BB>  Switch to an Optima spiral gel cell. I have one that has been working
BB> for
BB> over 7 years. You can get them at places like Advance Auto and Autozone
BB> plus
BB> other stores. Check them out at optima.com.

 MH> Certainly looks like the Optima batteries get great reviews.  They
 MH> are about twice as expensive as the standard 3-year warranty
 MH> batteries.   

with what published lifetime? and compared to the actual published by
others lifetime?

 MH> Seems like the choice is to either keep getting the standard ones
 MH> and throwing them out every 3 years or get a better one that lasts
 MH> at least twice as long. 

this is very similar to my discussion with others in another area about
water distillers... do you pay $200 for a distiller that may cost you $70 a
year to operate for 200+ gallons for that year or do you by water in a jub
from the store for 99cents/gallon to $1.50/gallon and spend $800+ to $1200+
per year or???

)\/(ark