Need help finding replacement lead-acid battery for Robomower
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How to find equivalent battery from a different vendor?
  4-7-06, 4:23am | Post
#1
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 The battery in my robomower died over the winter, so I need to find a replacement. So, I could get a robomower battery from ebay, but they want $175+!!! Froogle prices are about the same. Hard to spend that kind of money when the mower only cost me $185! So I took the battery pack apart, and found that it contains two standard lead-acid batteries. Here's the information I found on these batteries: QUOTE YUASA Valve Regulated Lead Acid Battery Cyclic Application NPC17-12 12V 17Ah Charging (20°): 14.4V - 14.8V, Max 4.25A size: 181 x 76 x 167 mm (7.13" x 2.99" x 6.57") So then I try looking for someone who sells this battery. Turns out it's only sold in Europe. I can't find anyone selling it in the states. So now, I'm trying to a domestic equivalent for this battery. And then find a good price on it. Can somebody knowledgeable about lead-acids help me find equivalent batteries?  Added info: just wanted to point this out for people in the future who might stumble across this thread while looking for their own replacement batteries - the terminal type isn't important. These batteries have the bolt-hole, but there are "adapters" in the battery case that convert this to the tab style. So either kind will work just fine with no modifications necessary. This post has been edited by garsh: 7-19-06, 11:53am |
Captain Obvious  
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4-7-06, 4:39am | Post
#2
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This looks promising: Powerstream: B&B Battery
The following three models appear to be the correct size and voltage, and differ only in the terminals: EVP20-12-B1 (in stock), $45.66 ea EVP20-12-T2 (special order) EVP20-12-I1 (special order) Here's the terminal diagram for that first one:  That looks like it should work. Can anyone see a reason why it would not? Total with shipping would be $112.45 Still seems like a lot to spend on batteries. |
Captain Obvious
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4-7-06, 4:45am | Post
#3
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Found another: Solar4Power: Deep Cycle Batteries
The ES1712 VRLA-AGM Battery appears to be the correct size, voltage, capacity & terminal. Total for 2 batteries + S&H = $96.20 Getting better. |
Captain Obvious
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4-7-06, 4:53am | Post
#4
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According to this page, the B&B EVP20-12-B1 is equivalent to an Interstate SLA1118
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Captain Obvious
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4-7-06, 4:53am | Post
#5
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Platinum Member
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4-7-06, 5:08am | Post
#6
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QUOTE(cron @ 4-7-06, 8:53am)  I think I need a battery designed for cyclic applications, which is why they cost more. A UPS is almost always fully charged. The robomower is almost always running its battery pretty far down every time. Most lead-acids will not last long if they are constantly run down that far. |
Captain Obvious
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4-7-06, 6:35am | Post
#7
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Let me try again...
how bout this one? __________________________________________________________________ It may also be worth calling batteries.com to double check and see if they have anything comparable. batteries.com has this promo running right now: 25% off orders $9.99+, Free 8 Pack of AA Alkaline Batteries, and Free Shipping Code: RAIN |
Platinum Member
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4-7-06, 7:16am | Post
#8
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QUOTE(cron @ 4-7-06, 10:35am) Wow, that looks like a match. And only $27???? I'll investigate more, to see what I'm missing, but everything looks good so far. Ok, they make up some of it on shipping. $80.94 shipped for two batteries. Still the best price so far. 
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Captain Obvious
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4-7-06, 7:39am | Post
#9
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Also found this: Jameco Electronics: Tysonic TY-12-18, $32.85 ea.
$93.52 shipped for two. I need to find a local store so I can save on shipping. I guess a place that sells golf carts or motorized wheelchairs. |
Captain Obvious
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4-7-06, 7:59am | Post
#10
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Another one: Powerizer LA-12V18-NB, $35.99 ea.
$95.11 shipped for two. |
Captain Obvious
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4-7-06, 9:25am | Post
#11
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Look up in the Yellow Pages local medical supply businesses. Some probably do in-house service on the motorize wheel chairs they rent to customers and might have the batteries. Otherwise, someone there might tell you where to get them.
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Platinum Member
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4-7-06, 11:20am | Post
#12
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Resident Biker
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4-7-06, 11:28am | Post
#13
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QUOTE(HarleyD @ 4-7-06, 2:20pm) that's definitely the best deal because of the current batteries.com coupon, but apparently garsh mentioned that it's not a deep cycle battery. you could get two for $42 shipped plus some free AA's. |
Platinum Member
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4-7-06, 11:40am | Post
#14
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QUOTE(cron @ 4-7-06, 3:28pm) that's definitely the best deal because of the current batteries.com coupon, but apparently garsh mentioned that it's not a deep cycle battery. I might just get 2 of these and just plan on replacing them sooner. That's a pretty good price. Any idea how long the current promotion lasts? |
Captain Obvious
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4-7-06, 11:45am | Post
#15
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Batteries.com coupon exclusions
QUOTE Due to weight restrictions, orders containing Optima vehicle batteries, Sealed Lead Acid products, Energizer UPS units, or alkaline orders over 2 pounds do not qualify for our Standard Shipping Rate or Free Shipping Offers. Still, it comes to $53.23 shipped for 2 batteries & the free AA's. |
Captain Obvious
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4-7-06, 1:09pm | Post
#16
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QUOTE(garsh @ 4-7-06, 3:44pm) Still, it comes to $53.23 shipped for 2 batteries & the free AA's. Ok, I ended up going with this. We'll see how it works. Local prices were pretty high. Thanks for your help guys!
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Captain Obvious
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6-29-06, 9:53am | Post
#17
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Well, after running with these for several weeks, I found that they do not last as long as the original batteries. They don't even last for a full 2 hours of cutting. I'll probably live with them for the rest of this summer, but I'm going to have to find something better.
