Best Deep Cell Marine Batteries

[Gbakman53]

I have to purchase 2 new Marine Deep Cell batteries. My question is what battery has everyone been buying that they have found to be the most reliable and longest lasting battery. Does anyone have a specific way that they provide maintenance to their batteries and any specific way that you store them for a long period of time that they have found will help their batteries last longer than the normal batteries life cycle? If you have any ideas or suggestions please feel free to share with us.

 

[Kosmofreeze]

I got 3 years out of a pair of Interstate 27M Deep-Cycle before I started to loose confidence in one of them. Full disclosure, I did leave some accessories on for days and ran the house battery flat on at least 2 occasions - doh! Running a lead-acid battery to 0% SOC is not a good idea ... so, I can't help but feel partially responsible for my Interstate's demise. Can't really complain about the Interstate units except that they are about $50 bucks more each than your generic, big box store, flooded lead-acid marine batteries.

I replaced both Interstates with Sam's Club Duracel 27M ... so far so good. I'll try to be more careful.

 

[Earl Cordova]

I have been using blue top Optima batteries.
They have been lasting 5-7 years.

 

[cwella]

I have to purchase 2 new Marine Deep Cell batteries. My question is what battery has everyone been buying that they have found to be the most reliable and longest lasting battery. Does anyone have a specific way that they provide maintenance to their batteries and any specific way that you store them for a long period of time that they have found will help their batteries last longer than the normal batteries life cycle? If you have any ideas or suggestions please feel free to share with us.

Battery life depends as much on maintenance as it does on the brand. Trojan, Interstate, Duracell/East Penn, and Crown are all known for making reliable deep-cycle marine batteries.

To help them last longer, keep them fully charged, use a quality smart charger, check water levels regularly on flooded batteries, keep the terminals clean, and avoid discharging them below 50%. For long-term storage, fully charge the batteries, disconnect them from any loads, store them in a cool, dry place, and use a maintenance charger or recharge them every month or so.

 

[airshot]

Kinda like what oil is best ? Best for what ?

 

[Pmt133]

Whatever I can get a replacement for quickest under warranty is usually what I go for. I like eastpenn, johnson/clarios have always failed early for me but I will still use them if they are easier to get my hands on... so that would include most interstates, everstart and box store brands. Oddly enough the sams duracell AGMs are east penn units in my area. Last go around they were quite inexpensive when on sale and I've heavily abused them with no issue, though they still get proper charging practices applied.

 

[airshot]

Best bang for the buck has been Walley World, used them for many years in boat and motorhome. Avg 4-6 years life, easy to return if an issue arrises and good prices. No dealers to try and find...

 

[dingbat]

Ran AC Delco RV grp. 27 deep cycles. Got 10 years of life out of each set. Swapped them out on a pair of interstate deep cycles that went another 10 years. Swapped them out for a pair of Walmart deep cycles that put on another 10 years of service.

Current set are Walmart as well although they’ve changed the spec on the current set. Previous set were 108 AH. Current set only 80 AH and nowhere near the weight of the ones they replaced.

The one thing i noticed the last time I was battery shopping is that all the mfg have moved away from true deep cycle batteries too “dual purpose” batteries. Even the Delco batteries went “dual purpose” although you won’t know it until you dig into specifications.

In the end, it comes down sizing to minimize your deep of discharge and the proper charging of the batteries.

 

[jimmbo]

As the OP didn't say what they being hooked up to, I would say a Flooded Cell Battery would be the safest choice. Costco has a few Marine Batteries, but it appears that they some kind of Hybred Starting/Deep Cycle. However Costco has a replacement Policy that is hard to beat

 

[FLATHEAD]

East Penn makes tons of batteries with all different brand names. I can go right to the factory and buy blems. They always have a bunch of different name batteries sitting there.
Many of the cases are identical. If the serial number has an EP in it. It is an east Penn.

 

[Pmt133]

Costco is more $ and less convenient for me. And their prorated warranty (changed in the last couple years in the US but is still the old policy in Canada if memory serves) is the worst offering now.

The current best value is walmart with the 3 or 4 year warranty vs the 3 year prorated offered by Costco for more or less the exact same battery with an interstate sticker instead of an everstart sticker. Costco Canada I believe is 48 months then goes prorated... based on the amount of abuse that system had in the US it really didn't surprise me. I had friends for years return the things the last couple days of the warranty for a new one even if there wasn't anything wrong then rinse and repeat.

 

[airshot]

East Penn makes tons of batteries with all different brand names. I can go right to the factory and buy blems. They always have a bunch of different name batteries sitting there.
Many of the cases are identical. If the serial number has an EP in it. It is an east Penn.

We have an EP factory nearby that allows street sales. I tried a couple many years back but was not impressed....night have just gotten a couple bad ones.

 

[airshot]

Always better to have far more battery capacity than needed, rather than being short and running the battery to far down....that is the biggest cause of failure ..

 

[FLATHEAD]

We have an EP factory nearby that allows street sales. I tried a couple many years back but was not impressed....night have just gotten a couple bad ones.

Is it the facility in Topton?

 

[redneck joe]

really need to know what your intended purpose is.