Deep cycle battery?

[slick2526]

What are you guys running for batteries? I haven't had to buy one in a long time so I have no idea whats the best bang for the buck now? I am only running a 12 volt system. I want to something that is going to last for some years as long as I keep it charged and keep a battery tender on it.

Thanks

[harvey lee]

I use to run the $250-$300 deep cycles and have switched back to the $100 variety.

They have lasted just as long for me as the most expensive ones so I see not reason to drop the money I was on the spendy type.

I have 2 Interstate's in the boat now for the trolling motor. 1 is a spare incase I run low that day but I never do.

MY batteries come out of the boat in the winetr and never freeze. I also recharge them as soon as I get back from the lake. Servie is key with these deep cycles if one wants them to last some years.

[FM_Mike]

Interstate's for me also. If, like with any deep cycle battery they are maintained correctly, you will find that they will last about as long as the two and three hundred dollar deep cycle batteries.

Maintenance is the key. I am on my 7th year with my interstates.

Mike

[Juan Grande]

Got a couple questions for you Interstate guys. I know a guy who works for Interstate and can get the standard 27M for $73 or the Pro ECL for $92. Just wondering if it's worth springing for the Pro series? I've read a little and it sounds like the capacity is the same they just have more cycles in them (last longer).

Also, can one of you explain what the correct maintenance for deep cycles is? I have a dual bank charger, should I just plug them in and fully recharge them as soon as I can home?

Thanks much.

[Whoaru99]

Yes. Always recharge the batteries as soon as possible after use, no matter how little (or how much) you might have used them.

Also, regardless that they're "deep cycle" batteries, draining them quite a lot/deep discharge is hard on any battery.

If the caps can be taken off the battery, the water level needs to be maintained at the proper level too. Batteries don't need as much maintenance in this regard as they used to but they do still lose water.

[waterwolff]

I swapped mine out this year with Interstate 29 Pro ECL. Twice the charge cycles and the longer non pro rated warranty swayed me. Time will tell if they warrant the extra cost.

I also plug in after every use.

[Pat K]

I think recharging them right away and maintaining fluid levels are the most important factors in battery life.

I've never pulled them out of the boat while it is stored in an unheated pole shed. I fully charge them and pull the ground wires off them when I put it into storage. I get 7 years or more out of my Interstate trolling batteries.

[Northlander]

I stick with the standard Interstates. I have a few friends who got the 'Pro series" and had issues with charging them and even after getting bigger on board chargers they werent lasting. All but a few went back to the standard 27 or 29's.

I run 4 interstates in my boat and have had very good luck with them and the service I get at Interstate in Superior is second to none. They even offer or Twin Ports Walleye Association a discount.

[Juan Grande]

That just made up my mind for me. Thanks Northlander.

[slick2526]

I have used interstates before and after reading this I see no reason why not to stick with them. Thanks for the advice guys. I was told from the guy at batteries plus even in the winter time keep your battery on a tender/charger that will keep a full charge through out the off season. Do you agree with this?

[Hoey]

A charged battery will not freeze. A dead one will.

[CaptainMusky]

Batteries slowly lose charge over time so yes, put them on a trickle charger over the winter. You dont have to leave them connected the whole time, you can bring them up to a charge, and remove the charger for a few weeks and do it again.

Also when storing them do not set them directly on a concrete floor. Place some wood blocks underneath. I had some very odd/interesting things happen one year I did that. I think it resulted in destroying my batteries.

[Whoaru99]

I agree that batteries do lose charge over time. However, much, much less in the winter than in the summer. They store better cold than warm/hot.

As long as the battery is charged so it doesn't freeze, you're better off to leave them in cold storage than bring them in where it's warm for storage.

The above statements are strictly with regard to storage, not with regard to connected parasitic drain that will discharge them regardless of temperature and without regard to power-producing capacity which is obviously reduced when cold.

[CaptainMusky]

As long as the battery is charged so it doesn't freeze, you're better off to leave them in cold storage than bring them in where it's warm for storage.

You are meaning that you are better off leaving them in the cold, fully charged than bringing them in the warm fully charged, eithe scenario without a trickle charger on them right?

I think it much safer to keep in the warm with a trickle charger on them versus just leaving one in the cold, but that may be just in my head.

[Whoaru99]

I think it much safer to keep in the warm with a trickle charger on them versus just leaving one in the cold, but that may be just in my head.

I'm saying cold is a better storage option.

If you're going to trickle charge then cold with trickle charge is better than warm with trickle charge.

[elkhornsun]

One caveat. You want to warm the battery before charging it. You do not want to bring a cold battery inside and then immediately attach it to a charger.

A small solar panel is a very effective trickle charger that requires no attention at all and the low output ones can be attached directly to the battery without need for a special controller.