Batteries 2016

rgranger · Jun 18, 2016

Tractor Supply often has deep cycle batteries. And I've seen them at Walmart before but I can't tell you if they are any good.

jssailem · Jun 18, 2016

Info is still relevant.
Batteries use lead. Not a lot of folks can play with lead. EPA has seen to a limit on manufactures. So labels change but manufactrers are the same. Box stores, especially Walmart buy for price point. So you may find almost anyone's label there.

jackhartjr · Jun 19, 2016

If you have a Deka dealer in your area, you can sometimes get 'Blems' at a really good price!

Maine Sail · Jun 19, 2016

Tally Ho said:
I need some new batteries for my O'Day 322.

Read through Mainsail's post about manufacturer of the Walmart batteries, but realized it is several years old now.

Anyone know if these are any good?

http://www.menards.com/main/electri...4430136307-c-9100.htm?tid=7694643968560478211

Or these?
https://www.batteriesplus.com/battery/marine-and-boat/deep-cycle/bci-group-27m/sli27mdc

A search of Walmart.com did not even list a deep cycle battery.

Greg

The important part of those Wal*Mart batteries is who made them. Those batteries were made by US Battery and were a good quality battery. Today Wal*Mart almost exclusively uses Johnson Controls as their battery supplier and US Battery no longer supplies those batteries to JCI. The JCI stuff is really a low quality price point product mow made in Mexico.

Neither of those batteries you linked to are "deep cycle" batteries, and of the two brands, I generally prefer the Deka (Duracell) over the Exide. For Pseudo deep cycle batteries my brand preference looks like this.

Top:
Trojan & US Battery
Crown
Deka (re-branded under numerous labels)

Bottom:
Exide
Superior
Johnson Controls (Interstate, Kirkland and MANY, MANY others)

What is a Deep Cycle Battery? (LINK)

sesmith · Jun 19, 2016

FWIW, I got my Duracell EGC2 batts from Sam's club this spring. They have a decent price on them. Even if you don't have a membership, it's probably worth paying the extra 10% you would have to pay them for the purchase without membership.

Benny17441 · Jun 19, 2016

A battery can be just as good as its warranty. Purchasing a battery is like picking from a box of chocolates, you never know what you are going to get. The manufacturing process and materials among the different manufacturers is pretty similar and has not changed significantly in years. Even with some improved manufacturing controls we still get batteries that will provide service for 7-9 years and practically refuse to die while others fail after a few days from purchase. The great majority will last from 2-5 years and there seems to be little correlation to maintenance. It is very common to see the same battery in different price packages according to the length and coverage of the warranty. Walmart batteries have a few things going for them Low Price, hassle free warranties, fresh stock (they move volume so batteries do not sit on the shelve for long) and for the coastal cruiser a replacement is never too far away.

Rich Stidger · Jun 19, 2016

Maine Sail said:
Neither of those batteries you linked to are "deep cycle" batteries, and of the two brands, I generally prefer the Deka (Duracell) over the Exide. For Pseudo deep cycle batteries my brand preference looks like this.

Top:
Trojan & US Battery
Crown
Deka (re-branded under numerous labels)

Bottom:
Exide
Superior
Johnson Controls (Interstate, Kirkland and MANY, MANY others)

Maine Sail- Two questions:
What do you mean by "Pseudo deep cycle"?
Do you mean that the batteries listed above in "Top" and "Bottom" are not really DC batteries?

Second, what specifically are the reasons you rank Superior and Exide at the bottom? I am especially interested in Superior since I just bought a set because I could not get US 2200.

woodster · Jun 19, 2016

Rich Stidger said:
What do you mean by "Pseudo deep cycle"?

deep cycle wannabes....misrepresented in advertising

sesmith · Jun 19, 2016

Tally Ho said:
Also, does anyone know any current brands (Group 27 12-volt) that are made by Deka or US Battery?

Greg

The Duracell branded group 27 batteriess at Sams club are made by East Penn (Deka). If you really need true deep cycle batteries, you will get approx 3 x the amp hour capacity in a pair of EGC2 golf cart batteries than one Group 27 (and a lot more charge discharge cycles).

Mark Maulden · Jun 19, 2016

Never in 30 years did I ever have a problem with Dyno batts. Made in Seattle and serves the fishing fleet. I can buy right from the factory in Seattle...

sesmith · Jun 21, 2016

Tally Ho said:
.
I will check out the Duracells at SAMs Club. Is the case marked somehow to note the actual manufacturer ?

Yes, they say East Penn on them. You can see this on the online photos, as well, if you zoom in on them.

isaksp00 · Jun 21, 2016

I had a small (24DC) deep cycle (or so it was branded) from Walmart for about 6 yrs. It still works, though does not hold the charge as well as I'd like, so I bought a different brand from an Advance Auto parts (also branded as a marine deep cycle). I guess I can't complain too much about the 6 yrs. I don't have an electric start OB, so mine is purely for the house, and that is rarely used - just the audio system and occasionally nav and interior lighting. My main charging source is a solar panel.

Maine Sail · Jun 21, 2016

Rich Stidger said:
Maine Sail- Two questions:
What do you mean by "Pseudo deep cycle"?

Most all group 24, 27, 31, 4D & 8D flooded batteries are not deep cycle other than the sticker on them. The only real exceptions would be a Dyno 4D or 8D as well as Rolls.

Rich Stidger said:
Do you mean that the batteries listed above in "Top" and "Bottom" are not really DC batteries?

I am listing them by brands in terms of reliability I see and their ability to actually deliver the rated Ah capacity. There is a LOT of BS out there when it comes to Ah capacity especially in G 24, 27 & 31 batteries.

Rich Stidger said:
Second, what specifically are the reasons you rank Superior and Exide at the bottom? I am especially interested in Superior since I just bought a set because I could not get US 2200.

The Superior GC2 batteries are decent batteries but that list was taking into consideration 12V batteries. The only GC2 battery I generally find lacking are those made by JCI. The GC2 battery market is very competitive so most everyone is building a decent battery though Crown, US Battery, Rolls and Trojan do stand out.

The Superior 12V 24, 27, 31 etc. I find are nothing more than an average quality battery mostly sold as "black box" or sticker shop batteries for re-branding.

Rich Stidger · Jun 21, 2016

Thanks, Maine Sail for the explanation.

Batteries 2016

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SBO Weather and Forecasting Forum Jim & John

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