{"id":281,"date":"2018-03-12T18:57:06","date_gmt":"2018-03-12T23:57:06","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/treedofliberty.com\/blog\/?p=281"},"modified":"2018-03-13T15:44:16","modified_gmt":"2018-03-13T20:44:16","slug":"the-great-battery-test-featuring-the-wal-mart-valuepower-battery","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"http:\/\/treedofliberty.com\/blog\/the-great-battery-test-featuring-the-wal-mart-valuepower-battery\/","title":{"rendered":"The Great Battery Test! Featuring the Wal-Mart ValuePower Battery."},"content":{"rendered":"<figure id=\"attachment_324\" aria-describedby=\"caption-attachment-324\" style=\"width: 316px\" class=\"wp-caption aligncenter\"><a href=\"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/treedofliberty.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2018\/03\/bastardjackfrost-e1520897147406.jpeg\"><img data-recalc-dims=\"1\" loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" data-attachment-id=\"324\" data-permalink=\"http:\/\/treedofliberty.com\/blog\/the-great-battery-test-featuring-the-wal-mart-valuepower-battery\/bastardjackfrost\/\" data-orig-file=\"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/treedofliberty.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2018\/03\/bastardjackfrost-e1520897147406.jpeg?fit=316%2C448\" data-orig-size=\"316,448\" data-comments-opened=\"1\" data-image-meta=\"{&quot;aperture&quot;:&quot;0&quot;,&quot;credit&quot;:&quot;&quot;,&quot;camera&quot;:&quot;&quot;,&quot;caption&quot;:&quot;&quot;,&quot;created_timestamp&quot;:&quot;0&quot;,&quot;copyright&quot;:&quot;&quot;,&quot;focal_length&quot;:&quot;0&quot;,&quot;iso&quot;:&quot;0&quot;,&quot;shutter_speed&quot;:&quot;0&quot;,&quot;title&quot;:&quot;&quot;,&quot;orientation&quot;:&quot;0&quot;}\" data-image-title=\"bastardjackfrost\" data-image-description=\"\" data-image-caption=\"&lt;p&gt;Smug little bastard. Lets see how he likes the green house effect&lt;\/p&gt;\n\" data-medium-file=\"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/treedofliberty.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2018\/03\/bastardjackfrost-e1520897147406.jpeg?fit=212%2C300\" data-large-file=\"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/treedofliberty.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2018\/03\/bastardjackfrost-e1520897147406.jpeg?fit=316%2C448\" class=\"size-full wp-image-324\" src=\"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/treedofliberty.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2018\/03\/bastardjackfrost-e1520897147406.jpeg?resize=316%2C448\" alt=\"\" width=\"316\" height=\"448\" srcset=\"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/treedofliberty.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2018\/03\/bastardjackfrost-e1520897147406.jpeg?w=316 316w, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/treedofliberty.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2018\/03\/bastardjackfrost-e1520897147406.jpeg?resize=212%2C300 212w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 316px) 100vw, 316px\" \/><\/a><figcaption id=\"caption-attachment-324\" class=\"wp-caption-text\"><strong>Smug little bastard. Can&#8217;t wait to see the green house effect take him out<br \/><\/strong><\/figcaption><\/figure>\n<p>The harsh winter took a toll on a good many car batteries, if you were one of the many who found Jack Frost screwed your car battery over, rest easy you are not alone. Two of our vehicles batteries were done in by the unusually cold winter temperatures as well. Since we were needing two replacement batteries I decided make a impromptu test out of the situation. And also take a chance on the new discount battery from Wal-mart, the ValuePower line which only comes with a 1 year warranty. I guess since it&#8217;s such a value to expect Wal-mart to stand behind it any longer than a year would be unreasonable. For the third battery of this test I used the prorated warranty of one of the batteries to off set the costs of a third battery. Since the first battery purchased didn&#8217;t have a core charge and the second battery to fail still had about $16 in warranty it seemed logical not to waste the boon of free money however small and pre\u00ebmptively replace another vehicles battery.<\/p>\n<p>Anyway the test goes like this all three levels of the current battery lines are being tested.