New Battery recommendations, please

[Joe Myerson]

Now that I've determined that my dead-as-a-doornail batteries are more than 5 years old (and yes, Russell, I tested my digital multimeter--it is working), I need to decide which type of batteries to buy.

Creme Brulee came with a pair of sealed, "maintenance-free" batteries. I don't remember the brand, but they were ruined when a storm surge flooded the battery storage shed at my boat yard in 2005. The yard replaced them at (my) cost with Exide Nautilus Gold N-24s.

I know there have been several threads, including a recent one started by Dean A., about the pros and cons of AGM batteries. There are also gel batteries, and traditional lead-acid ones. I really can't decide which to buy--although "maintenance-free" sounds good to a tyro like me.

Members of this board must have lots of recommendations, and I promise to read each one politely--so please be civil, folks.

And don't worry, I will NOT hook my new batteries up to inexpensive no-name chargers that sneaked into the country from someplace in the mysterious East.

Thanks,

--Joe

[mike ritenour]

Joe,
My last set of Trojan 105's lasted 11 years of almost constant duty. The guy at Northern Battery didn't believe me until he looked back in his sales records and found them, even he was impressed!
I told him my secret was to kiss and hug them every week, well at least check their water and connections. .
When I replaced them I bought Trojan 105's again.
Dollar for dollar, I believe they are VERY cost effective, but they are wet cells and not for everyone.
Rit

[Jim Davis]

While I prefer T 105s I am currently using Group 27s. For my house bank there are four of them wired in parallel. I normally try to buy my batteries from Sam's Club, or equivalent, and I only buy deep cycle wet cells. I find I get the best bang for the buck with them. Some wet cells are advertised as maintenance free so I make sure I can pry off the cap/plate to add water. Topping off the batteries every couple months isn't that bad a chore. Distilled water, from the grocery store is only about a buck a gallon so it doesn't break the bank.

The reason I'm not using T 105s now is I had to replace the house bank while at anchor in Rockland and the nearest store didn't have four in stock.

[Maine Sail]

Premium brands include:

Trojan, Rolls/Surrette, US Battery, Lifeline (AGM Only), Odyssey TPPL AGM, Northstar TPPL AGM, Firefly AGM, Prevailer GEL and others

Standard brands include:

Deka/East Penn (WM batts are East Penn), Crown, Exide, Johnson Controls (always relabeled), Superior and others.

The standard wet cells will do fine if properly cared for. Perhaps the best deal going are the Deka Deep Cycles sold by NAPA or Sam's Club. Do not opt for a "Dual Purpose" battery deep cycles (true golf cart batteries etc.) are more rugged and will generally last longer. The SAME exact NAPA or Sam's Club battery is re-labeled by West Marine for nearly DOUBLE the cost..

I actually called East Penn tech support a few weeks ago when a customer insisted he wanted the same batteries he had which were WM Deep Cycle 105's. Here's the direct quote from East Penn/Deka:

Question: What is the difference between the group 24/27/31 deep cycle batteries West Marine sells and the ones NAPA sells?

Answer: The sticker..

But let's not forget the price!! =$97.99 vs. $169.99 (group 27)

That's a lot of dough for a "sticker"...

So his bank cost $293.97 vs. THE SAME BATTERIES AT WM for $509.97. That was a $200.00 savings that paid for his new battery monitor.

My favorite flooded brands these days, for value, are US Battery & Crown. Their US 2200 is the T-105 competitor and many golf car companies and courses have moved to using US Battery including Yamaha which now ships their golf cars with US Battery as opposed to Trojan. They are considerably less money and built to as good if not better spec than Trojan. They also have very slightly more Ah's than a T105 @232 vs. 225..

The key to any battery is to take care of them and charge them properly...

Unless you have the charging system to support AGM or GEL I would stick with wets.

[tartansailor]

In each class, all lead acid batteries are suppose to have the same amount of lead, and maintenance free means that the plate is enveloped in it's separator, so the plates can shed till the cows come home and they will not short out.

What makes a great battery is the separator.
Low cost batteries utilize a synthetic pulp sheet that is easily heat sealed.
Anti cling dryer sheets is an example of a synthetic pulp.

High end batteries utilize a porous polymeric separator made from ultra high molecular weight high density polyethylene. Like an MW of 6 million.
Think shoe leather.

So when a battery gets bounced around a lot, which do you think will maintain it's integrity better from the suspended lead plates?

