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new battery recommendations?

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jhinton
Navigator

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USA
123 Posts

Initially Posted - 05/13/2010 : 12:35:59

We need to buy two new house batteries for our C25 and we're trying to decide what to buy. We use them for the cabin lights, running lights, depth/speed instruments, compass light, stereo, VHF, and occasionally an outboard start. We occasionally go out for a week at a time but use the outboard to charge them while it is running.

Is one brand any better than the others?

Is it worth it to spend a little more and go with AGM batteries or should I stick with wet cell like the old ones were?

Thanks for any recommendations!

1982 C-25, SK/SR, traditional interior

Edited by - on

piseas
Former Treasurer

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USA
2017 Posts

Response Posted - 05/13/2010 : 13:17:32

Jarred, I myself have have two marine deep cycle batteries that I got at my local auto parts store. They are exactly the same as you buy at West Marine, etc. but about 1/2 the price.
I would like to suggest you do a "battery" search from the top right of this page. There are only a few consideration such as personal preference, if you boat sits w/o use for a long period of time,how much you want to spend, etc. I am sure others will chime in.
Good luck,
Steve A

Edited by - on

Sloop Smitten
Master Marine Consultant

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USA
1181 Posts

Response Posted - 05/13/2010 : 14:07:16

Walmart or Costco for wet cell. Speaking solely about price. Not going to get into the discussion about alternative battery types.

Edited by - on

Dave5041
Former Mainsheet Editor

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USA
3758 Posts

Response Posted - 05/13/2010 : 16:17:38

For boats out on the blue, expensive, heavy, real marine batteries may be worth the price, but I buy mine at Walmart and get excellent life - one lasted 10 years, but 7 is more typical. I'll stay out of the types too. Compare the advantages of all three and get what fits your needs and price.

Edited by - on

delliottg
Former Mainsheet C250 Tech Editor

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USA
4479 Posts

Response Posted - 05/13/2010 : 16:34:37

I bought two from Costco a while back, no complaints so far. If you search the forum for posts on batteries you'll find any number of discussions on this, as well as a few folks installation photos.

It wouldn't occur to me to buy batteries for my C-250 from WM or another marine supplier. If I were going out onto the briny, I'd look into commercial batteries from a wholesaler, probably six volt golf cart batteries.

Edited by - on

Tom Gauntt
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204 Posts

Response Posted - 05/13/2010 : 18:24:15

has anyone checked out the Argus Battery Bug to monitor the health of their battery banks? Looks like a pretty neat and reliable system. For $35, check out: http://www.argusanalyzers.com/store/

Edited by - piseas on 05/14/2010 15:54:22

Voyager
Master Marine Consultant

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USA
5362 Posts

Response Posted - 05/13/2010 : 20:50:12

I bought a single flooded Group 24 wet cell battery two years ago and with about 75 Amp-Hours, it has worked out well so far. I'm hoping it will last another 2-3 years.

When I replace it, I would like to go with a Group 27 because I'd like 15 more Amp-Hours than the group 24 (about 90). If I have the money, I would go with an AGM type. Costco sell Optima batteries at pretty good prices.

An alternate for me would be to go with two group 24 batteries, giving me about 150 AH.

This time around I bought a Wal*Mart battery and would probably do so again, or I'd go with a Sears Die-Hard.

Edited by - on

Stinkpotter
Master Marine Consultant

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Djibouti
9076 Posts

Response Posted - 05/13/2010 : 21:28:10

Some advantages (for some sailors) of AGMs:

- Very low self-discharge--for example, just a couple % over a winter.
- Because self-discharge is low, won't freeze, so can be left on boat.
- Safe sideways or upside-down.
- Tolerates deeper discharge without damage.
- Not as finicky about charging voltages as gel-cell batteries, but slightly more sensitive than standard wet-cells.

Worth it? Depends on your needs. The builder of my boat delivered her with two Optimas (like AGMs only somewhat different from most). They boiled immediately, blowing off sulfuric acid steam. I replaced them with two Defender Sportsman batteries--now all is well. Will I try some other AGMs some day? Dunno.

Golf cart batteries are monsters that must be paired up and connected in series (they're six volts). Great for bigger boats with substantial systems... generally overkill for most of us. If you really use them, your 8-10 hp outboard will take a very long time to recharge them.

Edited by - on

jhinton
Navigator

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USA
123 Posts

Response Posted - 05/14/2010 : 07:26:05

Thanks so much for all the help!

