Batteries, How does one make the best of a battery and which one would be the bestr purchase?
- Thread starter r.w.landau
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For me
I have recently switched from regular deep cycles, to golf cart batteries. The reason is mostly monetary. Four batteries equals a 450ah bank. For 300 bucks you just can't do it any other way, and the golf carts have a reputation for not only a long life span, but the ability to be abused and continue to take a charge. I just don't see the bucks for the AGM's. The cost is more than double, and so far no one has convinced me that they last twice as long. I don't mind adding water from time to time. As for care, I have a three stage charger, which is turned on once a week or so for a couple of days. Other than that, I basically ignore them.
I have recently switched from regular deep cycles, to golf cart batteries. The reason is mostly monetary. Four batteries equals a 450ah bank. For 300 bucks you just can't do it any other way, and the golf carts have a reputation for not only a long life span, but the ability to be abused and continue to take a charge. I just don't see the bucks for the AGM's. The cost is more than double, and so far no one has convinced me that they last twice as long. I don't mind adding water from time to time. As for care, I have a three stage charger, which is turned on once a week or so for a couple of days. Other than that, I basically ignore them.
I have a
friend who has abused his Wal*Mart deep cycle batts and had zero issues. They have been left on board his Mako for three winters and gone undercharged due to a fried alternator on his out board motor that left the batts so flat they could not even turn it over. Still these Wal*Mart batteries keep on ticking. The warranty Wal*Mart offers is the same as all the other big battery sellers. They also weigh within ounces of other deep cycle batteries of the same class size. If I were buying new 12V batts I'd buy them at Sam's, Wal*Mart or my local battery wholesaler who also has good deals. I would never buy batteries from a "marine" store but that's just me..
On the power boat I had a few years ago it had four Sam's Club CG2 6V golf cart batteries. They were four yeas old when I bought the boat and had run a very large inverter and a bow thruster and had only been charged with a so called "dumb" alternator regulator and were no worse for the wear. Prior to that boat I only ever bought Trojan Batteries but the reliability of the Sam's Club GC2's, and Trojan's OUTRAGEOS recent price increases, have made me re-think this.
At about $66.00 - 69.00 each, depending on the Sam's Club you buy from, the GC2's represent a good value at less than HALF price of a Trojan T105..
If you buy deep cycle batts from a Wal*Mart consider buying them from your highest volume local store or who turns inventory. Also buying them in the spring, when they are flying off the shelves, will help assure you get fresh batteries...
friend who has abused his Wal*Mart deep cycle batts and had zero issues. They have been left on board his Mako for three winters and gone undercharged due to a fried alternator on his out board motor that left the batts so flat they could not even turn it over. Still these Wal*Mart batteries keep on ticking. The warranty Wal*Mart offers is the same as all the other big battery sellers. They also weigh within ounces of other deep cycle batteries of the same class size. If I were buying new 12V batts I'd buy them at Sam's, Wal*Mart or my local battery wholesaler who also has good deals. I would never buy batteries from a "marine" store but that's just me..
On the power boat I had a few years ago it had four Sam's Club CG2 6V golf cart batteries. They were four yeas old when I bought the boat and had run a very large inverter and a bow thruster and had only been charged with a so called "dumb" alternator regulator and were no worse for the wear. Prior to that boat I only ever bought Trojan Batteries but the reliability of the Sam's Club GC2's, and Trojan's OUTRAGEOS recent price increases, have made me re-think this.
At about $66.00 - 69.00 each, depending on the Sam's Club you buy from, the GC2's represent a good value at less than HALF price of a Trojan T105..
If you buy deep cycle batts from a Wal*Mart consider buying them from your highest volume local store or who turns inventory. Also buying them in the spring, when they are flying off the shelves, will help assure you get fresh batteries...
I have a relatively small boat. My solution is...
My solution is (2) group 27s (from Costco), a Honda EU20000, and a 20 amp charger. I was considering adding a third battery, but I think the generator weighs about the same as a third battery and so I went that way. With this solution, I now can carry a great deal of power with me. My biggest power users are the car stereo, the tillerpilot, and the laptop. I use the laptop for navigation, TV and DVD. The Davis Megalight helps save a lot of power at anchor. I have no refrigeration. This is my first season with this setup but it appears that one hour a day running the generator (while the charger is in bulk mode) keeps me good, then I top off the batteries at the end of the trip. The generator runs at the lowest throttle setting and is very quiet. I think the generator will get about 15 hours on one gallon of gas, but since I keep topping it off I'm not sure. My longest trip has been 7 nights.
