FIRST Teams discount $5 off each Enersys np18-12, call in orders only
 

For any of you looking to get batteries just before competition I just talked to Battery Universe over the phone and they offered a $5 off discount per battery for FIRST Teams.

THIS APPLIES TO CALL IN ORDERS THAT IDENTIFY THEMSELVES AS PART OF A FIRST ROBOTICS TEAM. (sorry for the caps I just don't want anyone missing this important fact)

EnerSys Genesis NP18-12B Sealed Lead Acid Battery
Normal price: 69.95
Reduced price: 64.95

Also, they ship from Minnesota so bear that in mind when calculating shipping costs/arrival times.

http://www.batteryuniverse.com/
800-995-9750

Re: FIRST Teams discount $5 off each Enersys np18-12, call in orders only
 

We just bought batteries from tnrbatteries.com for $ 62.95 and $ 12 flat rate shipping which is pretty good if you buy several batteries at a time.

Re: FIRST Teams discount $5 off each Enersys np18-12, call in orders only
 

upstaged again, I wish I knew this about 20 minutes ago :)

Re: FIRST Teams discount $5 off each Enersys np18-12, call in orders only
 

Am I crazy or is the battery we need selling for $55 on tnrbatteries.com. Not $62.95

http://www.tnrbatteries.com/ennp18.html

Re: FIRST Teams discount $5 off each Enersys np18-12, call in orders only
 

:)

We got ours for $37.50 each with FREE shipping.

http://www.mkbattery.com/elesec_products.php
ES17-12 was confirmed to be FIRST legal.

Enjoy.

Re: FIRST Teams discount $5 off each Enersys np18-12, call in orders only
 

can anyone comment on the difference between last year's battery and this year's battery? We have 5 MK ES17-12's from last year that are dead and won't take a charge. I have been hesitant to buy exact replacements but half price of the new batteries is significant.

Re: FIRST Teams discount $5 off each Enersys np18-12, call in orders only
 

Really Greg? You guys nuked 5 batteries last year? You short them out or something?

Re: FIRST Teams discount $5 off each Enersys np18-12, call in orders only
 

I wouldn't be surprised if you ruined a battery by nuking it, also your microwave will probably be worse for wear.

These batteries started to be used in 2007, they have somewhere between 200-400 charge cycles in them. It is not unusual for them to start wearing out.

Greg, if they were brand new, I would suggest reading <R18> and finding out if they are stored properly and are charged while stored.

Re: FIRST Teams discount $5 off each Enersys np18-12, call in orders only
 

Leaving them discharged for any length of time will also kill any lead-acid battery.

Alex, I can't see how I can get those batteries for that price. What am I missing?

Re: FIRST Teams discount $5 off each Enersys np18-12, call in orders only
 

Don,

Not sure how Alex did it, but we were only able to get that price on the phone. The MK rep was very helpful and their lead times were short. We had our batteries in less than a week.

Re: FIRST Teams discount $5 off each Enersys np18-12, call in orders only
 

Don You can log in with a FIRST ID and password that allows you to get batteries for that price. I'll try to find the information and post back.

-RC

Re: FIRST Teams discount $5 off each Enersys np18-12, call in orders only
 

No you are not crazy. I just cannot read. 55 is the quote and bid.

Re: FIRST Teams discount $5 off each Enersys np18-12, call in orders only
 

That whole log in system was REALLY sketchy last year. When I did it I could see the names, addresses, and contact information for every single person from FIRST who placed an order last year. I was not comfortable submitting my information to them and ended up calling in the order.

We also received the ~$40 rate last year.

Re: FIRST Teams discount $5 off each Enersys np18-12, call in orders only
 

Ah,

Thanks for the heads up, I know I had our mentors do it. I forget that its just a login, nothing more. We will be calling in this year instead of logging in. Is there anything special you had to say besides your a FIRST team?

-RC

Re: FIRST Teams discount $5 off each Enersys np18-12, call in orders only
 

That is correct. (1-800-372-9253)

Re: FIRST Teams discount $5 off each Enersys np18-12, call in orders only
 

One reason the ES17-12 is cheaper is because it is a 17 a/h battery rather then a 18 a/h battery.

Re: FIRST Teams discount $5 off each Enersys np18-12, call in orders only
 

actually the new battery spec is 17.2 A/h

Re: FIRST Teams discount $5 off each Enersys np18-12, call in orders only
 

hmmm...so if you round 17.2 you get 18

New math !!

Re: FIRST Teams discount $5 off each Enersys np18-12, call in orders only
 

From what I heard, the old batteries were also 17.2AH. They were just labeled 18AH because of "rounding" (aka marketing =P).

Of course, I could be wrong...

Re: FIRST Teams discount $5 off each Enersys np18-12, call in orders only
 

Not exactly a scientific survey, but:

We tested all our batteries in perparation for the NJ regional.

All had been fully charged, and allowed to rest 48 hours to bleed off any surface charge. The test was connecting a 1 Ohm, 125 Watt resistor across the battery and reading the voltage at 60 seconds. (We used a main circuit breaker and careful wiring to ensure safety.)

A 2007 and a 2009 battery had an end voltage of 12.46 volts
All the rest (2007/8/9) had an end voltage of 12.25 volts (within 0.03V)
The 2010 battery had an end voltage of 12.16 volts.

To me, it means that the internal construction of the 2010 battery is not as well suited to high current discharge as the MK batteries.

But, of course, a sample size of 1 is not a valid test.

.

Re: FIRST Teams discount $5 off each Enersys np18-12, call in orders only
 

Don - we are using a CBA II for the first time this year also. I also note better capacity from MK batteries, but I have only tested 1 of the new batteries also, and I am new to using the CBA II.

Re: FIRST Teams discount $5 off each Enersys np18-12, call in orders only
 

I will vouch for this and all the other people who went with MK this year - ours were $37 and free shipping from LA, so they took 2 days to get here. MK wanted to refer us to a local distributor, but when we told them that we were a FRC team, they handled the order directly.