Still, can't beat the price! |
Captain Obvious
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7-19-06, 11:49am | Post
#18
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These batteries are dying a quick death. They don't seem to last much more than an hour now. At this rate, I'll have to start cutting my own lawn.
 QUOTE(cron @ 4-7-06, 10:35am) Let me try again... I decided to order two of these. They should arrive on Monday.
how bout this one? |
Captain Obvious
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9-27-06, 4:41pm | Post
#19
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How are the Tysonic batteries working for you? I bought some batteries off Ebay and they aren't doing so well after 1 year. Thanks.
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Aluminum Foil Member
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9-28-06, 1:17am | Post
#20
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QUOTE(mtran1977 @ 9-27-06, 8:40pm) How are the Tysonic batteries working for you? Well, they're doing much better than the batteries.com ones. But just this week it's been hitting the "low battery" indication just before finishing the entire 2-hour run. I've been running the mower almost every single day this summer (except for rainy days). If I were to do it again, I would try the B&B batteries. They seem to behave better under high discharge (300 cycles for 100% discharge, versus 200 cycles for the Tysonic). |
Captain Obvious
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9-28-06, 3:43am | Post
#21
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so this is for a robotic lawn mower? how cool. does it really work?
what do you have? several acres? how does the thing not get "stuck" all the time? (you know, like a RC car would) 
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blonde
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9-28-06, 3:51am | Post
#22
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QUOTE(dejavu @ 9-28-06, 7:42am) so this is for a robotic lawn mower? how cool. does it really work? Yep.QUOTE what do you have? several acres? Nope. I have about half an acre. It'll take that thing about 5 days, running 2 hours each day, to adequately cut the whole thing. That's a lot longer than it takes me, but then I don't have to push it & sneeze my head off the whole time. QUOTE how does the thing not get "stuck" all the time? This thing is a LOT larger than a Roomba, if that's what you're thinking of. It's a bit larger than a normal-size push-mower deck. But it doesn't work very well on hills, and if you have any ruts in your yard, it can get stuck in them.
(you know, like a RC car would) |
Captain Obvious
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10-2-06, 12:40pm | Post
#23
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QUOTE(garsh @ 9-28-06, 1:17am) Well, they're doing much better than the batteries.com ones. But just this week it's been hitting the "low battery" indication just before finishing the entire 2-hour run. I've been running the mower almost every single day this summer (except for rainy days). If I were to do it again, I would try the B&B batteries. They seem to behave better under high discharge (300 cycles for 100% discharge, versus 200 cycles for the Tysonic). Thanks for the info. 20AH B&B batteries (EVP20-12) are much cheaper from Digikey.com - $85 shipped for 2. Check out this yahoo group post. http://groups.yahoo.com/group/RoboMower/message/10921 http://www.bb-battery.com/productpages/EVP/Evp20-12.pdf |
Aluminum Foil Member
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4-16-07, 6:46am | Post
#24
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The Tysonic batteries aren't lasting much longer than an hour now. So I'm going to try something else.
I found MK Battery model ES17-12. And I found several places selling it:
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Captain Obvious
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4-16-07, 8:06am | Post
#25
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QUOTE(mtran1977 @ 10-2-06, 4:40pm) 20AH B&B batteries (EVP20-12) are much cheaper from Digikey.com - $85 shipped for 2. Thanks, mtran1977. I think I'm going to try these. I found this article about converting a Prius to be pluggable, and it confirms that these BB batteries have some of the best characteristics of lead-acid batteries. In addition to Digikey, Battery Universe also seems to be selling these for $39.95 ea., plus $15.59 S&H, for a total of $95.49. Digikey is quoting a 14-week lead-time on this item right now, so I'm going to try ordering from BU. edit: I ordered them and they have them in stock, so they're shipping out today! I hope these batteries will last for more than one year. This post has been edited by garsh: 4-16-07, 10:50am |
Captain Obvious
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4-16-07, 9:52am | Post
#26
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Found another inexpensive vendor for the BB EVP20-12:
Powell Electronics, $39.13 ea., $8.95 S&H, total: $91.91 They have a 9 week lead time advertised, though. |
Captain Obvious
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4-19-07, 5:05pm | Post
#27
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QUOTE(garsh @ 4-16-07, 12:06pm) edit: I ordered them and they have them in stock, so they're shipping out today! Well I received them today. Instead of the BB EVP20-12 batteries, they sent Universal Battery UB12180 batteries. They are the same size & voltage, but are not deep cycle batteries and will not work in this application.  Between this and the Penguins being down 3-0 going into the 3rd period, I'm quite angry. I managed to fire off a decently-worded email asking them to send the correct batteries & provide instructions for returning these incorrect batteries. |
Captain Obvious
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4-20-07, 3:42am | Post
#28
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QUOTE(garsh @ 4-16-07, 1:52pm) Found another inexpensive vendor for the BB EVP20-12: Powell Electronics, $39.13 ea., $8.95 S&H, total: $91.91 They have a 9 week lead time advertised, though. I just placed an order with this company. The 9 week lead time is gonna suck, but I don't appear to have much of a choice if I want this battery.
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Captain Obvious
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4-23-07, 4:09am | Post
#29
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Ok, I'm going to try to find the best price on the Yuasa battery. The specs on this battery appear to be even better than for the BB battery (600 cycles at 75% DOD, ~370 cycles at 100% DOD).
update: I found out that the Yuasa now seems to be called Enersys. That's part of the problem with trying to find this battery. I guess it's not being manufactured anymore, because I can't find the NPC17-12 on Enersys's website. |
Captain Obvious
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4-25-07, 11:21am | Post
#30
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Another possible replacement: the Panasonic LC-X1220P
Specifications Doesn't provide DOD characteristics though. |
Captain Obvious
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