Picking Starter/DP Batteries

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GonzoF1

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Sep 20, 2015
123
Navigator 4200 Classic New Bern, NC
In a previous thread, I was given the advice to do 3 Group 27 or 31 batteries as a single starter bank (2xVolvo TAM63L) . Should I use dual purpose or dedicated starter batteries for this? What should I look for in picking them? Will the standard issue Duracell offering from Batteries Plus do well for this task or should I look elsewhere? I don't know how to figure out who the manufacturer is well enough to make an educated decision.

I plan on 6x Trojan 105's for the house bank, but I don't think Trojan makes start or DP batteries.

Please help :)
 
Bill Roosa

Bill Roosa

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Jun 6, 2006
6,990
currently boatless wishing Harrington Harbor North, MD
not at all sure you need 3 batteries as a single starter bank. Perhaps single starter and house was meant.
Consider the following common occurance:
After the shower the First Mate pulls out the 1000 watt hair dryer and runs it for 10 minutes. 1000 watts at 12 volts is 83 amps for 10 minutes. Your starter runs for maybe 15 seconds worst case and most are rated at around a 1.3 kW power so only slightly more current. The deep cycle batteries will handle this kind of load pretty easily (although they do complain towards the end)
 
Maine Sail

Maine Sail

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Feb 6, 1998
11,709
Canadian Sailcraft 36T Casco Bay, ME
It's a 42' power boat with twin Volvo diesels and a genset. An 8D is a common start battery for this config but a bear to move in and out. Even the trucking industry has moved towards 2-3 G-31's in parallel vs. one 8D..
 
G

GonzoF1

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Sep 20, 2015
123
Navigator 4200 Classic New Bern, NC
So how do I make a good decision on the maker of straight starter or a D/P battery?
Do they say East Penn or JCI on them somewhere?
 
G

GonzoF1

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Sep 20, 2015
123
Navigator 4200 Classic New Bern, NC
So the golfcart place is recommending their NAPA batteries over Trojans for the house bank. Heavier was his pitch. They are supposed to be East Penn and are fairly inexpensive. Any issues with these that y'all are aware of? 120AH@75A
 
Maine Sail

Maine Sail

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Feb 6, 1998
11,709
Canadian Sailcraft 36T Casco Bay, ME
GonzoF1 said:
So the golfcart place is recommending their NAPA batteries over Trojans for the house bank. Heavier was his pitch. They are supposed to be East Penn and are fairly inexpensive. Any issues with these that y'all are aware of? 120AH@75A
Click to expand

It sounds like he is trying to sell you the NAPA stickered version of the Deka GC15. The GC15 is a 230Ah battery with a reserve minute rating of 120 minutes at 75A. Reserve minutes and Ah capacity are not the same.

That battery will run for 20 hours at an 11.5A load @77F. 11.5A is the Ah capacity rated load or the 20 hour Ah rating for that particular battery.. At 75A it will only run for two hours and this is called reserve minutes or reserve capacity rating at 75 amps....
 
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GonzoF1

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Sep 20, 2015
123
Navigator 4200 Classic New Bern, NC
I guess I need to go back to your other page and figure out if that is good or not. I mean, for $100 each, it SEEMS like it is. But I can't seem to retain all the info you give us about batteries. So it probably isn't.
 
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Ron20324

Ron20324

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Jan 22, 2008
8,050
Beneteau 323 Annapolis MD
I went to Sam's Club for batteries. They had the flooded,Duracell deep ones, size 31, for such a good price (it's been years) I bought three, not just the 2 i went for. Penn battery.
 
G

GonzoF1

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Sep 20, 2015
123
Navigator 4200 Classic New Bern, NC
Ron20324 said:
I went to Sam's Club for batteries. They had the flooded,Duracell deep ones, size 31, for such a good price (it's been years) I bought three, not just the 2 i went for. Penn battery.
Click to expand
For the D-P, I will probably go that route too.
 
Maine Sail

Maine Sail

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Feb 6, 1998
11,709
Canadian Sailcraft 36T Casco Bay, ME
GonzoF1 said:
Is GC15 just a physical size difference to the Sam's Club GC2's?
Click to expand
The EGC2 at Sam's is also the Deka GC15.. GC15 is just Deka's model #.. The Sam's GC2 is the equivalent battery to the Deka GC10...
 
G

GonzoF1

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Sep 20, 2015
123
Navigator 4200 Classic New Bern, NC
Maine Sail said:
The EGC2 at Sam's is also the Deka GC15.. GC15 is just Deka's model #.. The Sam's GC2 is the equivalent battery to the Deka GC10...
Click to expand
I will either use 6 or 8 based on space (see drawing in other thread). So considering my usage needs, I suspect that either the NAPA or the Sam's EGC2 should be fine for my house bank. TBH, I think the NAPA batteries at a large golf cart dealer going to be newer than the ones on the shelf at Sam's (however I don't know return policy). The guy on the phone mentioned a date stamp of L5 or M5 when I mentioned age. The bummer is that he won't take my old 8D's as core.

I guess I will grab three Group 27's from Batteries Plus.

Acceptable?
 
G

GonzoF1

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Sep 20, 2015
123
Navigator 4200 Classic New Bern, NC
I suppose the quick follow-up question would be: I assume if they are tough enough for golf cart/truck use, the NAPA batteries described above will hold up under the rigors of marine use? Meaning, in the bilge of a motoryacht going 20 knots?
 
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