Battery selection

[Joker2]

I need two new batteries, looking at The Optima Blue top D31 & D27, any thoughts on these.

[Destroyer]

Overpriced. But then again, you get what you pay for.

I just bought a new battery for my boat. Got it at BJ's. It's an Exide Battery and has 1000 Marine Cranking Amps. Most of the other batteries I looked at in a LOT of stores had between 750 and 825 Marine Cranking Amps. None had over 900, so this one seems to be pretty good.. and the price was right in my range, $79.99. Not sure how it stacks up against the Optima, but for the price this one seems to be far above the competition. you might want to check it out. If you're interested I'll get you the model number tonight when I come home from work.

[Joker2]

Thanks, I also saw a couple at Sears that looked good.

[nymack66]

Its totally up to you, I went with the none AGM Marine battery with cost been the reason. The AGM'S boast a lot of things see below. However you must know its not recommended for you to mix or connect in parallel with NONE AGM's also check your charger verify it will charge a AGM battery. Mine has a manual switch ...Hope this helps..

AGM batteries are a newer type of sealed battery using "Absorbed Glass Mats", or AGM between the plates. This is a very fine fiber Boron-Silicate glass mat. The electrolyte (acid) is contained in the glass mats and will not spill, even if broken. This means that these batteries are non-hazardous, resulting in lower shipping costs. As there is no liquid to freeze and expand, they are practically immune from freezing damage as well.

AGM's do not have any liquid to spill, and even under severe overcharge conditions hydrogen emission is far below the 4% max specified for aircraft and enclosed spaces. The plates in AGM's are tightly packed and rigidly mounted, and will withstand shock and vibration better than any standard battery.

Nearly all AGM batteries are "recombinant" - what that means is that the Oxygen and Hydrogen recombine INSIDE the battery. These use gas phase transfer of oxygen to the negative plates to recombine them back into water while charging and prevent the loss of water through electrolysis. The recombining is typically 99+% efficient, so almost no water is lost.

Charging voltages are the same for AGM batteries as any standard battery. The internal resistance is extremely low and there is virtually no heating of the battery even under heavy charge and discharge currents.

AGM's have a very low self-discharge. 1% to 3% per month is typical. This allows the battery to sit in storage for much longer periods without charging than standard batteries.

[eaj]

I need two new batteries, looking at The Optima Blue top D31 & D27, any thoughts on these.
if you have the extra money go with the optima i currently own 3 and i leave them in all winter come spring turn the key and start one of them is 5 years old

[bradford]

I've had good service from Interstate Megatron deepcycle batteries. Had them in 5 different boats now.

[reelapeelin]

Whatever brand battery you decide on, consider installing an onboard battery charger...makes batteries "LIVE" longer in my experience...I've got two AC Delcos that stay on the charger(just plug it in) that are no kiddin about 9 years old and they are as HOT as the day I left K Mart with them...since then I've installed a smaller charger for the cranking and accessory batteries and feel it has extended the service life on those as well...batteries like to be hot and respond well to keeping a FULL charge...Guest makes the two chargers I use...:clap:

[Curapa]

I've had good service from Interstate Megatron deepcycle batteries. Had them in 5 different boats now.


Do you get them for a low price like myself from the Interstate shop in Springfield?

If not check it out. Last time I went I got a marine starting an deep cycle for $35 each, comes with a 1 year warranty.

[Destroyer]

No matter what brand of battery you buy, the ultimate object of your selection should not be price, it should be the amount of reserve cranking you have in your battery. Although marine batteries are rated slightly different, (CCA vs MCA) the result is the same. It's a scale to let you know how much power your battery has.

In all cases DO NOT......EVER!!!.... use a regular car battery in a marine application. Automotive batteries are not made to withstand the deep drain/recharge cycles that the typical marine battery encounters. You can completely ruin a brand new automotive battery in as little as 30 outings on a boat.

[macojoe]

I have been using car battery's for 15 years now!
In that time I have bought 5 batterys and the 2 in there now are still great after 5 years!
They cheaper, last longer, and the warr is a ton longer!
As long as you are using then for starters they are great, its the deep cycle use of discharging and charging that will kill them, I leave in my boat all winter also, as a charged battery will not freze but a dead battery will.

[Destroyer]

I have been using car battery's for 15 years now!
In that time I have bought 5 batterys and the 2 in there now are still great after 5 years!
They cheaper, last longer, and the warr is a ton longer!
As long as you are using then for starters they are great, its the deep cycle use of discharging and charging that will kill them, I leave in my boat all winter also, as a charged battery will not freze but a dead battery will.

Truth be told, there's more than one time I've used an auto battery...with good results... BUT, I didn't make that up about not using a car battery. It comes straight from Exide. And I'd be willing to bet any battery maker will say almost the same thing. You're 100% correct, it's the deep cycle that kills them.. in as little as 30 cycles according to Exide.
So, to my way of thinking, it's just 100% safer to have the proper equipment.

[macojoe]

Yes on a deep cycle but on a starting battery I think it is propaganda from the battery company's so they can charge more and give less warrt, but that's me.

I agree to disagree with ya :beer:

[shagnski]

Automotive batteries will work fine as a STARTING battery however the best automotive batteries (calcium positive and calcium neg plate) will suffer a much shorter life if deeply cycled. For mixed aplications or for more reaserve look for a hybrid battery ( one calcium plate one low antimony plate) or a true deep cycle (two low antimony plates) or an AGM. Calcium/Calcium will give you more "sit" time with out self discharging.