East Penn / Deka 6V

NYSail

NYSail

.
Jan 6, 2006
3,148
Beneteau 423 Mt. Sinai, NY
Hello all,

So have 2 agm lifeline 4Ds that are nearing 10 years old. I can still get a couple days out of them while on anchor with frig/freezer and all toys running. However I am thinking they are close to the end and would much rather replace sooner than have to replace when out on extended sail. Would like to go with 6V and was wondering the opinion of wet cell East Penn / Deka.
Going to miss the ease and no gassing of agm's but like the idea of the price and durability of the 6V.

Thanks
Greg
 
D

dlochner

.
Jan 11, 2014
13,114
Sabre 362 113 Fair Haven, NY
I'm looking at season 5 on my Deka FLA 6v GCs. Haven't had any issues with them.

We plan to leave on an extended cruise next year, they will be replaced before we leave so we have a fresh set of batteries for the cruise.
 
NYSail

NYSail

.
Jan 6, 2006
3,148
Beneteau 423 Mt. Sinai, NY
dlochner said:
I'm looking at season 5 on my Deka FLA 6v GCs. Haven't had any issues with them.

We plan to leave on an extended cruise next year, they will be replaced before we leave so we have a fresh set of batteries for the cruise.
Click to expand
What type of alt do you have?

I can get a 220 ah for about $125 a piece or $500 for the bunch.... verses over a $1,000 plus 150lbs a piece for the lifelines....
 
D

dlochner

.
Jan 11, 2014
13,114
Sabre 362 113 Fair Haven, NY
Until last season I had a super dumb 80A Hitachi. Last year I upgraded to a Compass Marine 90 A alternator with a Balmar external regulator. I"m also at a dock with shore power.

The price you quoted is about what I paid 5 years ago. And at 65 lbs each they are much easier move about.

You'll also need a lifting strap. https://amzn.to/2L9J1dE
 
NYSail

NYSail

.
Jan 6, 2006
3,148
Beneteau 423 Mt. Sinai, NY
Yes I had the 80 amp dumb alt as well until last year... went with Balmar 150 and MC 614 and got from Maine Sail. What a difference that alone makes! I can sit for hours with a few beers watching the read-outs after being on mooring for a few days.......
 
M

MitchM

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Jan 20, 2005
1,031
Nauticat 321 pilothouse 32 Erie PA
i got twice as many years out of a deka east penn house bank than i did with lifelines. i was quite disappointed in the lifelines.
 
NYSail

NYSail

.
Jan 6, 2006
3,148
Beneteau 423 Mt. Sinai, NY
MitchM said:
i got twice as many years out of a deka east penn house bank than i did with lifelines. i was quite disappointed in the lifelines.
Click to expand
the agms are very sensitive to SOC... love to be topped off after a discharge and if you cannot do that you will kill them quickly. That is what I have read at least.... I am fortunate that I plug in after the weekends being away so batteries get topped off. I want to move to mooring in a year or so when closer to retirement and rely on solar to do the charging.... think the flooded will be better in that case.
 
Maine Sail

Maine Sail

.
Feb 6, 1998
11,716
Canadian Sailcraft 36T Casco Bay, ME
NYSail said:
Hello all,

So have 2 agm lifeline 4Ds that are nearing 10 years old. I can still get a couple days out of them while on anchor with frig/freezer and all toys running. However I am thinking they are close to the end and would much rather replace sooner than have to replace when out on extended sail. Would like to go with 6V and was wondering the opinion of wet cell East Penn / Deka.
Going to miss the ease and no gassing of agm's but like the idea of the price and durability of the 6V.

Thanks
Greg
Click to expand
Read the May 2015 and August 2015 editions of Practical Sailor where AGM batteries were pitted head to head against one another in a PSOC battle. Those batteries are not a premium AGM compared to Lifeline, Northstar, Odyssey or Firefly. With AGM batteries you tend to get what you pay for... On the flip side, the East Penn GEL batteries are top notch. The only time we use East Penn AGM's is for use as starting batteries..
 
NYSail

NYSail

.
Jan 6, 2006
3,148
Beneteau 423 Mt. Sinai, NY
Maine Sail said:
Read the May 2015 and August 2015 editions of Practical Sailor where AGM batteries were pitted head to head against one another in a PSOC battle. Those batteries are not a premium AGM compared to Lifeline, Northstar, Odyssey or Firefly. With AGM batteries you tend to get what you pay for... On the flip side, the East Penn GEL batteries are top notch. The only time we use East Penn AGM's is for use as starting batteries..
Click to expand
I am looking at 6v wet cell east penn to replace the lifeline 4d agms.......
 
Maine Sail

Maine Sail

.
Feb 6, 1998
11,716
Canadian Sailcraft 36T Casco Bay, ME
NYSail said:
I am looking at 6v wet cell east penn to replace the lifeline 4d agms.......
Click to expand
Their 6V flooded GC2 batteries are a decent product at a good price..

Sorry, I incorrectly assumed you were sticking with AGM, as that is what you had before..
 
NYSail

NYSail

.
Jan 6, 2006
3,148
Beneteau 423 Mt. Sinai, NY
Maine Sail said:
Their 6V flooded GC2 batteries are a decent product at a good price..

Sorry, I incorrectly assumed you were sticking with AGM, as that is what you had before..
Click to expand
I was considering but I am worried about the fact that I want to move onto a mooring and do more traveling..... don't have a genset and will only have solar and the balmar alt for charging. I know the agms need to be brought back to 100% frequently or they will die a young death...... I saw the east penn 6v 220 ah and the price.... verses the Trojan T125. $80 per battery difference but will spend if the Trojans are that much better.

Thanks
Greg
 
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