<\/p>\n<ul>\n<li>3 year: highest standard, battery the establishment elite would chose<\/li>\n<li>2 year: middle ground moderate of the battery world<\/li>\n<li>1 year: the populist battery<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<figure id=\"attachment_289\" aria-describedby=\"caption-attachment-289\" style=\"width: 300px\" class=\"wp-caption aligncenter\"><a href=\"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/treedofliberty.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2018\/02\/VP78.jpeg\"><img data-recalc-dims=\"1\" loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" data-attachment-id=\"289\" data-permalink=\"http:\/\/treedofliberty.com\/blog\/the-great-battery-test-featuring-the-wal-mart-valuepower-battery\/vp78\/\" data-orig-file=\"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/treedofliberty.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2018\/02\/VP78.jpeg?fit=1000%2C787\" data-orig-size=\"1000,787\" data-comments-opened=\"1\" data-image-meta=\"{&quot;aperture&quot;:&quot;7.1&quot;,&quot;credit&quot;:&quot;Image Studio&quot;,&quot;camera&quot;:&quot;NIKON D300&quot;,&quot;caption&quot;:&quot;&quot;,&quot;created_timestamp&quot;:&quot;1265901989&quot;,&quot;copyright&quot;:&quot;&quot;,&quot;focal_length&quot;:&quot;75&quot;,&quot;iso&quot;:&quot;640&quot;,&quot;shutter_speed&quot;:&quot;0.01&quot;,&quot;title&quot;:&quot;&quot;,&quot;orientation&quot;:&quot;1&quot;}\" data-image-title=\"VP78\" data-image-description=\"\" data-image-caption=\"\" data-medium-file=\"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/treedofliberty.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2018\/02\/VP78.jpeg?fit=300%2C236\" data-large-file=\"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/treedofliberty.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2018\/02\/VP78.jpeg?fit=688%2C541\" class=\"wp-image-289 size-medium\" src=\"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/treedofliberty.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2018\/02\/VP78.jpeg?resize=300%2C236\" alt=\"\" width=\"300\" height=\"236\" srcset=\"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/treedofliberty.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2018\/02\/VP78.jpeg?resize=300%2C236 300w, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/treedofliberty.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2018\/02\/VP78.jpeg?resize=768%2C604 768w, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/treedofliberty.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2018\/02\/VP78.jpeg?w=1000 1000w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 300px) 100vw, 300px\" \/><\/a><figcaption id=\"caption-attachment-289\" class=\"wp-caption-text\"><strong>Like NASA I proudly use your tax dollars to buy parts supplied by the lowest bidder<\/strong><\/figcaption><\/figure>\n<p>The 3 year battery is by International, 2 year is a national auto parts chain house brand, and finally the Wal-mart 1 year special -watch for falling prices and dropping voltage. The premium battery has more cranking amps than the previous battery and well above the factory specs. The middle range battery is well above factory specs as well but a few hundred cranking amps below the premium grade battery of it&#8217;s size group. Since this is really about the low price loss leader of a battery I am going to concentrate on describing the 1 year battery. The el cheapo battery is built by Johnson Controls whose batteries are sold under different house brand names all over the country. The battery is exactly the factory rating for Cold Cranking Amps (0* F) 650 and Cranking amps 810 (32* F) but well below the old premium battery&#8217;s 850 CCA &amp; 1000 CA. The premium 5 year warranty battery which weighed in at 43 pounds. The new Value battery felt considerably lighter however I neglected to weigh it. When the battery eventually fails I will get a weight on it just to fill in this data.<\/p>\n<p>The ValuePower battery was built in the first month of 2018, picked up from the store early February 2018. Battery had 90% charge when it got home, this was after jump starting a car in the parking lot. An elderly gentleman had the misfortune of not being able to restart his car in the Wal-mart parking lot, everyone from employees to customers ignored his plight. Can&#8217;t blame the customers much, after all who wants to get involved in that situation. How did the battery die? Natural causes? Perhaps the it was darkest crimes of all murder? Was it a gang killing? Is there a bereaved family waiting to take revenge on the decease&#8217;s behalf? A whole lot of unknowns John Q Public could be walking into, easy to see why the average person would walk around the situation. Not sure why billion dollar Wal-mart corporation turns a blind eye to the need of their fellow man. Impacts their battery sales maybe?