Deep cycle Battery Question

[dewers@race505.]

On my Proline I have two deep cycle batteries. I pulled them out to give them thier monthly charge. After this charge the most they are showing is 11.8V. Is it time to retire them and get new ones?

Thanks

Dave

[John F Jensen]

[Double Z]

Make sure the charger is working but it sounds like load testing the batteries is in order to check them. How old are they? Type? Do you have a starting battery and a house battery?

Sorry for all the questions but I wonder about them. I've got two on the boat, two in the trailer, and two in the truck. It's nice to know what works and what does not.

[dewers@race505.]

They are three years old according to the dates on them. I got them from the PO when I bought the boat. There are two idenical batteries. Do you think I shoul dget just one deep cycle for the starting motor and a house type battery for the fishfinder etc?
Thanks mucho

[riverplayer]

Odyssey Batteries | Battery Specifications

I replaced my AGM's with two 2150's and no more DC issues for a long while. Look um up and compare......These are worth EVERY penny!

[JUST-IN-TIME]

cabelas
has the best ones out there right now

AGM is the only way to go

[Kapdan]

You do not want to use a deep cycle battery for starting. The CCA (cold cranking amps), which is how a starting battery is rated, are not high enough. A deep cycle battery is rated in Amp Hours not CCA's. I think it is measured using a continuous 20 amp draw over a measured period of time. The starting battery is designed for a high current draw for a short period of time v. a low current draw over a long period of time. The internal construction of the plates is quite different between the two of them. A quality deep cycle battery is heavier due to the additional plates than a starting battery of the same group size.

Dan

[dewers@race505.]

so you are saying I should get a standard style battery for the starting motor and a deep cycle for the house battery?

[Halibut Howie]

Since you only have a 19' boat with probably very little house draw i recommend that you get two or more of the biggest marine starting batteries that will fit on your boat. Starting your motor comes right after not sinking in boat importance. I've got 4 on my 21' WA in a dual battery bank configuration. I'm adding a 5th for my future trip to BOLA. My electronics draw include radios, bilge and bait pumps, lights and fishfinder. Also occasionally use a 12vdc electric trolling motor off one of the banks so as not to draw down the other starting bank. They are 3 years old and at near full charge. But i recharge them immediately after use with a quality automatic battery charger at no more than 2.5 amps/battery. Batteries prematurely go bad if you do not recharge right after use. A high amperage fast charge is also not good for the battery's longivity. I get my GP 29 marine charging batteries at Walmart for about $65 each. They are made by Johnson Controls the largest battery manufacturer in the USA who make most of the batteries for the other dealers. So you can pay $120 at WM or half that at Walmart. In spite of all the hype there is no better, more cost-effective or longer lasting battery made than a wet cell. At work gel cell batteries historically have a 3-4 year lifecycle while wet cells last 10-15 years with proper maintenance on each battery type. Consequently, i'm a wet cell man.

HH

[Dirtguy]

West Marine has a great battery help section and an article on the "Perfect System." They describe one bank of standard large batts for starting and one bank of deep cycles for the house stuff.
West Marine - Make Boating Better with New Boating Gear from West Marine
DG

[Surg]

The cabelas batteries have very small terminals. like 1/4" studs if i remember correctly, but their specs look good on paper.
Odysseys are great for cranking large loads, but a bit more pricey.

I use the same AGM's WM sells, under a different label.

[bassnglass]

I have been using the Wallwart bateries for years. I believe they have a 3 year waranty . I take mine back every year to 18 months and they give me brand new ones. Got to love wallmarts return policie. No one there even knows how to test one.