Dying Trimpacs

[Benjamin Treplin 20]

Hi all,

I?m experiencing severe problems with my AntonBauer Digital Trimpac batteries.

Just before the 3 Year Warranty ended the first 3 of my 6 Trimpacs died. 1 to 2 cells gave up shortly after the ?service? sign showed up in the display. They have been replaced. The fourth battery died on me today.

Does anybody else have similar problems?

 

Benjamin

[Michael Stumpf 9]

Sounds like you basically got 3 years worth of service out of them.

That's pretty normal for AB batteries.

Some go as fast as 1.5 to 2 years, others last 4 years. It all depends on how often they are used and the conditions they are used in.

 

I don't own Trimpacs, but I'd venture to say, you did just fine getting 3 years out of them.

[JamieSilverstein 44]

I have gotten about 3 years out of my other AB batteries and not much more. Try getting them recelled. I think that there are several places recommended by people on the forum that have done a good job of recelling old AB batts ( see the 2004 archives for names). It seems like the most cost effective way to get new power to your sled.

[Richard W. Davis 14]

Victory Battery in Burbank has done many of my Trimpaks. Trimpaks are the one AB battery that is a great recell...that is the case splits open easily with no damaging marks etc. Victory will put in cells that will give it a slightly larger Amp Hour rating than new AB trimpaks...cost about $150 per...Call them though.

 

Regards,

 

Rich Davis

[Benjamin Treplin 20]

Thank for the input.

I know that the Hytron50 are likely to give up very early. That why I went for NiCd. Longer life time, handles more load etc. How many cycles did you get out of yours?

Rich has Victory Battery a website?

I have read through the Archives and Erwin mentioned with recelling you are loosing the electronics and A/B chargers don?t charge any more.

 

Benjamin

[Richard W. Davis 14]

Benjamin,

 

The recelled batts still work (digital displays etc) and still work with my interactive charger that runs tests, tells how many cycles, how many amp hours etc. So I will never buy another new trimpak again. Victory battery # is 818 840-2766 address 1508 W. Burbank Blvd. Burbank, CA.

 

Rich Davis(not affiliated just a satisfied customer)

[Michael Stumpf 9]

The Digital Trimpacs sell for only $249.95 each at B & H Photo

 

I don't know about you, but I think I'd rather pay the $100 each more than what recelling costs to have a brand new battery with a 3 year warranty!!

 

On top of that, I think B & H Photo gives you a credit for every used battery you give them. So the difference might be as little as $50 each.

 

Well worth having brand new batteries with a 3 year warranty, that you won't have to "worry" about.

And since you don't live in LA, you won't have to go through the shipping back and forth process sending them to Victory Battery.

 

Just another thought.

[SergeiFranklin 5]

to get the most out of Anton bauer batteries they should always be on the charger. My chargers are always pluged in with all the batteries on them. You should get 4 years out of a Trimpack. I have a trimpack that lasted 5 years. Hytron 50 will only last 3 years, and will only power a 435 for 2 years.

[Michael Stumpf 9]

Hytron 50 will only last 3 years, and will only power a 435 for 2 years.

if at all in many cases.

[Lawrence Karman 91]

I traded in my Htytron 50s directly with AB and if I remember correctly I got a $100 credit for each battery I sent back.

[Richard W. Davis 14]

Michael,

 

"I don't have to worry about them!" They last as long if not longer than the AB originals and as I said they are slightly larger amp hour. They definately outlast new trimpaks head to head. My .02 cents.

 

Rich Davis "tired from a long day shooting."Goodnight

[Brad Grimmett 3]

I can't comment on the AB recelling situation since I don't use them, but I will say that Victory Battery has done good work for me recelling my batteries. Inexpensive and trustworthy....can't beat it.

[Benjamin Treplin 20]

Good to know the recelling works with the digital batteries as well.

For me it is a good option. Trimpacs are about 350 to 400 ? in Europe.

I don?t know if B&H Photo will ship A/B to Europe because of there dealer network.

I'm also interested in the approximate cycle live you get out of your NiCd batteries over that 2 to 4 year period.

[Benjamin Treplin 20]

Ups!

Sorry my price info is not up to date. They are about 290? here.

Still curious about the average charge/discharge cycles you get out of A/B NiCd.

[nick franco 11]

http://www.energyplus.com/batteries/broadc...eries_intro.htm

 

Check these guys out, they just did two of my propac 14's.

They have a little more poop than a new one I just bought.

Two weeks door to door is what it took as they are in Tennesee.

 

 

good luck, Nick