Who makes batteries

[D2Cat]

Saw this post (on an RV forum) and thought it may clear some of the discussions about batteries.


Having worked at a battery plant I can offer this: We would often run 12,000 batteries a day from two shifts. We would ran a specific "group" sized battery for both shifts on any given day or we would run say 5000 of a specific group then change to another group sized battery for the remaining day. Those battery's in a specific group size would have many different brand name labels put on them for which ever customer had ordered them. Basically if a potential customer wanted "X" number of batteries in a specific group size we would run them. Changing the labels that went on the batteries was as simple as changing the roll of label's at the point the labels were put on the batteries. ALL batteries of say group 24 were built the same, just different labels.

 

[woodman55]

I have heard that before with various products. One factory for various brands. Home appliances are bad for that. One washer sold under several brands and prices, but still the same washer.

 

[Speed25]

Having been in the battery business, do you have a preferred manufacturer? I often see East Penn or Johnson Controls mentioned.

 

[fried1765]

Having been in the battery business, do you have a preferred manufacturer? I often see East Penn or Johnson Controls mentioned.

Walmart batteries are usually he best bang for the buck.
Don't know who actually produces them........ at any given time.

 

[armylifer]

I have had very good luck with batteries made by Johnson Controls. You have to do a careful search to be sure that you are getting what you want. Some brands have changed the source manufacturer and what you get today may well be different than what you got in the past.

 

[Yooper]

I have had very good luck with batteries made by Johnson Controls. You have to do a careful search to be sure that you are getting what you want. Some brands have changed the source manufacturer and what you get today may well be different than what you got in the past.

Which brings up the question of how to find out where they are built?

 

[Donystoy]

I remember talking to one of our suppliers many years ago where I use to work. He also use to work at a battery factory here in Canada. He said that there were very few companies that actually manufactured batteries for the various brands. For the various grades of batteries that Canadian Tire up here sold he said that they were all the same and all that you were paying for was a longer warranty. After that I just bought the cheapest battery I could find.

 

[Old Machinist]

Many years ago I worked at a Chevron station. This was back in the day before all gas was being sold by convenience stores and GAS stations provided service. They were more commonly called SERVICE stations.

Chevron had a battery they claimed would last longer than any other. Their description of battery failure was the plates would sluff off and build up in the bottom until the sluff contacted the bottom of the plates and short them out. The cheaper batteries had fewer plates that were longer and took less time for this to occur. The more expensive batteries had more plates that were shorter creating more space underneath therefor taking this longer to occur. The Chevron battery had each plate in it's own plastic bag so as it sluffed off the sluff was contained around that plate until it eventually disintegrated.

Not sure whatever came of the design but I never heard about it other than from the Chevron advertisement. This was back in the early 70s.

A quick search found this article claiming a similar design by an India based manufacture claiming a 2019 US patent on this "NEW" technology.

BAG PLATES- A Big Breakthrough in Plate Making Technology

An eminent name of Indian Battery Industry Sh. C R Ghosh developed a new concept for Battery Plate which claims average 3-10 Kg of Lead Saving and 30% More current and 30% less charging current input. Moreover, the manufacturer doesn’t required Spine casting machine, Pasting machine, Past...

www.thebatterynews.com

 

[The Evil Twin]

These days it is mainly EnerSys, Stryen, Johnson Controls, Delphi, and Exide who manufacture wet call automotive batteries for the North American market.

 

[CAPT Seabee]

My battery went bad on my 865R Gator. Accessibility is a real pain. I went with an Optima yellow top hoping to prolong having to do that job again. The varied LiFePo options out there are not cost effective. Overall battery life on my L5460 and Gator is longer due to indoor storage in the winter.

 

[Donystoy]

Battery life seems to be a crap shoot. Had a couple of battery’s go bad after 6 months and yet the original in my John Deere 345 lasted an unbelievable 17 years.

 

[The Evil Twin]

My battery went bad on my 865R Gator. Accessibility is a real pain. I went with an Optima yellow top hoping to prolong having to do that job again. The varied LiFePo options out there are not cost effective. Overall battery life on my L5460 and Gator is longer due to indoor storage in the winter.

I hope you are right. Ever since Interstate bought them and moved production south of Texas, their overall quality has declined.

 

[BBFarmer]

Saw this post (on an RV forum) and thought it may clear some of the discussions about batteries.


Having worked at a battery plant I can offer this: We would often run 12,000 batteries a day from two shifts. We would ran a specific "group" sized battery for both shifts on any given day or we would run say 5000 of a specific group then change to another group sized battery for the remaining day. Those battery's in a specific group size would have many different brand name labels put on them for which ever customer had ordered them. Basically if a potential customer wanted "X" number of batteries in a specific group size we would run them. Changing the labels that went on the batteries was as simple as changing the roll of label's at the point the labels were put on the batteries. ALL batteries of say group 24 were built the same, just different labels.

I reckon its the same with eggs then.

We've got a massive Cal-Maine Foods facility near by and watch SEVERAL different brand trucks come and go.

Slightly ticks me off seeing a decent price difference from one to the other and being the exact same product.

 

[ruger1980]

The majority of batteries you buy from a USA distributor are made by either Clarios/JC, Exide or East Penn.
My preference currently is East Penn , usually purchased at my local Walmart.

 

[nbking]

Autozone batteries say made in China or made in Germany. Not sure if it's just the stickers or the actual battery.

 

[McMXi]

I've been buying Optima batteries for decades, and they're now made in Mexico rather than the US.

 

[armylifer]

Which brings up the question of how to find out where they are built?

I usually start by searching with the phrase "where is (insert battery brand here) made? That usually brings up several search results and I go from there. As far as I am aware, any list of manufacturers and brands they make batteries for, changes too frequently to make a cover all statement that would be authoritative for very long. I just do a fresh research project when the time comes for me to have to buy one.