40% off sale on Exide car (and lawn mower) batteries
It looks like Bunnings has already price beat a few of them by $1
https://www.bunnings.co.nz/products/tools/automotive/automot…
I was able to find XDIN77MF in Porirua (Wellington) store, so grabbed it (the online stock check said none of the Wellington stores had this one in stock).
Is this brand any good?
Lead acid batteries usually have warranties long enough that it doesn't really matter. There's not too much that can go wrong with lead and liquid.
That's good price, I usually get the 40CPMF
Check other retailers first. I checked on a couple of batteries with Bunnings (Retail price) they are cheaper than Warehouse sale (even with over 50% off). Then use Bunnings Powerpass may get further discount or find a better price and Price Promise.
I used to go to Exide warehouse and buy direct but last time they had a sign on door no cash sales - I did get 2 batteries from them but took some talking and when I said I wanted to use the discount code (years ago they told me to say) they asked if I actually work for the company - I said "No, but got told back in 90s to use the code". They let me - but were not totally happy about it.
This would be Bunnings undercutting the prices to avoid the 15% price beat. I highly doubt their retail is that low.
Ok, at this heavily discounted pricing levels, (if you can get hold of one in stock somewhere close?), could be very good buying. But with the big caution : apart from a simple swap for a regular in road use vehicle engine battery like for like, old for this new one. Then for any other purposes use you need to do your research as to exactly how suitable this type of lead acid 12v batteries will be. Big tip too : the MF "maintenance free" claim can be a bad joke if you allow this type of lead acid chemistry 12v battery to sit unused & not regularly correctly recharged etc regularly, in its usage cycle situation. They can degrade - sulphate up - and mix solution seperate etc quite fast. Then your going to have problems making a warranty claim , because they will be suspicious you breached the fine print conditions "of the batteries usage history" sort of thing.
"Maintenance free" means you don't have to manage the electrolyte, not that it can handle complete discharge.
The flooded batteries evaporate off water (or, more correctly, through electrolysis they break it down into hydrogen and oxygen, which leaks out) and need top ups on occasion, that maintenance is no longer required.
I am looking for XDIN77MF and it hardly available at any store, and they don't seem to carry higher capacity XDIN88MF model.