<\/p>\n<p>Throwing caution to the wind I figured why not give this battery its first test. Battery in the cart, jumper cables attached to the battery it had to look odd having a car jump started by a shopping cart.\u00a0 Badly corroded terminals thwarted the first attempt to start the car. Placing the jumpers a little closer to the power cable for the main fuse box helped the second attempt succeed. Alternator was charging the battery up, looks like it was a close call but I&#8217;m sure that battery will not waste its second chance at life. Good deed done, the vultures circling overhead dispersed, all that was left to do was wait for all the good karma to roll in.<\/p>\n<p>Overall I&#8217;m satisfied with the initial condition and quality of the Value battery. My expectations are for it to last the full year of its warranty, this test it to observe how well it performs, how long it actually last as well as how it compares to the other batteries.<\/p>\n<figure id=\"attachment_292\" aria-describedby=\"caption-attachment-292\" style=\"width: 386px\" class=\"wp-caption aligncenter\"><a href=\"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/treedofliberty.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2018\/02\/Goldbattery-e1519594193695.jpg\"><img data-recalc-dims=\"1\" loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" data-attachment-id=\"292\" data-permalink=\"http:\/\/treedofliberty.com\/blog\/the-great-battery-test-featuring-the-wal-mart-valuepower-battery\/goldbattery\/\" data-orig-file=\"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/treedofliberty.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2018\/02\/Goldbattery-e1519594193695.jpg?fit=386%2C278\" data-orig-size=\"386,278\" data-comments-opened=\"1\" data-image-meta=\"{&quot;aperture&quot;:&quot;0&quot;,&quot;credit&quot;:&quot;&quot;,&quot;camera&quot;:&quot;&quot;,&quot;caption&quot;:&quot;&quot;,&quot;created_timestamp&quot;:&quot;0&quot;,&quot;copyright&quot;:&quot;&quot;,&quot;focal_length&quot;:&quot;0&quot;,&quot;iso&quot;:&quot;0&quot;,&quot;shutter_speed&quot;:&quot;0&quot;,&quot;title&quot;:&quot;&quot;,&quot;orientation&quot;:&quot;0&quot;}\" data-image-title=\"Goldbattery\" data-image-description=\"\" data-image-caption=\"\" data-medium-file=\"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/treedofliberty.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2018\/02\/Goldbattery-e1519594193695.jpg?fit=300%2C216\" data-large-file=\"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/treedofliberty.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2018\/02\/Goldbattery-e1519594193695.jpg?fit=386%2C278\" class=\"wp-image-292 size-full\" src=\"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/treedofliberty.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2018\/02\/Goldbattery-e1519594193695.jpg?resize=386%2C278\" alt=\"\" width=\"386\" height=\"278\" srcset=\"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/treedofliberty.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2018\/02\/Goldbattery-e1519594193695.jpg?w=386 386w, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/treedofliberty.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2018\/02\/Goldbattery-e1519594193695.jpg?resize=300%2C216 300w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 386px) 100vw, 386px\" \/><\/a><figcaption id=\"caption-attachment-292\" class=\"wp-caption-text\"><strong>Coming Soon: Frankincense &amp; Myrrh Grade Batteries <br \/><\/strong><\/figcaption><\/figure>\n<p>The primary reason I am embarking upon this experiment is I&#8217;ve been extremely disappointed by the quality of recent &#8220;high quality&#8221; and high dollar batteries. We usually buy the gold or silver premium standard with extra cranking amps along with the added assurance of a longer warranty. Figuring the added price for a battery with a sticker color of a non-ferrous precious metal must equal quality. Long been rumored that the silver batteries actually lasted longer than the Gold for various reasons, I want to say it was because difference of the plating, something like the Gold battery is too tightly packed for chemical reaction to get the most to of them. Could just be an old internet wives tale.