|
|
19-11-2007, 15:51
|
#1
|
Registered User
Join Date: May 2006
Location: Nyack, NY
Boat: Westsail 32
Posts: 1,690
|
Best Battery
I know this thread will cause a lot of different opinions. I have to install three new batteries two for the house and one starting battery. I would like to hear opinions on what brand and type is best for each application and the reasons why?
|
|
|
19-11-2007, 15:59
|
#2
|
֍֎֍֎֍֎֍֎֍֎
Join Date: Apr 2006
Posts: 15,136
|
I would think a search of the existing threads would give you plenty of answers, the topic has come up often enough and there's nothing "new" on the market this week or month or year.
|
|
|
19-11-2007, 16:46
|
#3
|
Registered User
Join Date: Apr 2004
Location: Toronto
Boat: CS36Merlin, "La Belle Aurore"
Posts: 7,557
|
__________________
Rick I
Toronto in summer, Bahamas in winter.
|
|
|
19-11-2007, 16:59
|
#4
|
Registered User
Join Date: Jun 2005
Posts: 1,901
|
2xT105 for the house, any good Gp24 to start.
|
|
|
19-11-2007, 18:38
|
#5
|
Senior Cruiser
Join Date: Dec 2003
Location: Marlborough Sounds. New Zealand
Boat: Hartley Tahitian 45ft. Leisure Lady
Posts: 8,038
|
When you say best, do you mean " cost not a concern" ??
__________________
Wheels
For God so loved the world..........He didn't send a committee.
|
|
|
19-11-2007, 18:55
|
#6
|
Registered User
Join Date: Mar 2005
Location: FL
Boat: Far East Mariner 40
Posts: 652
|
I recently put in 4 trojan 105s, I am very happy with their performance. I paid $120/ea last winter from a dist in RI. I purchased a good starter batter from WM. I was more concerned with the house bank than the starter. As stated by wheels if cost and space is not a concern there are some honking very expensive very high Amp/hr batteries out there. I guess it all depends on your needs and pocketbook.
|
|
|
19-11-2007, 19:52
|
#7
|
Now on the Dark Side: Stink Potter.
Join Date: Aug 2003
Location: Palm Coast, Florida
Boat: Sea Hunt 234 Ultra
Posts: 3,962
|
I like DEKA, or East Penn:
EAST PENN manufacturing co., inc.: Lead-Acid Batteries; Battery Manufacturers; Thousands of Different Types of Batteries, Cable & Wire Product
Same as West Marine, but with a different label and price.
My previous housebank lasted 5 years, perhaps longer if I had not dried out a cell.
4 Six Volt golf cart batteries plus a 1000 AMP cranking power start battery cost me around $250.00 (US) or so.
The same units with a different label would probably be around $550.00
Had Rolls onboard when I bought the ship and they sure were good, but at 4 times the price I doubt they would last for 20 years. (Got 8 years, but I did not equalize at the time)
Some guys go for Gel Cell and all that, but for bang for the buck, the old lead-acid at the right price can not be beat.
__________________
Life is sexually transmitted
|
|
|
20-11-2007, 00:03
|
#8
|
Registered User
Join Date: Nov 2006
Location: Back in Northern California working on the Ranch
Boat: Pearson 365 Sloop and 9' Fatty Knees.
Posts: 10,466
|
I still refuse to buy from WM unless its an emergency. Battery wise I bought this year from American Battery in Ca. Three #31 for house and a #24 for the engine. The 31's are up to 130 amps a piece now. If you buy from a battery company, chances are they have not been warehoused long and stand a better chance of lasting longer.
__________________
"Life is not a journey to the grave with the intention of arriving safely in a pretty and well-preserved body, but rather to skid in broadside, thoroughly used up, totally worn out, and loudly proclaiming: Wow - what a ride!"
|
|
|
20-11-2007, 08:39
|
#9
|
Registered User
Join Date: May 2006
Location: Nyack, NY
Boat: Westsail 32
Posts: 1,690
|
In terms of price I am thinking $100-150 each. I think I want to stay with lead acid and there seems to be a lot of positive comments with in the community regarding the Trojen line. Will longevity of their deep cycle batteries really justify the cost over say something from Sears like a Die Hard? The foot print for my batteries on this boat take a normal size battery box.
Thanks
|
|
|
20-11-2007, 09:24
|
#10
|
Registered User
Join Date: Jan 2007
Posts: 497
|
Quote:
Originally Posted by cburger
In terms of price I am thinking $100-150 each. I think I want to stay with lead acid and there seems to be a lot of positive comments with in the community regarding the Trojen line. Will longevity of their deep cycle batteries really justify the cost over say something from Sears like a Die Hard? The foot print for my batteries on this boat take a normal size battery box.