The latter manufacturing process is an order of magnitude more expensive than the former.

I like Trojan, and Rolls/Surrette.

Dick

[Joe Myerson]

So when a battery gets bounced around a lot, which do you think will maintain it's integrity better from the suspended lead plates?

I'm loving these answers so far. Since I sail on Buzzards Bay, where the waves are "square," I'd better take Dick's point into consideration.

--Joe

[Klem]

I run the deep cycle batteries from Napa that Maine Sail was referring to. They are not the best but they work well and are not too expensive.

I have installed Trojan T-145's in 2 electric cars and they have performed very well. With well over the rated number of charge/discharge cycles and a few really deep discharges, they still have pretty good capacity. The only problem that I have ever had is we have melted a few posts but that is to be expected when intermittently drawing 1200 amps. I know of several people who have used the 105's in similar applications and have had equally good luck.

Another brand to keep in mind if you want to go the AGM route is Odyssey (not to be confused with Optima). If you buy the brand name, they are really expensive but if you buy them as a Sears Diehard platinum, they are reasonably priced. Kind of like the west marine versus napa thing. I run these in my diesel pickup truck and have no complaints.

[Ken Cave]

When I purchased my Cape Dory in 2000, it came with four 105
Trojan batteries, which I finally replaced in 2005. Unfortunately
the new ones lasted 2 years, and after talking to a number of
"professionals" in the business, they rated the Interstate
battery a lot better than the "new" Trojans. So far, they have held
up and will be out and about this summer with these batteries.

Now the engine battery is a group 27 from West Marine which I
purchased in 2001. That too is in top shape.

Haven't figured that one out!

Ken Cave
CD 28
Dragon Tale
La Conner, WA

[M. R. Bober]

I have been using Trojan group 31 batteries, successfully, for many years. The 31 group batteries fit into most 27 group battery boxes.

When the Trojans on RESPITE needed replacement (about 3 years ago), I was in a remote location where the choice was buy what was available, or wait a long time. I bought a pair of Interstate group 31 (sealed) and they have been fine, so far.

I replaced the failing AGMs on STARVIEW with these: http://www.trojanbattery.com/Products/SCS22512V.aspx

I prefer the flooded units. I spoke with a representative from Rolls at the Annapolis Boat Show several years ago about battery options. He felt that a pair of Trojan 31 group batteries was more that adequate for cruising the Chesapeake with the equipment that I had installed. The key point is know your load.

Mitchell Bober
Sunny Lancaster (a good place to go to ground), VA

[rtbates]

Any brand as long as it NOT wet, especially in the 25D battery compartment. I switched to AGM and love the freedom from battery acid... Just be sure your charger 'knows' AGM..

[Joe Myerson]

Just be sure your charger 'knows' AGM..

Randy,

I'm assuming you're referring to off-season charging.

Right now my batteries are just hooked up to the original-equipment 3-way battery switch, without benefit of an additional charger. The PO, a boatyard employee who seemed to scrounge pieces of equipment from the yard, used that arrangement for 10 years before I bought the boat.

In fact, he told me that he never paid attention to balancing his batteries--"I just switch to 'Both' whenever I'm using the engine," he told me.

Well, I've gotten a bit more sophisticated, alternating batteries and saving one for starting. But my first experience with a charger was my disastrous venture into the netherworld of Harbor Fright.

Got lots to learn, I guess. Hope the brain cells can handle all this new information.

Thanks,

--Joe

[Paul D.]

I put two Trojan T-105's into Femme in 2003. They are still going strong. However, I check them twice a season and add water usually once and they remain on board over the winter hooked up to a 60watt solar panel and regulator. We'll see what happens this spring!

[tmsc]

I have had good results with both Trojan and Deka.

[MarcMcCarron]

Sears AGM group 31 glass mat are fantastic. about $260 each

[Joe Myerson]

Thanks everybody for your sage advice.

Ater weighing various alternatives, including cost, I chose to go with two deep-cycle lead-acid batteries manufactured by US Battery. (Sold in New England as A-1 Battery from Quincy.)

The US Battery 24TMX were reasonably priced, after turning in the old batteries for reuse, and I won't be attaching them to any no-name chargers. Instead, I plan to either buy a good-quality charger or bring them back to the battery distributor at the end of the season for a full charge.

If I can do so (financially and technically), I might invest in a 10-volt solar charging system like the one recommended by Bill Slater.

But first I've got to get the boat ready for launch.

--Joe