Opinions on Costco's Deep Cell / Starter Battery

[caguy]

I was in Costco's Tire store and noticed that they have a Deep Cell / Starter combination battery for about half he price of WM's. It was rated at 115 amps. They also had deep cell batteries at 85 amps. I am asssuming they are amp hrs. I didn't look that closely since I recently bought one from WM.

 

[kloudie1]

Frank, ya probably looking at Reserve Capacity.. defined:
BCI defines it as "the number of minutes a new, fully-charged battery at 80ºF (27ºC) can be discharged at 25 amps and maintain a voltage equal to or higher than 1.75 volts per cell" (i.e., 10.5 volts for a 12-volt battery). This rating represents the time the battery will continue to operate essential accessories in the event of a charging system failure.
A battery with an RC rating of 115 would probably be in the vicinity of 50 ampere hours

 

[MafaldaII]

I bought two for one of my banks two years ago, so far so good. I read some place they are produced by Johnson Controls and selled by Costco as Kirkland.

 

[KorculaChris]

I bought two for one of my banks two years ago, so far so good. I read some place they are produced by Johnson Controls and selled by Costco as Kirkland.

There are only four manufacturers of batteries in the US. Johnson Controls is one, Gould is another, and I can no longer remember the others. All other brands are relabeled.

 

[Cpt. Jon]

I purchased a starter/house marine battery from Costco a few months ago, I have no complaints.

 

[larryw]

I heard there were only two, Trojan and another one. I bought my two house batts, 8D, at a truck supply place. They delivered them to my slip and I used my boom as a crane to lift them off the finger and lower them into the locker.

 

[Don S/V ILLusion]

In the U.S., there is Trojan, GNB, Exide, Lifeline, Delco, Interstate and Optima, to name some of the battery mfgs; there are others outside the U.S. It a crap shoot what you get from the big box stores as they often sell "stencil" batteries - that is, batteries with their own or some other company name which can often be manufactured to a standard consistent with their price pont. Just because it has a Kirkland stensil, it may be made by a number of different companies to Costco's, Sam's Club, etc.. specs.

This isn't to say they are bad batteries; only to suggest that the real origin can be vague.

 

[Stu Jackson]

Are people still buying batteries from WM?

Why??? They were, for a while in the 80s and early 90s, the only place to find them easily - not the only place to buy them, but easy to find and convenient.

However, for the last ten years, with everyone starting to do comparative shopping, it became apparent that they just are way overpriced. Period.

I researched and found American Battery and their distributor right here, pretty close to home and only four freeway exits past WM. Difference for the same battery? $130 vs. $95. Seems like a no-brainer?

The rest of the research, and the answer to the original qustion, has to do with the quality of the battery and where it comes from, and the major brand names, which someone will eventually provide (Trojan, Exide, American, Sears, anyone care to add and/or edit???). For that, I do not have an answer, but someone here should.

 

[mitiempo]

East Penn, which manufacturers Deka for themselves and some of West Marine's batteries has the largest single plant in the US. They melt their own lead, make their own cases, etc and have a very enviromentally consious factory.

 

[Richard Bryer]

That makes 11 manufacturers in the US by my count from the above postings. Is there really that many left?

 

[Maine Sail]

Just Two or Three Makers??

There are only four manufacturers of batteries in the US. Johnson Controls is one, Gould is another, and I can no longer remember the others. All other brands are relabeled.

I hear & see statements like this bantered around as fact often and while close it is not quite true. While there are only a hand full of US makers there are other choices than just Trojan & Exide or Trojan & Johnson Controls..

U.S. Battery - Stand alone brand builds there own batteries in three US plants.

Trojan - Stand alone brand build their batteries in the US

Johnson Controls - US maker of batteries for many name brands like Sears' DieHard, Auto Zone's Duralast, Wal*Mart's EverStart, Motorcraft, Optima, etc..

GNB/Exide - Makes Exide and many other "brands" her in the US

Superior - Small US battery maker who builds under their own brand and also does much private labeling.

Rolls/Surette - Nova Scotia maker of very high quality deep cycle batteries.

Deka/East Penn - Another large independent US battery maker located in PA. they make the batteries for American Battery and many others.

Concorde/Lifeline - Independent family owned maker of batteries in California.

Crown - Independent manufacturer in Ohio.


The above list is actual makers, who have factories, & build batteries for themselves and other brands.. There are probably a few more I missed but large number of the batteries are made by that list..

If you want to go to over seas you'll find Vision in China as the worlds larges sealed lead acid battery maker, GS Yuasa and many, many more that are imported here with a list too long to compile..

By the way good old American made AC Delco batteries are imported by Powermax and made in Ningbo, China !!!!