<\/p>\n<p>Sadly of late these premium batteries from various manufacturers have failed prematurely for us, same brand battery which had last well before suddenly no longer have the longevity of a battery produced a few years earlier. Compounding the apparent loss of quality is the new trend for batteries manufacturers to only give a three year warranty maximum for their top of the line premium battery, followed the next level of quality with a two year warranty and now advent of a one year battery, these warranty schemes are becoming the new normal. Once upon a time a free exchange 6 &amp; 8 years warranties roamed the earth. And I pretty much got the use out of them. Extinction is a harsh mistress.<\/p>\n<p><strong>Prorating explained<\/strong>: prorating a battery works something like this, first 36 months = free exchange of a bad battery. After this threshold is passed math becomes involved, the store is supposed to take the price of the new battery (which has inevitably gone up since you last bought one), then divide by the number of months (sometimes days) of coverage.<br \/>\nFor Example if you have a <strong>5 year battery<\/strong> (60 months or 1825 days of coverage) and <strong>you&#8217;ve used 53 months of the warranty<\/strong> (or 1612 days) and <strong>new battery cost $157.99<\/strong> + Tax and core charge. <strong>The monthly deprecation is $2.67<\/strong> ($157.99 divided by 60),<strong> multiplied by 53 for a total of $141.51<\/strong> in deprecation. For this example we will use monthly calculation since it was common practice, you would receive <strong>$16.48 credit toward buying a new battery<\/strong>.\u00a0 Recently battery manufactures have sought to end the prorating system, it&#8217;ll save them some money not warranting the battery after it is statistically prone to failure, this prevents low level employees at the parts stores making mistakes. As it stands now if you ain&#8217;t got a receipt showing you are still within the coverage for a free replacement they can&#8217;t help you.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>The harsh winter took a toll on a good many car batteries, if you were one of the many who&hellip;<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":1,"featured_media":290,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"jetpack_post_was_ever_published":false,"_jetpack_newsletter_access":"","_jetpack_dont_email_post_to_subs":false,"_jetpack_newsletter_tier_id":0,"_jetpack_memberships_contains_paywalled_content":false,"_jetpack_memberships_contains_paid_content":false,"footnotes":"","jetpack_publicize_message":"","jetpack_publicize_feature_enabled":true,"jetpack_social_post_already_shared":true,"jetpack_social_options":{"image_generator_settings":{"template":"highway","enabled":false},"version":2}},"categories":[21],"tags":[],"class_list":["post-281","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-automotive"],"jetpack_publicize_connections":[],"jetpack_featured_media_url":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/treedofliberty.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2018\/02\/valuepower.jpg?fit=1280%2C720","jetpack_sharing_enabled":true,"jetpack_shortlink":"https:\/\/wp.me\/p9ublD-4x","jetpack_likes_enabled":true,"jetpack-related-posts":[],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"http:\/\/treedofliberty.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/281","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"http:\/\/treedofliberty.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"http:\/\/treedofliberty.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"http:\/\/treedofliberty.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/1"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"http:\/\/treedofliberty.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=281"}],"version-history":[{"count":14,"href":"http:\/\/treedofliberty.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/281\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":330,"href":"http:\/\/treedofliberty.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/281\/revisions\/330"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"http:\/\/treedofliberty.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/290"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"http:\/\/treedofliberty.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=281"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"http:\/\/treedofliberty.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=281"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"http:\/\/treedofliberty.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=281"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}