Anyone tried Maxon Batteries

[Akapeterc]

My current Fullriver batteries 250 amph six volt less than three years old have started to fail on me. One has lost a cell and was very hot, after shopping around and getting some prices I’ve come up with these 220 amph 6 Volt Maxon batteries. Has anyone had any experience with them half the price of the full rivers.

[john61ct]

Where in the world are you located?

[Akapeterc]

Just north of Brisbane in Queensland Australia

[Uncle Bob]

Originally Posted by Akapeterc

Just north of Brisbane in Queensland Australia

Appears to only be available in your area.

[RaymondR]

How heavy are they in comparison to the Fullriver batteries?

[Akapeterc]

They are about 1 kg lighter

[RaymondR]

Originally Posted by Akapeterc

They are about 1 kg lighter

I have found that weight is often a good indicator of overall battery quality.

[GordMay]

Originally Posted by RaymondR

I have found that weight is often a good indicator of overall battery quality.

Indeed.
A FLA battery’s weight is about 1/4 to 3/8 electrolyte, with the balance being primarily lead. Generally, heavier batteries have a higher capacity.
Ie:
Battery amp/hours ~ Flooded Weight lbs (kg) ~ Dry Weight lbs (kg) 225 amp/hours ~ Wet 136.2 lbs (61.8 kg) ~ Dry 112.9 lbs (51.2 kg)
190 amp/hours ~ Wet 108.2 lbs (49.1 kg) ~ Dry 105.6 lbs (47.9 kg)
135 amp/hours ~ Wet 82.7 lbs (37.5 kg) ~ Dry 74.1 lbs (33.6 kg)

[john61ct]

If Lifeline or Odyssey aren't available, stick with Full River, but only if you really need sealed.

Unless good FLA are hard to come by and just as dear, which I suspect in Oz may be the case.

Rolls / Surrette may be available?

Take care of them better this time, if your situation allows.

[Akapeterc]

John601CT how do I look after them better? I’ve never let them go real flat I’ve got heaps of solar charging and a two-year-old e-power three stage 40 amp battery charger. 5 out of 6 batteries seem good reading 6.7volts, just the one that is only reading 4.3 Volts and heating up.

[Uncle Bob]

Originally Posted by Akapeterc

John601CT how do I look after them better? I’ve never let them go real flat I’ve got heaps of solar charging and a two-year-old e-power three stage 40 amp battery charger. 5 out of 6 batteries seem good reading 6.7volts, just the one that is only reading 4.3 Volts and heating up.

Being the penny pinching old B that I am I think I would be having a chat with either the original supplier or an establishment that could supply a second hand battery of similar characteristics as the others, replace the dud and get a few more years out of them all.

[RaymondR]

Originally Posted by Akapeterc

John601CT how do I look after them better? I’ve never let them go real flat I’ve got heaps of solar charging and a two-year-old e-power three stage 40 amp battery charger. 5 out of 6 batteries seem good reading 6.7volts, just the one that is only reading 4.3 Volts and heating up.

The first thing to do is to take the one that is heating up out of service, it is most probable that the reason it is heating up is that it is shorting out the batteries it is in parallel with.

I pretty well gave up on all but Trojan T105's, tried other brands but found they would not take near as much abuse as the Trojans. With about 480 Watts of panels and 4 banks of T105's I found I could get 7-8 years out of them. Bit of a nuisance having to keep them topped up with water but still worth it for the long lives.

[john61ct]

Originally Posted by Akapeterc

John601CT how do I look after them better?

Ensure high amps charging as often as possible, well over .2C, .4C would be better if possible.

Ensure you get back to 100% Full quickly as possible and very regularly, as verified checking endAmps with a known good ammeter, adjusting charge sources not to drop from Absorb V until then.

Generally staying above 50% SoC except occasional emergencies, shallower the better, certainly never dropping below 30% if you can help it, and consider "dead flat" knocking many hundreds of cycles off lifespan.

Those two combined, PSOC abuse plus too deep discharging can lose 80% of lifespan, even murder a bank in a single season, but in less extreme form are the norm on 90% of cruising boats.

Have you got a quality SoC meter? Relying on low voltage for your usage cutoff is way inaccurate.

Make sure Absorption voltage is set as per mfg spec, as measured at the bank.

All charge sources should be temp compensated.

What are the avg temps where your batts are installed?

Also, don't let them sit isolated too long without topping up. Don't let parasitic loads at the dock keep them cycling, cheap starter batt can buffer a power supply if needed.

[john61ct]

Originally Posted by RaymondR

Trojan T105's

Yes FLA are much more robust than AGM, last longer and in most markets cheaper too.

Trojan RE series better, Rolls Surette even better but priced accordingly.

The Australian market drank the AGM koolaid, that and killer import duties, getting very pricey to source anything better than Chinese AGMs there apparently.

[john61ct]

Originally Posted by Uncle Bob

Being the penny pinching old B that I am [emoji3][emoji3] I think I would be having a chat with either the original supplier or an establishment that could supply a second hand battery of similar characteristics as the others, replace the dud and get a few more years out of them all.[emoji2]

Not a good idea if long-term cruising to primitive locations. Or any mission critical use case,

Better to replace proactively long before failure odds increase, no surprises.

Coastal weekend cruising is different of course, your Starter will likely get you home safely.