Hi All, Can anyone tell me how long I can reasonably expect a battery to last? I have 2 OEM batteries on my 32 footer, and have been told by the dealer that 2 years is about the useful life of these batteries. Is this so? If not, what is a reasonable life span? Thanks, Dave...
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That's a hard question
battery life depends on many factors: Type: Normal wet cell, AGM, GELL, golf cart battery? Deep cycle or starting. How the battery was/is used. Discharge to what level, what kind of battery charger you have, what is used to charge it? solar, wind, engine, shore. What kind of voltage regulator. That brings up the age of the battery when you bought it? Who manufactured it. The question is like how many miles will this car get before you junk it. Some batteries that would come from an OEM would die after one or two season, while others will last 5-10 or even 15 years, it depends on so many varitables that you would need a cyristal ball and then guess. When I buy a used boat the first thing I think about is to replace all battries on board. John USNret
battery life depends on many factors: Type: Normal wet cell, AGM, GELL, golf cart battery? Deep cycle or starting. How the battery was/is used. Discharge to what level, what kind of battery charger you have, what is used to charge it? solar, wind, engine, shore. What kind of voltage regulator. That brings up the age of the battery when you bought it? Who manufactured it. The question is like how many miles will this car get before you junk it. Some batteries that would come from an OEM would die after one or two season, while others will last 5-10 or even 15 years, it depends on so many varitables that you would need a cyristal ball and then guess. When I buy a used boat the first thing I think about is to replace all battries on board. John USNret
Rule of Thumb
Hi Dave, You should get about 200 full discharge cycles - means from full charge to 20% of full. The charger also plays a big roll in life. Chargers with controlled recharge and float cycles are best and above assumes this. Some chargers are designed to minimize sulfate build up which extends life. With a good charging system you should get at least 500 cycles which is 2 years if heavy use or 6 years of light use - the limit for standard marine battery. Battery design is a factor. Use only marine grade.
Hi Dave, You should get about 200 full discharge cycles - means from full charge to 20% of full. The charger also plays a big roll in life. Chargers with controlled recharge and float cycles are best and above assumes this. Some chargers are designed to minimize sulfate build up which extends life. With a good charging system you should get at least 500 cycles which is 2 years if heavy use or 6 years of light use - the limit for standard marine battery. Battery design is a factor. Use only marine grade.
I am not sure if this reasonable but ...
it is consistent with our experience. In the spring of 2004 we installed new top of the line Trojan Deep Cycle wet cell batteries for our house bank. We try to never to let them fall below 50% however on two (2) occasions we let them fall to near 0%. The first week of August 2006 (following our second complete discharge) all batteries in the house bank failed and had to be replaced. This about the same life we had gotten from cheaper West Marine Deep Cycle batteries. I have since returned to less expense batteries and plan to replace them every two (2) years. I too am interested in other’s experience with batteries.
it is consistent with our experience. In the spring of 2004 we installed new top of the line Trojan Deep Cycle wet cell batteries for our house bank. We try to never to let them fall below 50% however on two (2) occasions we let them fall to near 0%. The first week of August 2006 (following our second complete discharge) all batteries in the house bank failed and had to be replaced. This about the same life we had gotten from cheaper West Marine Deep Cycle batteries. I have since returned to less expense batteries and plan to replace them every two (2) years. I too am interested in other’s experience with batteries.
200-500 cycles
is the conventional wisdom, dending, as other said, on how they are treated. If you don't overly discharge them, which you apparently did twice, you have a proper 3 stage charger and you routinely desulfonate them, they will tend to the longer useful life. Most of the battery mfgs have useful info on their web sites to explain how to prolong their life. Don
is the conventional wisdom, dending, as other said, on how they are treated. If you don't overly discharge them, which you apparently did twice, you have a proper 3 stage charger and you routinely desulfonate them, they will tend to the longer useful life. Most of the battery mfgs have useful info on their web sites to explain how to prolong their life. Don
Mine are old
But still working. I store them in the basement in the winter and charge them every once in a while. Some things are made better - I had a ten year old Ford Ranger with the original battery until a few months ago
But still working. I store them in the basement in the winter and charge them every once in a while. Some things are made better - I had a ten year old Ford Ranger with the original battery until a few months ago
Three Years, Sometime four
...is what I average. That is with a three-stage charger, but frequent use. And, I would guess that is with an average eight amp draw all the time, averaging the always-on frig and freezer and our several-day weekly trips and the use of other DC items. Even tho the battery is being recharged by shore power, there is still a continuous draw on the house bank. I always top off and equalize several times a year. Having said that, the batteries don't just fail, they simply lose capasity. They go from a charge every three days on the hook, to two then to one. They are still servicable, just get more annoying. For the difference of $40 each for the four golf carts I have, between my Trojan and Sam's Club, I am going to try the Sam's club and change them out two to three years rather then three to four. FWIW, my starting battery lasted ten years. I replaced it with an Orbital AGM which has the exact same charging profile as a wet cell, so no need to worry about the type being charged. Rick D.