It is sounding to me like AGMs aren't worth it for me at this point and I will go with a few wet cells and try to take good care of them. I didn't even think of Costco. I'll take a look next time I'm there.

I have heard some pretty bad things about WalMart batteries... but it sounds like people here are generally pleased with them. Why such the disparity?

Edited by - on

Dave5041
Former Mainsheet Editor

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USA
3758 Posts

Response Posted - 05/14/2010 : 08:51:29

One problem circulates longer than 100 good experiences and lives on as hearsay forever. It is often the old "I knew somebody who has a friend whose cousin bought a battery from Walmart (insert store or band name) and it was a piece of crap. I'd never buy one of those things!" Maybe you go to Wallyworld and buy the cheapest (smallest) battery to save money and you actually need a larger battery and suffer a short life. Who knows where rumors and myths start. I just got an forwarded email from a computer literate friend warning about a very bad new virus coming - I checked Snopes.com, and the exact format and wording has been circulating for six years!

Edited by - on

piseas
Former Treasurer

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USA
2017 Posts

Response Posted - 05/14/2010 : 15:49:31

Personally and generally, I like to buy USA made. Walmart generally does fit the bill. That's why I went to my local auto parts store for the batteries as my Costco was out and I needed them that day.
Steve A

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piseas
Former Treasurer

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USA
2017 Posts

Response Posted - 05/14/2010 : 15:56:01

<blockquote id="quote">quote:<hr height="1" noshade id="quote">Originally posted by Tom Gauntt
 has anyone checked out the Argus Battery Bug to monitor the health of their battery banks? Looks like a pretty neat and reliable system. For $35, check out: http://www.argusanalyzers.com/store/

<hr height="1" noshade id="quote"></blockquote id="quote">

Tom, I have not heard about that before but as I have deep cycle batteries, the cost for the monitor is $89! ouch.
Steve A

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Tom Gauntt
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204 Posts

Response Posted - 05/14/2010 : 19:37:42

<blockquote id="quote">quote:<hr height="1" noshade id="quote">Originally posted by piseas
 <blockquote id="quote">quote:<hr height="1" noshade id="quote">Originally posted by Tom Gauntt
 has anyone checked out the Argus Battery Bug to monitor the health of their battery banks? Looks like a pretty neat and reliable system. For $35, check out: http://www.argusanalyzers.com/store/

<hr height="1" noshade id="quote"></blockquote id="quote">Yeah, the deep cycle bug is expensive and probably not worth the cost. But what a mahvelous toy!

Tom, I have not heard about that before but as I have deep cycle batteries, the cost for the monitor is $89! ouch.
Steve A
<hr height="1" noshade id="quote"></blockquote id="quote">

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Stinkpotter
Master Marine Consultant

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Djibouti
9076 Posts

Response Posted - 05/14/2010 : 20:56:28

I forgot to mention that I've always kept my wet-cell batteries on a 3-stage charger over the winter (generally only using the third, trickle stage). I haven't had a wet-cell battery fail me on a boat yet, including the one I inherited from the PO of my C-25, which I owned for seven years.

Edited by - on

triley
Captain

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USA
251 Posts

Response Posted - 05/16/2010 : 18:41:18

Two new batteries from Batteries Plus here in the Mid west. I like the price and the guarantees. One a starting battery, and the second a deep cycle for the lights, etc. I hope I did OK. I will put solar trickle charger on her next week as I bend sails on and ready for first sail. I wonder, though, about keeping a battery keeper on through the shore power each week. Am I setting up a bad situation in terms of electrolysis?

Edited by - on

jhinton
Navigator

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USA
123 Posts

Response Posted - 05/16/2010 : 18:47:34

I just went to Sam's Club here in MI and they have Energizer group 27 marine deep cycle batteries for $69.99 each. That's even better than the Walmart ones I looked at the other day!

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Stinkpotter
Master Marine Consultant

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Djibouti
9076 Posts

Response Posted - 05/16/2010 : 20:41:11

<blockquote id="quote">quote:<hr height="1" noshade id="quote">Originally posted by triley
 ...I wonder, though, about keeping a battery keeper on through the shore power each week. Am I setting up a bad situation in terms of electrolysis?<hr height="1" noshade id="quote"></blockquote id="quote">Your system should have no path to the water, and if it did, a simple On/Off switch takes care of that.

