deep cycle battery
Submitted: Saturday, Feb 22, 2003 at 09:43
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Butch Curtis
What's the best deep cycle battery? I am about to buy a deep cycle battery to run a fridge and would like to find out what is the best to buy on the market. Much appreciated any information.
Reply By: Member - NOBBY - Saturday, Feb 22, 2003 at 13:57
Saturday, Feb 22, 2003 at 13:57
Hey Butch.. I went through this exercise about three weeks ago and found dc batteries differ a fair bit. From Odyssey (80amp- $489) to Triton (98amp- $140) . The majority are around 140- 180 dollar mark.
Appollo are 70amp- $165, mercury-$185. etc. I think they are all about the same and as long as you don't let them run down more than 40% before recharging you should get a good run out of them, at least that's what I'm hoping for. These prices are in Bris. I reckon you need at least 90amp for a fridge
AnswerID:
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Follow Up By: Butch Curtis - Tuesday, Feb 25, 2003 at 21:07
Tuesday, Feb 25, 2003 at 21:07
Nobby, thanks for all the information. Sure is a maze of batteries out there. Makes it hard when you go to purchase with all the different prices and the salesman jargen.
Butch
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Reply By: Bob Y. - Saturday, Feb 22, 2003 at 16:29
Saturday, Feb 22, 2003 at 16:29
Butch, We've got a Century Yuasa N70T in our 80 series, that's been in there about 2 years, but with little use. Been going alright, have just done a return trip to
Brisbane, 3200k, with no dramas, with Engel hooked up full time.
Also use Exide ED6 D/Cycle, in a couple of UHF repeaters, and we've got 2-3 years out of them. May have got a bit longer than that, but sometimes forgot to top up cells in hot weather. Think they were/are around $150-180 mark. Hooroo....
AnswerID:
13747
Follow Up By: Butch Curtis - Tuesday, Feb 25, 2003 at 21:10
Tuesday, Feb 25, 2003 at 21:10
Thanks Bob for all the info. We'll
check it all out. There's a big dollar difference with certain brands and makes of batteries but I'm slowly working my way through it. Thanks again,
Butch
FollowupID:
8289
Reply By: Jan - Tuesday, Feb 25, 2003 at 13:21
Tuesday, Feb 25, 2003 at 13:21
I have an Optima deep cycle battery in the camper trailer, and am very happy with it. Optimas are totally sealed and leakproof, never need topping up, and are very vibration-resistant. The camper has been on some very rough roads, and the battery still works like new after two years. In a camping situation I run a Waeco fridge (all day), one or two Versalites at night, a radio/CD/casette player, and occasionally a coffee grinder (civilised camping), and the battery will drive all these without any trouble. I have a second deep cycle (a Powerglide) in the vehicle, and when the two are connected in parallel, with the aid of a solar panel, I can prop for a week or more and not run out of power. I am not happy with the Powerglide, because although it works OK it is a conventional "top-up" type, and I have found that on rough tracks/steep inclines there will always be a degree of acid leakage through the stoppers.
The Optimas are more expensive (around $350), but you get what you pay for. They also recharge rapidly, and have a very good "shelf" life. There is a web site which any search engine will find.
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Follow Up By: Butch Curtis - Tuesday, Feb 25, 2003 at 21:21
Tuesday, Feb 25, 2003 at 21:21
Thanks Jan,
Much appreciated all the detailed information that you have given me. I'm very keen on the Optima's, even though they are fairly expensive, but as you say , you get what you pay for. Another thing I was looking for was the anti-vibration which shouldn't be a problem with this battery. You seemed to have answered everything that I needed to know, that's the great thing about this
forum, you only have to post a question.
Many thanks to you and all the others that answered my question .
Butch Curtis
FollowupID:
8291
Reply By: Member - Nigel - Sunday, Mar 02, 2003 at 16:06
Sunday, Mar 02, 2003 at 16:06
There is another AGM type battery that has more Amphours than the optimas (but less CCA) and are cheaper. They are called Powercel and are available at:
http://www.powerdive.com.au/products/Accessories/Batteries/
Their ratings are at the 10 hour rate whereas most are at the 20 hour rate so keep in mind that the 90Ah is really a 98Ah when comparing to others. That size should fit in a standard N70 tray.
Haven't tried them yet but intend to get one for my trailer to overcome the vibration problem of normal deep cycles.
Currently using a Federal 90 Ah Deep cycle in my car - it's 2 years only and still going strong.
AnswerID:
14304
Follow Up By: Butch Curtis - Wednesday, Mar 05, 2003 at 21:44
Wednesday, Mar 05, 2003 at 21:44
Thanks Nigel
I will
check these out also,sounds good. Thanks for all help.
butch
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