Deep cycle bat vs. deep cyc.e/starting?

SOUTHWEST · May-20-2004, 12:18 PM

I bought 2 115 AH deep cycle batteries at Costco about 3 years ago. My voltmeter suggests they are ready to be replaced. I noticed Costco now doesn't have the same deep cycle batteries I purchased, but batteries labeled "deep cycle/starting battery." Is this acceptable for a private boat application (bait tank, electronics, etc. charged by an alternator and occasionally shore power)? Or should I spend the big bucks and buy a straight deep cycle from West Marine?

Thanks,

Tom

midnightrambler · May-20-2004, 02:47 PM

tom call american battery 619 231-1580 better prices and quality than costco

Jack M · May-22-2004, 08:45 AM

Wal-Mart. Great warranty on Deep-Cycle. Been using them for years. Replaced both batteries three years ago and they are still as good as the day I bought them. Just my $.02 Jack

Sherrita · May-28-2004, 11:32 PM

Check "U.S. Battery", Kettner/Hawthorne 619/231-9771 :jo:

kepdawg · May-29-2004, 12:04 AM

Obviously there are a few places to get batteries.
The answer to your question and other questions here and now.
Yes, if you get the start/deep cycle batteries you'll be fine unless you
sit on the anchor for hours on end.
If you plan to over night anchor, running an anchor light, bait pump/bildge pump off and on, radio, and deck lights for a while? I'd go at least one nice deep cycle that you can count on and a dual start/deep batt.

What makes you think via the voltage gage that you need new lead and acid?
Have you checked water?
Tight clean connections, are the wires good/green?
Whats the voltage sitting no load.
Whats the voltage indicate while running?
Charging system working as per specs?
Have you charged them with a trickle charger?
Have you cycled the batteries in question and checked them after.
(cycled= drained all the way and fully re- charged?)
3 years is good for a boat batteries, but you can get 5-6 years with
this kind of up keep and cycle your deep cycle batteries 1-2 times a year...

SOUTHWEST · Jun-02-2004, 08:37 PM

Kep: Thanks for your thoughts. After the boat sits for a week after cycling (8 hour fishing trip with 5 hours of engines not running), I get 12.34 volts on one (handles electronics and engine) and 12.43 volts on another (used just for the engine). When I purchased the batteries, they read about 12.68 volts. Water levels are fine--I added a little bit of water a few months ago. My log shows steady deterioration in voltage over 3 years as one would expect. I might try your trickle charge suggestion. If I can get some more time out of the batteries, great. I think you need to get maximum life out of boat parts to keep the financial sanity.

Battery connections are clean and tight. Voltage on boat gauges shows over 14 volts when running.

I don't overnite except at the slip. I would like to go to Catalina, but the weekends are too crowded in the summer. So a deep/starting battery seems suitable.

The advantage of going Costco is that it's only about $100 plus tax for 2 new batteries. I'm going to check the other battery places recommended in this thread. Perhaps a simple multimeter check is not the best way to measure charging power, but it's only 45 gallons of fuel or so to replace the batteries. I'm also stressing a bit as the fish seem to have arrived.

Thanks for all of your replies,

Tom

sickcat · Jun-07-2004, 12:45 PM

IMO it is a no brainer. 3 year old starting battery? Change them out. The only exception would be 6 volt deep cycles from Rolls or Trojan used for non critical systems. Then you might get another couple of years depending on usage. I would use 6 volt pairs for the house side in any boat that has the room.

Kerry

Log of battery voltages - WOW!

Mots · Jul-26-2004, 11:53 AM

bumped..................for good reading/info purposes.

bertram31 · Jul-26-2004, 12:47 PM

Just a couple notes about this.

any 12 volt battery is not a true "deep cycle" battery.They are more designed for starting.A starting system draws a couple hundred amps real quick to get the engine turning and then recovers only to about 80% via a stock voltage regulator.

six volt batteries connected in parallel to make 12,18,24 volts is a true deep cycle system,etc golf cart.A deep cycle system is designed for a slow steady draw from utilites that need power supply.Because of the slow draw they need to be fully recharged after each duty cycle.

A duty cycle is not completely drained.It is designed to be at a 50% drain and then brought back up to 100%.Dont worry 50% drained is all the power you need at any given time it is just a spec thing.A six volt system can provide up to 750 duty cycles because of the plates in the battery compared to around two hundred in a 12 volt type battery.

For day trips a six volt is over kill unless you have maybe an inverter that will pull a lot af amps.You need to be able to recharge these batteries on a regular basis.Either a shore power charger or what i do recommend also is a aftermarket voltage regulator by Balmar.This regulator will allow a much longer charge to your batteries than a stock regulator.

There is a lot involved regarding this topic and many different ways of setting up a nice redundant system to match many different needs.Feel free to contact me personnaly about any specific designs.I have a lot of experience setting up electrical systems on yachts.

Jack

Mots · Jan-16-2005, 12:21 PM

Bumped again, since my fucking batteries are dead and I need to get new ones tomorrow

Kingfish · Jan-16-2005, 02:04 PM

Replaced both starting batteries (31 series) before New Years for the trip that never happened, they had been in the boat for 4 and 5 years. Not bad service.

I have a total of 4 batts. 2 8d's for house and the 2 31's for starting, 3 perko switches, 1 on the main panel , 2 in the engine room plus 2 combiners.

You have to be a fucking electrical engineer with a blue print to keep track of all that shit.

When the 8d's go I'll replace with golf cart batteries, getting to old to lift those suckers.