best battery?

[bigheaded5]

Im newly back to power boating after 12 years of sailing. Im running a 1985 Evenrude 90 hp and need to buy a battery to run the boat and start the engine (17' glass boat) I see the different crank amps and understand the difference, but wonder what would MY set up require. I dont plan to run at night at all so battery drain is 99% engine starts. would 550 crank amps work or should I go closer to 700? More amps is more $$ lol I want to buy the RIGHT batter once, rather than having to upgrade later

Ed

 

[ericp501]

Re: best battery?

Im newly back to power boating after 12 years of sailing. Im running a 1985 Evenrude 90 hp and need to buy a battery to run the boat and start the engine (17' glass boat) I see the different crank amps and understand the difference, but wonder what would MY set up require. I dont plan to run at night at all so battery drain is 99% engine starts. would 550 crank amps work or should I go closer to 700? More amps is more $$ lol I want to buy the RIGHT batter once, rather than having to upgrade later

Ed

Costco 750 amps cranking/deep cycle $82.. And they totally cover the battery if it goes bad for any reason.. I just upgraded from deep cycle to a cranking.. Returned a year old battery, got a full refund.

 

[5150abf]

Re: best battery?

I run the biggest deep cycle that Wal mart has and have never been let down, you can spend just a stupid amount on a battery but I am not sure they are really worth the premium.

I ran a house battery and a starter for years and it is really the best set up, that way you never run your starter down, last year I added another house battery because I do night fish and really hate running out of power, not that I ever did.

So if you don't want to go to a 2 bat set up get the biggest one you can afford, bigger is definately better when talking batteries.

 

[bigheaded5]

Re: best battery?

I run the biggest deep cycle that Wal mart has and have never been let down, you can spend just a stupid amount on a battery but I am not sure they are really worth the premium.

I ran a house battery and a starter for years and it is really the best set up, that way you never run your starter down, last year I added another house battery because I do night fish and really hate running out of power, not that I ever did.

So if you don't want to go to a 2 bat set up get the biggest one you can afford, bigger is definitely better when talking batteries.

Ok, so you run 2 batteries, that sounds smart especially when yuo night fish often, and I might be as well toward the fall (stripers) Isolating the two form one another? Does your engine charge the "house battery" or do you charge it out of the boat before a trip out?

 

[Silvertip]

Re: best battery?

Dual battery setups can have a dozen or more diffent configurations. Whether or not the engine can keep two batteries charged depends on the alternator output; Most outboards have relative low output alternators so if you deeply discharged a deep cycle house battery you would need to run wide open for hours to charge it back up. Dual battery setups should include a dual output on-board charger that you plug into house power at the dock. Normally an ACR and/or a dual battery selector switch are used in those systems. There are hundreds of posts in the ELECTRICAL forum regarding dual battery setups and most include diagrams. Use the SEARCH beature.

 

[bigheaded5]

Re: best battery?

Ok, I get the 1,000 different ways to set it up... I work with batteries for a living actually. I was curious as to HOW you charge both, and you addressed all my questions in your last post

I think My plan is the right one so far.... And i was looking at the Walmart battery...$89 for a 700 Crank Amp battery seemed a good choice, i was just concerned about QUALITY. My Father told me, "never be afraid to buy the best, you'll never be disappointed that way" my saying is "its more expensive to go CHEAP because you WILL eventually buy the right one later on"

Thank you again

 

[MH Hawker]

Re: best battery?

Most of all batterys are made by the same company, johnson controls no matter who`s name is on it or what price it is.

 

[truckermatt]

Re: best battery?

before you throw money at the walmart gods, take a look at some other batteries

I have this one and works great

http://shop.advanceautoparts.com/we...e_16940017-P_N3583_A|GRP60054_____#fragment-1

 

[Cruzomatic]

Re: best battery?

If you have an Academy Sports and Outdoors in your area you might want to look at their Exide or Stowaway marine/rv cranking battery. They have 800 CCA and 1000MCA for $57.99. I've had great luck with mine and would buy another if I had to. I also like how they have stickers on them that state when they where shipped to the store. So it's kinda like buying milk....choose the freshest one you can find.

Also like the other guy who said the majority of the batteries in the USA are made by Johnson Controls. All are pretty much the same just have different labels on them. I'd go with the best price and best warranty.

