DEEP CYCLE BATTERIES

The low-cost recommendation would be an Exide Extreme - hybrid between Starting and Deep Cycle.

The more expensive option that should give you longer battery life is a fully sealed AGM battery - FullRiver, Remco, AbsorbedPower. AGMs work well as both Starting and Deep Cycle batteries.

Mike

quit the shoutin chief........oh and I agree, an exide extreme should serve you well.

Leroy

Worlds first time that questions been asked.....

Heaps of threads, do a search for "second battery", "deep cycle", and a few of the more obvious words.

and the countdown begins . . .

10 . . . 9 . . . 8

Hi Challenger,

I think that this is your second post and I have noticed that each one you have used upper case lettering. Just in case you are not familiar with the protocols I thought I should point out that the use of upper case letters suggests that you are shouting or talking with a raised voice.

Just thought you should know.

regards,

Browser

I would,nt be waiting for any specials Exide batteries go up in price by 10% from the first of april!!

Challenger,

I'm not convinced the Exide Extreme is really a hybrid battery.
The specifications do not rate the Extreme in AH (Amp Hours), just CCA (Cold Cranking Amps).
I'm not knocking the product at all. I run one as my Starting Battery.

Even at 3 or 4 times a year, I would recommend a proper Deep Cycle battery.
Fridges can drain a battery quite considerably. Even a Waeco with its built-in low voltage cutout. This will ultimately reduce the working life of a conventional battery.

A starting battery (CCA rated) supplies high amperage for short periods of time and prolonged discharge will cause problems with the battery.

Deep Cycle batteries (AH rated) supply a relatively low amount of current for a long period of time. Just like when running your fridge and lights.

A Deep Cycle Battery is available in several constructions:-

Wet Cell - The cheapest and if mounting in the Engine Bay of your vehicle, probably the best choice for you.

AGM - Absorbed Glass Mat. More expensive but quicker to recharge and will not spill. Also enables a deeper cycle (energy drain) without permanent damage than a conventional wet cell battery. Worth considering.

Calcium - No comment. (AGM not that much dearer and is superior)

Of course, the ultimate choice is up to you and how much you are prepared to spend. But paying a little more up front for a deep cycle battery, will give you a longer working life out of it.

I have a wet cell deep cycle. The problem with most 4WDs is that 2nd batteries are restricted to about 300 mm in length. I have searched around to obtain the highest amp-hour battery in this length to give greater fridge life. And the winner is AmpTech (see www.supercharge.com.au). 100AH at about $135 at Ariel batteries in Clifton Hill (Vic) or at Autobahn. Seems to work OK.

I just happpily replaced my exide Extreme 80AH with another the same, it was just over 2 1/2 years old and powers my 60l Engel full time and I know I have given it a bit of a hard time and flattened it once or twice.

My local KMart has the Extreme for $150.00 at the moment. Is that a good price?

Your lucky.
Our Kmart price is $165 so I wait till they have a 20% off sale

Below is the EXIDE website page relating ONLY to Deep Cycle batteries, the 'Extreme' is not mentioned on this page anywhere, neither is the word “HyBrid” mentioned or even implied anywhere on this page.
http://www.exide.com.au/products/deep-cycle.php

Below is the EXIDE website page named as PASSENGER VEHICLES which relates only to “passenger vehicles” and guess what, it does show the 'Exide Extreme' is stated to be a “Passenger Vehicle” battery, the word “HyBrid” is not mentioned or even implied anywhere on this page either.
http://www.exide.com.au/products/

The Exide Extreme is rated by Exide as only a Cranking battery with its technical specifications only rated as CCA (Cold Cranking Amps) and nowhere on any page of the Exide website is the Extreme stated or even implied to be a Deep Cycle battery.
I could not find anywhere on the Exide website the statement or even an implication that the Exide is rated in Amp Hours, of any number, as a Deep Cycle battery is only ever rated as a/h.

If I’m wrong, and the Extreme can be shown to be a Deep Cycle or even a “HyBrid” battery and not a Cranking battery on any page of the Exide website then I would appreciate being pointed to the relevant page!

Sure you can use an Exide Extreme to run a fridge, as you can also use any starting battery to run a fridge, but it does not last as long, will not re-charge as fast as an AGM battery and it will not run for as long as an AGM battery either.

It’s just a compromise battery when you want to buy a cheaper Aux battery!

And yes I’m sure those who use them will say I’m wrong, that they work and that’s all they are interested in, my point is so will any other Cranking battery, but when you go away for a few weeks you will have to start the vehicle to recharge the battery, and with an AGM Storage battery you don’t have that problem and overall long term owning costs are far lower as well.

I have to ask the question, what makes the Exide Extreme the battery of choice with so many 4wd'ers ???

It's specifications are fairly basic, 150RC, 670CCA and costs about $135.

Many batteries have those same, or in some cases better specifications and some of those cost less than $100, however they don't have the 'loyal or is it fanatical' following as the Extreme....... why not ??