BTW, an 8-10 hp outboard does not need a "starting" battery--that's for a big diesel or similar, requiring huge surges to start. I have two "Sportsman" dual-purpose batteries from Defender... When I'm anchored out, I use one as the house battery so the other is saved to start my 225 hp V-6 Honda (the engine in the big Pilot SUV). I've never come close to having an issue.

Edited by - on

Nautiduck
Master Marine Consultant

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USA
3704 Posts

Response Posted - 05/16/2010 : 21:25:35

We use two WM SeaVolt AGMs. I like them because they have a very low discharge rate, can be discharged deeply without hurting them and are completely maintenance free. We use a Charles 10 AMP smart charger and have never had power problems.

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Prospector
Master Marine Consultant

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Canada
3159 Posts

Response Posted - 05/17/2010 : 05:33:01

Since we got a spot onthe "no power dock this season. and last time I was on this dock I had trouble maintaining batteries, I am thinking about taking a new approach to the problem...

We won't be doing much in the way of cruising this year. A few weekends at neighbouring clubs and such, but mostly races and day sailing.

Since that is the case, and I can't recharge easily at the dock, I am thinking I might pick up one of the security light deep cell batteries at a local surplus place.

They are small (7"X3"X6" +/-), so would be easy to transport to recharge, and they should have enough power to run basic gauges for a day outing. Need to look into amp hours etc. but I think it would be easy to set one in teh boat bag along with teh handheld radio and GPS, or set up a charging station with the lot of them. Something like this: http://www.emergencylightbatteries.com/catalog/item/1394161/884581.htm

Edited by - Prospector on 05/17/2010 05:37:50

andypavo
1st Mate

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USA
51 Posts

Response Posted - 05/17/2010 : 07:19:13

I used to run a parts store and there are basically about 2 companies that make batteries under dozens of labels. Wal-mart batteries are the same as parts store batteries but cheaper. If Honda made a marine battery I would buy that because the one in my car is 7 years old.

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Dave5041
Former Mainsheet Editor

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USA
3758 Posts

Response Posted - 05/17/2010 : 11:00:06

<blockquote id="quote">quote:<hr height="1" noshade id="quote">If Honda made a marine battery I would buy that because the one in my car is 7 years old.<hr height="1" noshade id="quote"></blockquote id="quote">
That might be good for Honda's profit Andy, but they bought it from a battery maker with their logo applied and marked it up 30% through their dealer network. Batteries are pretty simple devices.

Edited by - on

NautiC25
Admiral

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USA
957 Posts

Response Posted - 05/17/2010 : 11:51:22

It's true. Very few companies making batteries, and dozens of labels.

<blockquote id="quote">quote:<hr height="1" noshade id="quote">Originally posted by Prospector
 Since we got a spot onthe "no power dock this season. and last time I was on this dock I had trouble maintaining batteries, I am thinking about taking a new approach to the problem...

We won't be doing much in the way of cruising this year. A few weekends at neighbouring clubs and such, but mostly races and day sailing.

Since that is the case, and I can't recharge easily at the dock, I am thinking I might pick up one of the security light deep cell batteries at a local surplus place.

They are small (7"X3"X6" +/-), so would be easy to transport to recharge, and they should have enough power to run basic gauges for a day outing. Need to look into amp hours etc. but I think it would be easy to set one in teh boat bag along with teh handheld radio and GPS, or set up a charging station with the lot of them. Something like this: http://www.emergencylightbatteries.com/catalog/item/1394161/884581.htm
<hr height="1" noshade id="quote"></blockquote id="quote">
My marina doesn't have power either. I just clamp on a 9 watt solar panel to keep both my batteries topped off. No need for a controller or fancy system. $75 from Walmart.
I understand your plan, but I think a panel would be a better solution.

Edited by - NautiC25 on 05/17/2010 11:52:09

islander
Master Marine Consultant

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USA
4021 Posts

Response Posted - 05/17/2010 : 14:36:27

<blockquote id="quote">quote:<hr height="1" noshade id="quote">It's true. Very few companies making batteries, and dozens of labels<hr height="1" noshade id="quote"></blockquote id="quote">
Exactly. If you want to know for instance WM battery's are made by Deka http://www.eastpenn-deka.com/default.aspx?pageid=468

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Voyager
Master Marine Consultant

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USA
5362 Posts

Response Posted - 05/17/2010 : 20:13:12

Chris,
I can recommend two 18-20W solar panels which will more than fully recharge one group 24 deep cycle battery in a few days. They are about US$80-$100 apiece. If you only lightly discharge a group 24 (15 AH), you can get away with one panel.

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