Thanks
|
If you only have room for 2 batteries in your house bank you might want to stick with 12 volt units. If you put in two 6 volt and lose a cell, your whole bank is toast you're now down to 10.8 volts. With 12 volts you still have at least one battery at full voltage. Losing a cell is not common with good batteries but I prefer as much redundancy as is practical. If you have room for 4 X T105's that's a different story, it's a very cost effective solution, I would have gone that way if we had room.
For house bank you need good quality deep cycle batteries, cheaping out is a mistake, speaking from experience here. We put in a pair of Group 31's made by Exide rated at 115 amps each and they've worked very well, price was $125. I like lead acid flooded, I think the price/performance value is best with them. I like AGM for starting though, puts out a wallop of amps. 1000 amp AGM from Exide $179. Complicates charging, use a DuoCharge or EchoCharge to solve that problem.
Battery boxes come in at least two sizes for Grp24/27/31 batteries. Need to know for sure what you have. Battery boxes are cheap though.
|
|
|
20-11-2007, 12:09
|
#11
|
Registered User
Join Date: Nov 2005
Location: Ohio
Posts: 2,933
|
Just about any maker of golf cart deep cycle batteries 6/8/12 volt. The golf industry dwarfs the sailing, they spend large amounts of money developing very good deep cycle batteries for golf carts.
Go to Sams Club and buy whatever brand they carry. In this area (midwest) they will be Penn batteries, the 6 volt 120 AH can be had for ~ $55 each. We keep our 6v batteries for 4-5 years and then replace them. They don't give us any trouble after 4-5 years but hey, they're cheap.
|
|
|
20-11-2007, 12:20
|
#12
|
Registered User
Join Date: Sep 2007
Posts: 125
|
First
The best battery is a charged battery that has never been more than 50% discharged. In terms of retaining its original specified performance.
Second
The best battery is one that has strong robust plate attachments, look to AGM etc. Cause it won't fail prematurely if bounced around.
|
|
|
20-11-2007, 13:50
|
#13
|
Senior Cruiser
Join Date: Mar 2003
Location: Thunder Bay, Ontario - 48-29N x 89-20W
Boat: (Cruiser Living On Dirt)
Posts: 49,082
|
Quote:
Originally Posted by jscott
First
The best battery is a charged battery that has never been more than 50% discharged.
|
WELL SAID!
__________________
Gord May
"If you didn't have the time or money to do it right in the first place, when will you get the time/$ to fix it?"
|
|
|
21-11-2007, 07:29
|
#14
|
Registered User
Join Date: Sep 2007
Location: Shanghai, China
Boat: Dix 43 CC, steel, 43 ft
Posts: 149
|
I have been doing quite some research into batteries, the building of my boat starting soon. A friend of mine brought my attention to these batteries:
Surrette Battery
Any ideas about those, or experiences?
Thanks in advance,
Andreas
__________________
'How inappropriate to call this planet Earth when it is quite clearly Ocean.' - Sir Arthur C. Clarke
|
|
|
21-11-2007, 08:06
|
#15
|
Senior Cruiser
Join Date: Mar 2003
Location: Thunder Bay, Ontario - 48-29N x 89-20W
Boat: (Cruiser Living On Dirt)
Posts: 49,082
|
Surrette makes excellent Batteries
(the “Rolls” of flooded batteries - pun intended);
but very pricey.
__________________
Gord May
"If you didn't have the time or money to do it right in the first place, when will you get the time/$ to fix it?"
|
|
|
|
|
Thread Tools |
Search this Thread |
|
|
Display Modes |
Rate This Thread |
Linear Mode
|
|
Posting Rules
|
You may not post new threads
You may not post replies
You may not post attachments
You may not edit your posts
HTML code is Off
|
|
|
Similar Threads
|
Thread |
Thread Starter |
Forum |
Replies |
Last Post |
Battery Question
|
Ativa |
Electrical: Batteries, Generators & Solar |
37 |
21-05-2007 08:30 |
Battery charger to replace battery?
|
lilly |
Electrical: Batteries, Generators & Solar |
5 |
22-07-2006 18:11 |
Battery Monitor
|
rleslie |
Electrical: Batteries, Generators & Solar |
3 |
31-08-2005 01:31 |
battery cable
|
jerry f |
Electrical: Batteries, Generators & Solar |
3 |
22-08-2005 14:29 |
BATTERY VALUE
|
GordMay |
Electrical: Batteries, Generators & Solar |
5 |
17-07-2003 21:42 |
|
Advertise Here
Recent Discussions |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Vendor Spotlight |
|
|
|