...is what I average. That is with a three-stage charger, but frequent use. And, I would guess that is with an average eight amp draw all the time, averaging the always-on frig and freezer and our several-day weekly trips and the use of other DC items. Even tho the battery is being recharged by shore power, there is still a continuous draw on the house bank. I always top off and equalize several times a year. Having said that, the batteries don't just fail, they simply lose capasity. They go from a charge every three days on the hook, to two then to one. They are still servicable, just get more annoying. For the difference of $40 each for the four golf carts I have, between my Trojan and Sam's Club, I am going to try the Sam's club and change them out two to three years rather then three to four. FWIW, my starting battery lasted ten years. I replaced it with an Orbital AGM which has the exact same charging profile as a wet cell, so no need to worry about the type being charged. Rick D.
Wow!!!
Thanks to all of you! I don't think I've ever had such a rapid and thorough response to a question here! I should have known, however, that there would not be a single answer <g>. There are a lot of variables in this business of maintaining a boat. I'll get the news on the condition of the present batteries tomorrow, and will just hope they've got some life remaining. Dave...
Thanks to all of you! I don't think I've ever had such a rapid and thorough response to a question here! I should have known, however, that there would not be a single answer <g>. There are a lot of variables in this business of maintaining a boat. I'll get the news on the condition of the present batteries tomorrow, and will just hope they've got some life remaining. Dave...
You get what you pay for
An old saying with lead acid batteries, very few die a natural death, most are murdered at an early age. I install and service solar systems and have seen alot of battery fatalaties. Cheap batteries that are tortured will last 2 years max. Top of the line batteries that have alot of TLC will go 7-10 years. Some systems I have installed with industrial size battery banks will last more than 20 years. I have a set of Concorde AGM's that are 11 years old, cycled to about 70% all the time and have seen probably close to 2000 cycles and still have about 80% original capacity. The key is to not discharge too deeply and bring them back to full charge immediately when practical. The worst thing you can do to a lead acid battery is to let it sit below 80% for any extended period of time. IMHO, the best batteries out there for boats are the Concorde AGM's. I know alot of people will disagree with me on that one, But if a battery will last 3 times as long, never spill, gas, or need maintenance, and costs 50- 75% more thats the one I want.
An old saying with lead acid batteries, very few die a natural death, most are murdered at an early age. I install and service solar systems and have seen alot of battery fatalaties. Cheap batteries that are tortured will last 2 years max. Top of the line batteries that have alot of TLC will go 7-10 years. Some systems I have installed with industrial size battery banks will last more than 20 years. I have a set of Concorde AGM's that are 11 years old, cycled to about 70% all the time and have seen probably close to 2000 cycles and still have about 80% original capacity. The key is to not discharge too deeply and bring them back to full charge immediately when practical. The worst thing you can do to a lead acid battery is to let it sit below 80% for any extended period of time. IMHO, the best batteries out there for boats are the Concorde AGM's. I know alot of people will disagree with me on that one, But if a battery will last 3 times as long, never spill, gas, or need maintenance, and costs 50- 75% more thats the one I want.
WM Gels got 10 plus years
We had a set of West Marine Gel that lasted for 10 plus years. The best thing about these batteries is there was never a maintenance issue. A good charging system (Xantrex Smart Charger) and away you go. We leave the charger on 24 x 7 and leave the ice box on too. I think that you dealer has given you the straight scoop on these OEM batteries. You may get a little longer, but not much.