 

[Prophammer]

Re: best battery?

Everyone has their own opinion, here's mine (or it may be my own gripe)- I'm tired of adding water to my batteries, so from now on, I buy only sealed batteries that do not have removal caps, I can charge them at a slow rate and not have to worry about a dry cell, when they blow steam out the vent or fail a load test, I change them out.

 

[mark1905]

Re: best battery?

before you throw money at the walmart gods, take a look at some other batteries

I have this one and works great

http://shop.advanceautoparts.com/we...e_16940017-P_N3583_A|GRP60054_____#fragment-1

That's the same identical battery as a Walmart, DieHard, Interstate, etc.

They're all THE EXACT SAME BATTERY made by Johnson Controls. Check out the fine print on the tag.. it even says so.

The biggest, cheapest marine deep cycle that you can fit is the best battery.

 

[roscoe]

Re: best battery?

True, most batteries are made by just a few manufacturers, but to different specs.

Also, a couple years ago, Walmart changed their marine battery warranty, making it pretty much useless.

If all you need it for is starting the main motor, 500 cranking amps is all you need.

 

[mark1905]

Re: best battery?

Not true. Same battery, same specs. A series 29 Walmart are same specs as a series 29 Autozone, etc.

Why would you ever make a concious decision to carry less reserve capacity with you than you can? That's like refusing to fill your gas tank up farther than half full.

 

[Star]

Re: best battery?

Right don't go to Walmart... Almost everything I buy there is 20 to 30% cheaper than other stores. I don't know if it is still on sale but they had a 29 series deep cycle for $82. The warentee isn't what it used to be 2 years I think.

 

[Davem3]

Re: best battery?

everyone have a different opinion, so here is my 2 cents worth............

this Die hard battery started life ( 2 years ago) out on a old town discovery canoe to be used on a Minn Kota 50 pound thrust motor.............

last year now is in a princecraft scamper fishing rig.................

powers a radio, nav and boat lights, fish finder, a tohatsu 9.8 engine the Minn Kota of course, and a live well cooler ( portable) for my shiners............
i have never brought the battery reserve lower than 80%, with everything running at full tilt for HOURS..............

i should be good for at least 6 more years on it................

"it is better to have it and NOT need it, than need it and NOT have it.................."

battery power that is , but applies to everything, i guess

http://www.sears.com/shc/s/p_10153_12605_02827524000P?mv=rr

so, some food for thought
dave

 

[Silvertip]

Re: best battery?

I happened to be at Sam's Club today and snapped a couple of pictures of Energizer deep cycle battery specs vs the Optima 34DC deep cycle. The Energizer 27DC was $79.87 and had a RC of 180 minutes. The Optima 34DC had an RC of 120 minutes and was $174.52. Those Optima batteries would have to sing me to sleep, do the dishes, and wax the boat before I would speed that kind of money on a battery with such whimpy capacity numbers. I can buy two Energizers and have money left over for a couple cases of adult beverages. Do they last longer?? I would hope so but I doubt they will last 2-1/2 times the Energizer. Even if they did, most people will sell the boat before the before ANY battery dies (provided it is properly taken care of) so why spend the extra money.

 

[Davem3]

Re: best battery?

Even if they did, most people will sell the boat before the before ANY battery dies (provided it is properly taken care of) so why spend the extra money.

see tow line, and being towed in to the dock for further information

 

[Prophammer]

Re: best battery?

I think walmart's batteries were better when they were called omega.

 

[riptide09]

Re: best battery?

I needed a battery last year. A group 24 would have done the job. I got a Duracell group 34 at Sam's club for $99. The specs were good and I liked the fact that it is AGM and it is sealed. Physically it was about the same size as my old group 24 and it fit right in with no problems at all. Performance has been fine. I have run a basic stereo with 4 speakers for up to around 4 hours and the motor cranked right over and started.

http://www.samsclub.com/sams/shop/product.jsp?productId=prod3590229&navAction=push

 

[mark1905]

Re: best battery?

For the sake of public information:

"Duracell" car/boat batteries are really made by East Penn Manufacturing, who produces Deka Batteries: http://www.dekabatteries.com/

They're simply paying licensing fees to use the Duracell name.. http://www.dekabatteries.com/default.aspx?pageid=1491