 

[Scott B]

Good list Maine, thanks it helps my search right now.

Am I correct in my thinking that just because one manufacturer is"labeling" batteries for someone else, does not make the " labelled" battery the same quality as the house brand.

 

[Joe]

Kirkland (costco) batteries

I'm on my second pair of Group 27's... deep cycle.. not the combo.. the first pair required practically no maintenance for the first 2 years, in year 3 I had to add water every few months.. as they approache the warranty life, I think it is 30 months. I finally replaced after about 42 months.... Now previously I had two WM sea gel's that gave me about 7 years... Replacement cost for the gel or agm types were well over $200 bucks apiece... add $50 to that if your dumb enough to buy them at west marine. So do the math... Costco batteries were about $65. that's 3.5 years for $130, West marine sea gels, 7 years for $450 plus !!

One more comment.... if you don't have a hard wired smart charger... get one.

Final comment... why is it that every year west marine seems to raise their prices another 10%?.... I know it's convenience, but geez...

 

[Skipper]

Re: Kirkland (costco) batteries

Have 3 costco batts, 2 G24 and 1 G27, with 2 selectors to enable any combination of power. This has been an overkill setup, even with week long stays in Catalina I couldn't kill 2 of them.
Then, for reasons I still can not discover, I missed the inspection schedule regarding the batts. When the thought finally popped into my head, after I noticed the lights dimming one evening to the beat of the music, I searched the log and found it had been 18 months. It took nearly a gallon of distilled to fill them. Closer inspection and monitoring of voltage revealed that all three had lost most of their stamina, even post refill. Now takes about 2-3 hours to discharge (down to 12v, or less) each batt, running only tiller pilot, gps, tridata, VHF. They are nearly toast. The only reason I haven't replaced them yet is that with 3, I can milk them awhile longer.
Total time - 45 months to date.

I sail and run the batts 2-4 days a week, every week. Charge with 2 x 1.5 amp chargers and 12 amp outboard alt. They have worked fine and may have lasted longer if someone had been a little more mindful, however am considering another brand for replacement, possibly maint free

 

[jibes138]

Even Better

I stopped in the local Sam's store today and they sell Energizer brand deep cycle batteries. They also sell Energizer 6 volt golf cart batteries. Prices were very competitive. Since these are energizers I can assume they will last a lot longer because of the energizer bunny on TV stating that they do.

 

[Stu Jackson]

I sail and run the batts 2-4 days a week, every week. Charge with 2 x 1.5 amp chargers and 12 amp outboard alt. They have worked fine and may have lasted longer if someone had been a little more mindful, however am considering another brand for replacement, possibly maint free

Notwithstanding your recognized lack of checking, your charging regimen appears to be seriously undercharging your batteries and never getting them up to full charge (float is NOT full!!!), which will kill 'em - 45 months is NOT very long - you shoud get five years out of batteries. When you buy new ones, you'll save yourself a lot of expense, and get an immediate return on your new battery investment, by buying and using a good three stage charger and equalizing your batteries. See the Ample Power Primer, technical Documents tab at www.amplepower.com

 

[nightowle]

costco batteries

I'm very impressed with the longevity of the 2 costco/kirkland batteries on my boat. They were put in by the PO, and both bats are at least 5 years old. I reconditioned them about 6 months ago and they are still serviceable. I'd definitely get this brand again.

 

[dvideohd]

well.... there is the desulfanator type products that might do some good.....

has anyone had any good luck trying to bring back a dead battery?...

--jerry

 

[Skipper]

Thanks Stu

Notwithstanding your recognized lack of checking, your charging regimen appears to be seriously undercharging your batteries and never getting them up to full charge (float is NOT full!!!), which will kill 'em - 45 months is NOT very long - you shoud get five years out of batteries. When you buy new ones, you'll save yourself a lot of expense, and get an immediate return on your new battery investment, by buying and using a good three stage charger and equalizing your batteries. See the Ample Power Primer, technical Documents tab at www.amplepower.com

I've assumed that since both chargers indicate "full" prior to sailing, that they have done their job.

 

[Stu Jackson]

Dead battery bring-bakc and equalization

well.... there is the desulfanator type products that might do some good.....has anyone had any good luck trying to bring back a dead battery?... /quote]

Jerry, Calder's Boatowner's Manual has a good page or two on trying that. Check the book out at a chandlery if you don't have it. Better yet, buy it here!

Equalization is a necessary step to do on all wet cell batteries, save some 6V based on the manufacturer's recommendations. I've heard from a friend that American Battery didn't recommend it for his 6Vs. Find out how and why at the Ample Power link, among others.