We had a set of West Marine Gel that lasted for 10 plus years. The best thing about these batteries is there was never a maintenance issue. A good charging system (Xantrex Smart Charger) and away you go. We leave the charger on 24 x 7 and leave the ice box on too. I think that you dealer has given you the straight scoop on these OEM batteries. You may get a little longer, but not much.
Fortunate to live 15 minuets.....
Away from a battery mfg that has a outlet store. Crown Battery in Fremont Oh is a short distance and so buying blemished factory fresh every three years is my solution. I empoyed a .5 amp solar panel with the last set of two batteries but could not get to the fourth year. One battery died at the end of the third season and it's mate died during winter storage. Two years are the best but sometimes three works too but that's a gamble.
Away from a battery mfg that has a outlet store. Crown Battery in Fremont Oh is a short distance and so buying blemished factory fresh every three years is my solution. I empoyed a .5 amp solar panel with the last set of two batteries but could not get to the fourth year. One battery died at the end of the third season and it's mate died during winter storage. Two years are the best but sometimes three works too but that's a gamble.
It depends,
a cheap battery could last from 1-6 years and a quality one will probably last from 2-4 years. The difference in price for a discount store battery usually reflects the type of warranty not the quality. Keep them charged and do not discharge rapidly or deeply and they should last longer. Had one burn in one week and another went almost went seven years before becoming to weak.
a cheap battery could last from 1-6 years and a quality one will probably last from 2-4 years. The difference in price for a discount store battery usually reflects the type of warranty not the quality. Keep them charged and do not discharge rapidly or deeply and they should last longer. Had one burn in one week and another went almost went seven years before becoming to weak.
Deep Cycle Size 27 Nautilus Gold
Latest batteries are a pair of size 27 Nautilus Gold Deep Cycle and I have been getting 5 years out of this set as wel as the previous two. I do switch over every trip to charge both and take them home over the winters and charge them with a 10 amp + trickle charge and then 2 amps to 'finish'/ top them off every 4 weeks. If they get low during the season with too little motoring, I hook up a 10 amp automatic charger and then switch to manual 2 amp 'finish' for another hour or more. I paint the purhase date on them so I always know which is the oldest and check the charge with my 'smart charge' battery switch with led indicators. Check water levels at least once per season and during the winter charging cycles.
Latest batteries are a pair of size 27 Nautilus Gold Deep Cycle and I have been getting 5 years out of this set as wel as the previous two. I do switch over every trip to charge both and take them home over the winters and charge them with a 10 amp + trickle charge and then 2 amps to 'finish'/ top them off every 4 weeks. If they get low during the season with too little motoring, I hook up a 10 amp automatic charger and then switch to manual 2 amp 'finish' for another hour or more. I paint the purhase date on them so I always know which is the oldest and check the charge with my 'smart charge' battery switch with led indicators. Check water levels at least once per season and during the winter charging cycles.
AS many have already said, depends on several factors, but primarily on how much you use them and the quality of your charger. I use my boat a lot, year round. I am perfectly content with the service I get out of the Wal Mart Max deep cycles. The only ones I have had to replace were replaced free under warranty. This is after Katrina came along, and blew my wind generator into the water. The house bank was shorted for over two months. Both batteries were totally shot. They were 14 months old. My local Wally World replaced both, even after I told them what happened to them. Told me it didn't matter, that the free replacement was 18 months. PERIOD
I typically get
5-7 years out of middle-of-the-road wet cell Group 24 batteries. I keep them up by alternating a 5-watt solar panel on them each time I leave the boat. My batteries don't have much to do in life other than start the diesel and run some basic electronics while under sail. I tend to use very little house power as I prefer things like oil lanterns and candles, self-contained and powered CD players, and the like, when at anchor. I connect up to AC shore power when I infrequently stop at a transient marina. I like the Group 24's because they are relatively inexpensive and easy to pick up and take home over the winter where they are maintained by a trickle charger.
5-7 years out of middle-of-the-road wet cell Group 24 batteries. I keep them up by alternating a 5-watt solar panel on them each time I leave the boat. My batteries don't have much to do in life other than start the diesel and run some basic electronics while under sail. I tend to use very little house power as I prefer things like oil lanterns and candles, self-contained and powered CD players, and the like, when at anchor. I connect up to AC shore power when I infrequently stop at a transient marina. I like the Group 24's because they are relatively inexpensive and easy to pick up and take home over the winter where they are maintained by a trickle charger.
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