My solution is (2) group 27s (from Costco), a Honda EU20000, and a 20 amp charger. I was considering adding a third battery, but I think the generator weighs about the same as a third battery and so I went that way. With this solution, I now can carry a great deal of power with me. My biggest power users are the car stereo, the tillerpilot, and the laptop. I use the laptop for navigation, TV and DVD. The Davis Megalight helps save a lot of power at anchor. I have no refrigeration. This is my first season with this setup but it appears that one hour a day running the generator (while the charger is in bulk mode) keeps me good, then I top off the batteries at the end of the trip. The generator runs at the lowest throttle setting and is very quiet. I think the generator will get about 15 hours on one gallon of gas, but since I keep topping it off I'm not sure. My longest trip has been 7 nights.
Battery Water
My batteries failed prematurely because they are very difficult to access.. I found this at Bass Pro .. a great way to easily keep batteries watered correctly.. I’ve asked the Practical Sailor magazine guys to do a test.. don’t know if they are going to do it or not.. Mine has been in service for 6 months and seems to work fine.. Takes less than 5 minutes to do battery water.
My batteries failed prematurely because they are very difficult to access.. I found this at Bass Pro .. a great way to easily keep batteries watered correctly.. I’ve asked the Practical Sailor magazine guys to do a test.. don’t know if they are going to do it or not.. Mine has been in service for 6 months and seems to work fine.. Takes less than 5 minutes to do battery water.
Ditto on Quick Fill
I used this system on my old boat. It was a hunter 35.5 and the batteries were in a imposssible location to refill the lost water. Works great I used to have to replace the batteries about every other year because of water issues. Have a Catalina 387 now and filling batteries is no a problem.
I used this system on my old boat. It was a hunter 35.5 and the batteries were in a imposssible location to refill the lost water. Works great I used to have to replace the batteries about every other year because of water issues. Have a Catalina 387 now and filling batteries is no a problem.
can someone name them?
There are only three or, at most, four battery manufacturers om the U.S. but who obvioulsy market their product under a myriad of different labels. Buying them at Walmart or Target, etc... is too vague in that any of the mfgs can and do sell through these retailers which means at any given time, unless you know what you're looking at, you have no clue what battery you are actually buying and it's just dumb luck if you get the best buy or the best quality.
Also, be very careful when it comes to these discount retailers as it is typical for the mdgs to distribute at a discount to them only that portion of inventory which is older.
In my perhaps naive opinion, you may very well get lucky but it seems a false economy when for a few bucks more (when measured over years), it may not be such a good deal to buy cheap batteries.
There are only three or, at most, four battery manufacturers om the U.S. but who obvioulsy market their product under a myriad of different labels. Buying them at Walmart or Target, etc... is too vague in that any of the mfgs can and do sell through these retailers which means at any given time, unless you know what you're looking at, you have no clue what battery you are actually buying and it's just dumb luck if you get the best buy or the best quality.
Also, be very careful when it comes to these discount retailers as it is typical for the mdgs to distribute at a discount to them only that portion of inventory which is older.
In my perhaps naive opinion, you may very well get lucky but it seems a false economy when for a few bucks more (when measured over years), it may not be such a good deal to buy cheap batteries.
Aren't all batteries created equal?
Years ago there were major differences but with manufacturing being what it is today, the batteries are equal. I'm pretty sure that's what I read about flashlight batteries anyway. Just get the newest one you can find.
I went to Costco and got 6v golf cart batteries $66, I am almost sure they were (are) made by Interstate. I'll have to look to be sure.
I also understand that leaving our battery chargers plugged in a charging 24/7 lowers the lifespan of any battery. The batteries are made the same, it's the chargers that are different and they are the key to a batteries life expectancy. Not the battery itself.
All batteries are created equal
the battery chargers are not
JMO
Keep it up,
Ctskip
Years ago there were major differences but with manufacturing being what it is today, the batteries are equal. I'm pretty sure that's what I read about flashlight batteries anyway. Just get the newest one you can find.
I went to Costco and got 6v golf cart batteries $66, I am almost sure they were (are) made by Interstate. I'll have to look to be sure.
I also understand that leaving our battery chargers plugged in a charging 24/7 lowers the lifespan of any battery. The batteries are made the same, it's the chargers that are different and they are the key to a batteries life expectancy. Not the battery itself.
All batteries are created equal
the battery chargers are not
JMO
Keep it up,
Ctskip
Here are a few...
