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   
      
    * Origin:  (1:3634/12)