Dr. Vistasp Sethna is promoting Exide batteries, charging a mark up over them. False claims have been listed as:&-lt;br />
"Hi guys,
> As you know, the 14 Ah LB 500 battery is not available
> for after-market sales,
> and once it goes, the LB 500 guys have to resort to less
> than optimum
> compromises like the Exide Baker or the Sonic
> Charge-14.
>
> However, these batteries are NOT made for specialised
> cranking purposes (like we
> need for our ES) and are manufactured as mainly back-up
> storage purposes like
> for STD booths etc, inverters, and are used in low end
> tempos. Their plates are
>
> fewer in number and are much thinner than our OE battery
> and as such these do
> not last more than 6-8 months (max) when used for cranking
> ES applications like
> in our bikes. Also, the warranty is void if used in
> automotive applications
>
> (something the Exide guys can make out even if you try to
> hide it :)).
> To make a long story short, not wanting to go in for a
> compromise setup (though
> admittedly cheaper to purchase), I did some research in
> batteries, trying to
> find alternatives, as well as the differences in battery
> tech - lead-acid vs
>
> VRLA / Gel etc. Finally I spoke to the EXIDE guys in
> Mumbai, and have somehow
> convinced/sweet-talked them into manufacturing a small
> special batch for us at
> their Pune plant.
> Since this is a special production run, the electrode
> fitting is slightly
> different to our OE batteries. The electrodes are much
> thicker/heavy-duty than
> our OE batteries - in order to take the increased
> charge/current as this lot
>
> while in the same sealed container, actually has an ampere
> reading of 17 Ah as
> against the OE 14 Ah. Also it has a overflow arrangement
> which was missing in
> our OE batteries and which caused corrosion/discoloration
> to many of our clutch
>
> casings. And since this model is specifically for cranking
> applications, it will
> no doubt have superior life to the compromise solutions we
> were saddled with up
> until now!
> As of now, I have spoken to the Bombay office only about
> picking up two
>
> batteries (one has been reserved by veerji S. Baljeet Singh
> Kocchar), but if
> some of you are interested, I can talk to them about
> releasing more specially
> for us. Depending on the numbers I will let you guys know
> about the costing (the
>
> MRP of the OE battery is Rs. 2, 400/-).
> Those who are interested can get in touch with me
> directly at the earliest. I do
> not know if getting them to do another limited batch will
> be possible.
> Cheers, Doc"
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