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Old 19-11-2007, 15:51   #1
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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?
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Old 19-11-2007, 15:59   #2
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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.
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Old 19-11-2007, 16:46   #3
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Three letters, AGM.
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Old 19-11-2007, 16:59   #4
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2xT105 for the house, any good Gp24 to start.
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Old 19-11-2007, 18:38   #5
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When you say best, do you mean " cost not a concern" ??
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Old 19-11-2007, 18:55   #6
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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.
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Old 19-11-2007, 19:52   #7
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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.
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Old 20-11-2007, 00:03   #8
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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.
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Old 20-11-2007, 08:39   #9
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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
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Old 20-11-2007, 09:24   #10
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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.
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Old 20-11-2007, 12:09   #11
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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.
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Old 20-11-2007, 12:20   #12
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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.
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Old 20-11-2007, 13:50   #13
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Quote:
Originally Posted by jscott View Post
First
The best battery is a charged battery that has never been more than 50% discharged.
WELL SAID!
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Old 21-11-2007, 07:29   #14
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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
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Old 21-11-2007, 08:06   #15
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Surrette makes excellent Batteries
(the “Rolls” of flooded batteries - pun intended)
;
but very pricey.
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