MK 12 volt battery question

[eugenebrooks]

Originally Posted by ebarker

I think these people will ship to Israel.

http://www.economybatteries.com

http://www.economybatteries.com/qsea...eld.y=0&bhcp=1

Order the ES17-12, not the ES17-12AP

Ed

We ordered, and received, several extra ES17-12 batteries
from this source. To cause even more confusion on the battery
situation, the kit batteries were grey and these batteries
are black. The model number on the kit batteries is ES17-12,
with the printed (on the battery) amp hour rating being 18 ah
at the 20 hour rate. The model number on the batteries we got
from this source is also ES17-12, with the printed amp hour rating
being 17 ah at the 20 hour rate. This is consistent with the amp
hour rating in the specification chart for the ES17-12AP battery,
but the battery we ordered, and the model number printed on
the battery we received, is ES17-12.

All I care about at this point is passing inspection!

Eugene

[ebarker]

For anyone concerned about disposing old worn out FRC batteries please read the first notice in TEAM UPDATE #1 for more information about disposal.

Ed

[Dave K.]

Originally Posted by eugenebrooks

We ordered, and received, several extra ES17-12 batteries
from this source. To cause even more confusion on the battery
situation, the kit batteries were grey and these batteries
are black. The model number on the kit batteries is ES17-12,
with the printed (on the battery) amp hour rating being 18 ah
at the 20 hour rate. The model number on the batteries we got
from this source is also ES17-12, with the printed amp hour rating
being 17 ah at the 20 hour rate. This is consistent with the amp
hour rating in the specification chart for the ES17-12AP battery,
but the battery we ordered, and the model number printed on
the battery we received, is ES17-12.

All I care about at this point is passing inspection!

Eugene

I didn't find your lower cost source before ordering from here: http://www.batteriesasap.com/659.html. Arrived within 2 days, shipped from Illinois.

The batteries are the same grey color included in the kit and have a date code of 060928 stamped into the top, which I would guess means they were manufactured Sept. 28th, 2006.

They arrived with terminal voltages of 12.78 and 12.76 volts and didn't take much of an equalizing charge.

[Al Skierkiewicz]

Originally Posted by eugenebrooks

We ordered, and received, several extra ES17-12 batteries
from this source. To cause even more confusion on the battery
situation, the kit batteries were grey and these batteries
are black. The model number on the kit batteries is ES17-12,
with the printed (on the battery) amp hour rating being 18 ah
at the 20 hour rate. The model number on the batteries we got
from this source is also ES17-12, with the printed amp hour rating
being 17 ah at the 20 hour rate. This is consistent with the amp
hour rating in the specification chart for the ES17-12AP battery,
but the battery we ordered, and the model number printed on
the battery we received, is ES17-12.

All I care about at this point is passing inspection!

Eugene

Gene,
Inspectors ran into this problem last year if you remember. The various suppliers make batteries stamped with the same part # but as I remember the black ones were not allowed for competition. It would seem that First needs to address this issue NOW.

[Otaku]

Originally Posted by VEN

And it is definetly fair to all of a sudden make the batteries from previous years extinct in order to make the teams who collected their batteries from previous years and who can't afford to buy 10 extra batteries like other teams go through all the trouble of possibly losing qaulifiers due to the fact that the batteries don't charge fast enough.

Sadly there's nothing we can do about that. Might as well learn to deal with it. Big disappointment but oh well.

Yeah. 675 Had that problem last year, we didn't have enough of the Exide batteries and they do charge slow.

Very slow.

Originally Posted by sparksandtabs

Not every team is going to be in a match at the same time. We do know how to share.

Here's the thing, too. Not every team will be willing to pass out their extra batteries willy-nilly because they'll need them eventually as well, and going into a match with a half charged battery on the bot and a plethora of dead ones won't do you much good.

Oh, and don't forget that if you don't keep track of them, you might not get them back. If I'm not mistaken, 675 might have accidentally taken other teams' tools without knowing it last year (and if we did, sorry, and please confront one of us, preferably me, and notify us).

[David Brinza]

One very nice thing about this year's battery is the battery is labelled with:

Not restricted for passenger or cargo aircraft. Meets air transportation requirements under title 49 CFR173.159 and special provision A67 as decreed by IATA and ICAO.


In prior years we had a tough time dealing with some airlines and shippers. They were reluctant to ship the Exide batteries because there was no documentation proving that the batteries met the vibration, differential pressure tests, etc. required under CFR179.159. This year's battery should "fly" through the season without any problems.

P.S. I found the response to FRC845's post in the Q&A Forum less than definitive:

Batteries <R46>

MK Batteries told the member from FRC845 that batteries ES17-12 12V-18AH/20HR and ES17-12 12V-17AH/20HR are the same. Does FIRST concur with this statement or not??

[Steve W]

I asked that question on the Q&A's this morning. Let's let the GDC see if they can clarify. Basically I asked if inspectors are to go by part number or specs and if by specs how can we be sure of getting the right battery as the company seems to ship two different amp/hour but the same part number.

Watch the Q&A's for answer.

[Madison]

Originally Posted by Steve W

I asked that question on the Q&A's this morning. Let's let the GDC see if they can clarify. Basically I asked if inspectors are to go by part number or specs and if by specs how can we be sure of getting the right battery as the company seems to ship two different amp/hour but the same part number.

Watch the Q&A's for answer.

Today's Team Update #5 reads, "Batteries will be inspected by part number, not by rating or serial number."

[David Brinza]

Originally Posted by David Brinza

MK Batteries told a member from FRC845 that batteries ES17-12 12V-18AH/20HR and ES17-12 12V-17AH/20HR are the same. Does FIRST concur with this statement or not??

So, assuming that ES17-12 is the MK Battery part number, both batteries are acceptable for competition per Update #5.
Agree?

[Steve W]

Originally Posted by David Brinza

So, assuming that ES17-12 is the MK Battery part number, both batteries are acceptable for competition per Update #5.
Agree?

That is correct. This was answered in both the Q&A section 10 and the latest update. Kudos to FIRST for quick response.