Douglass, Crown, East Penn/American/Deka, Johnson Controls, GNB/Exide, Interstate, Rolls, Trojan & Superior to name a few and I know I forgot a couple..
Douglass, Crown, East Penn/American/Deka, Johnson Controls, GNB/Exide, Interstate, Rolls, Trojan & Superior to name a few and I know I forgot a couple..
I asked that question to an industry insider
He told me that we are down to three battery mfg. in the U.S. The biggest (union carbide) produces 75% of all batteries in the States. Auto, golf, marine, aircraft, ect. They are then sold to wholesalers who then slap labels on and market them. That's not to say that specs are all the same, just that the mfg. happens at one company. No one can argue that auto batteries are the same as deep cycles, but apparently the production happens at the same factory.
Now this may be all bunk, but that was the info I was given.
Pray for Wind,
Lugeman
He told me that we are down to three battery mfg. in the U.S. The biggest (union carbide) produces 75% of all batteries in the States. Auto, golf, marine, aircraft, ect. They are then sold to wholesalers who then slap labels on and market them. That's not to say that specs are all the same, just that the mfg. happens at one company. No one can argue that auto batteries are the same as deep cycles, but apparently the production happens at the same factory.
Now this may be all bunk, but that was the info I was given.
Pray for Wind,
Lugeman
Don't really think that they are all created equal.
I had WM Gel batteries in my previous boat. The first set lasted for 10.5 years.
No maintenance (period).
I was so pleased with these batteries that I installed them in my new Hunter Vision 36 two years ago.
I agree that the proper charger makes all the difference but if you have flooded batteries and the do run low on water it will usually be the end of them.
AGM & Gel's are trully maintenance free.
Check out the weight of the same size battery. Normally the more expensive ones will have thicker plates (longer life). Then we can look at batteries like Rolls, which have been known to last for 20 years. So all batteries are created equal? I don't really think so.
I had WM Gel batteries in my previous boat. The first set lasted for 10.5 years.
No maintenance (period).
I was so pleased with these batteries that I installed them in my new Hunter Vision 36 two years ago.
I agree that the proper charger makes all the difference but if you have flooded batteries and the do run low on water it will usually be the end of them.
AGM & Gel's are trully maintenance free.
Check out the weight of the same size battery. Normally the more expensive ones will have thicker plates (longer life). Then we can look at batteries like Rolls, which have been known to last for 20 years. So all batteries are created equal? I don't really think so.
The thicker plates have to do with
what they are used for, as opposed to thinner plate batteries. I believe the thicker plate batteries are for deep cycle and the thinner plate ones are for starting. It could be the other way around though, my memory is starting to flutter on me, damned 60's. Each battery has a specific job. Match the battery to the job it has to do. The weight never bothered me so I have switched to two 6 volt golf cart batteries for the house and a single 12 for the start.I check the water once a year and don't leave the charger on when not there. I feel over charging kills more batteries than anything else.
Keep it up,
Ctskip
what they are used for, as opposed to thinner plate batteries. I believe the thicker plate batteries are for deep cycle and the thinner plate ones are for starting. It could be the other way around though, my memory is starting to flutter on me, damned 60's. Each battery has a specific job. Match the battery to the job it has to do. The weight never bothered me so I have switched to two 6 volt golf cart batteries for the house and a single 12 for the start.I check the water once a year and don't leave the charger on when not there. I feel over charging kills more batteries than anything else.
Keep it up,
Ctskip
AGM or GEL for me
The best way to make the most of your battery is to keep them charged - period.
But the propper charge is also important. Temperature compensation is a great feature. Also make sure that your charger is set up for your battery chemistry. Wet batteries and AGM batteries are different and the charger needs to be selected for the chemistry.
I have seen many alternatives but having a small 5 to 10 watt solar panel to keep the batteries topped while you are away is really great.
Also, to make the most of your batteries - have enough capacity so you dont discharge your bank more than 50 percent. Charge them back up quickly if possible.
The best way to make the most of your battery is to keep them charged - period.
But the propper charge is also important. Temperature compensation is a great feature. Also make sure that your charger is set up for your battery chemistry. Wet batteries and AGM batteries are different and the charger needs to be selected for the chemistry.
I have seen many alternatives but having a small 5 to 10 watt solar panel to keep the batteries topped while you are away is really great.
Also, to make the most of your batteries - have enough capacity so you dont discharge your bank more than 50 percent. Charge them back up quickly if possible.
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