Elk Battery Date Code

[Obsolete]

Can someone explain Elk battery date codes?
 
I received one today with this code: HL151205 which I assumed to be in  YY/DD/MM format.
 
The one it replaced was DH111224... Does the manufacturer switch up the dd/mm to mm/dd occassionally or ?
 
Thanks!

 

[RAL]

In my experience, the ELK date codes have been YY/MM/DD.  Your code of 151205 would be hard to explain, unless someone made a mistake in setting up the date code stamp at the factory.   I've never seen anyone use a YY/DD/MM format.

 

[Obsolete]

Thanks RAL, I will have to call them out on that!
Apparently my battery is from the future!! LOL
 

 

[RAL]

Apparently my battery is from the future!! LOL

 
Did you buy it on October 21, 2015 ?

 

[Obsolete]

LOL, no, it was this month

 

[elvisimprsntr]

I've found the Elk branded batteries to be overpriced. I just get the biggest Lithonia battery from Home Depot. Lithonia batteries also work in Chamberlain garage door motors too.

 

[Del91574]

I've found the Elk branded batteries to be overpriced. I just get the biggest Lithonia battery from Home Depot. Lithonia batteries also work in Chamberlain garage door motors too.

Batteries are a commodity item and typically priced as such. There are also tiers of quality and longevity (with related failure rates). Back a few years back after the storms and Sandy, they were backordered and had a massive price increase.
 
We buy hundreds of batteries annually by the case, including large AH units.....cheap batteries have a higher failure rate typically, same with lifespan. It's a balancing act whether or not it's worth spending X for a battery that may last a little longer vs. X-Y for a unit that would be comparable to replace upon it's inevitable failure.
 
That said, those sold in big-box stores are usually the worse of the bunch (Batteries plus, Radio Shack (if they still exist!) and a few others).

 

[elvisimprsntr]

I got 5 years out of Elk and Chamberlain branded batteries. I got 5 years out of Lithonia branded batteries. The batteries are likely all made in the same factory in China, they just apply a different paper label at the end of the line. Why should I pay 2x when I don't get the same improvement in quality or life? To each his own.

 

[Del91574]

I got 5 years out of Elk and Chamberlain branded batteries. I got 5 years out of Lithonia branded batteries. The batteries are likely all made in the same factory in China, they just apply a different paper label at the end of the line. Why should I pay 2x when I don't get the same improvement in quality or life? To each his own.

I can specifically tell you when I, say, use something like Powersonic or Werker batteries over, say Yuasa. The failure rate and drop-off percentages are significantly different. The facts are they may be similar in nature as a commodity, but they are NOT the same quality. We are mandated to load test and calculate our batteries at one site quarterly and another semi-annually. Numbers and spreadsheets don't lie.
 
As I stated, a reality check must be performed; If the failure rate or replacement rate can justify the economics to buy cheaper and replace twice vs. buy once. What you percieve as life may or may not really be the case....I'm not doubting what you might have experienced, but did you load test and verify the batteries on a scheduled basis or just go by a "low battery" notification or failed diagnostic?
 
We buy hundreds of SLA batteries a year....by the case and pallet. If you want to see the cost analysis and spreadsheets, I'll send them to you. Cheap isn't always equivalent.

 

[drvnbysound]

I just got (2) new batteries in today. They're marked 151005 and 151205.

 

[Del91574]

So I'd go with YY/DD/MM.  The letters are probably batch or similar.