercury and she said we always want to help, but we can't always. Today is one of those days I can help. If you take the motor to one of our dealers and have them check it out and THEY say it is a factor deffect, we will replace the powerhead at no charge. We ask that you pay the labor on the install. Of course he said it was a factor deffect and they replaced it. Cost $264 in all. Never borrowed another boat after that. Only cause he wouldn't let me.
02-04-2008, 06:36 PM
Cane Pole

Quote:

Originally Posted by stumpbumpers

By the way Cane Pole... I blew the motor on a three year old 25hp that I borrowed from a friend and it was not under warranty. I called Mercury and she said we always want to help, but we can't always. Today is one of those days I can help. If you take the motor to one of our dealers and have them check it out and THEY say it is a factor deffect, we will replace the powerhead at no charge. We ask that you pay the labor on the install. Of course he said it was a factor deffect and they replaced it. Cost $264 in all. Never borrowed another boat after that. Only cause he wouldn't let me.

Good story.

I hope you get new everything. They should also pay for mental anguish, lost time at work, aspirin, lost sleep, lost fish, and all other lost comps I have left out because I can't remember them.

Good luck.
02-04-2008, 07:34 PM
CatFan

Quote:

Originally Posted by stumpbumpers

It wasn't the "Wal-mart Guy"... it was an electronic test that said switch cables. When the cables were switched the battery read fine.

All that would be required to make it read like that is to switch the leads on the charger for a couple of days. Then the polarity is reversed and will stay that way unless you do it again.
02-04-2008, 08:22 PM
stumpbumpers

Quote:

Originally Posted by CatFan

All that would be required to make it read like that is to switch the leads on the charger for a couple of days. Then the polarity is reversed and will stay that way unless you do it again.

Then they could say it is my fault!?!
02-04-2008, 08:27 PM
Cane Pole

Quote:

Originally Posted by stumpbumpers

Then they could say it is my fault!?!

I might be wrong, but the onboard chargers have reverse polarity fault protection. They want charge a reverse connection. My understanding.
02-04-2008, 08:36 PM
stumpbumpers

Quote:

Originally Posted by Cane Pole

I might be wrong, but the onboard chargers have reverse polarity fault protection. They want charge a reverse connection. My understanding.

Good to know.

Now I'm back in the game... I need this info when I get them on the phone tomorrow;)
02-04-2008, 08:37 PM
CatFan

Quote:

Originally Posted by stumpbumpers

Then they could say it is my fault!?!

At least they might use it to say it's not their fault.
02-04-2008, 08:40 PM
CatFan

Quote:

Originally Posted by Cane Pole

I might be wrong, but the onboard chargers have reverse polarity fault protection. They want charge a reverse connection. My understanding.

You are right. They won't even charge a completely dead battery, much less one that is hooked up backwards.
02-04-2008, 08:47 PM
stumpbumpers

If I am real nice maybe they will meet me in the middle... I figure $2000 otta do it, as the boat guy said it was $75/hr to rewire the boat and he could not give me a quote until the boat was thoughly checked.

New TM $1200, New Garmin(or equivalant) $1000, rewire(I figure) $1500 = $3700. $4000 to be safe.

They will probably give me a lifetime supply of reverse polarity FREE batteries... oh, how nice:D
02-04-2008, 08:50 PM
SUNDROP

They're probably going to say all batteries are fully tested at the factory and because from that point they have no control as to how they are used/treated they assume no responsibilty beyond replacement of defective product. Then I would show my A$$!! and get a lawyer to bother enough people and raise enough hell until they pay you to shut up! Newspaper/TV etc.
02-05-2008, 02:17 PM
stumpbumpers

No one has really said anything besides the fact that they have never had a complaint... probably because they were just assumed to be bad batteries and replaced.

The claims have to go through Wal-mart then on to Exide. They said it could take 4 weeks to have the claims go through.

They are being real nice. The lady in the warranty department of Exide sounded promising, but she could be just buttering up for a good screw.

By the way you were Cane Pole, my Minn Kota charger says right on the front that it has reverse polarity protection. That charger is the only one ever used on that battery.

Wal-mart said they already got started on the claim process yesterday???? Thought they told me it was up to Exide and gave me the info to contact them???? Something ain't right and they have my battery!

I ain't too worried as I know Wally World is going to hang on to the battery to prove they are not responsible.

Guess I'll get my little boats out:D
02-05-2008, 03:27 PM
wannabe fisherman

Wal-Mart will process the claim for their own records, who,what,where and why. All the questions they ask you then forward the claim on to Excide
They like to have a record of any problems like that for their own use, too many and NEW SUPPLIER.
11-25-2008, 05:50 PM
Hanr3

Update?