Batteries
What are the best batteries to get to replace 4 -6volt deep cycle for our house battery pack. brands and type please.
Forum Discussion
I am not sure there is a BEST.. But will make some comments
For traditional Flooded Wet Cell types (The kind you give the occasional drink of DISTILLED water) Trojan has long been considered the best or at least among the best (Crown gets good ratings too) but they are EXPENSIVE and I am not sure the quality is worth the expense.
Sam's Club usually has the lowest price Costco #2 and the batteries are often either US-Battery or Johnson Controls (Same as Interestate) very good batteries.
Interstate is not bad either.
When my OEM Interstates gave up the ghost I was not far from a DEKA battery store. When I figured teh cost of Sam's PLUS membership (Which I do not have) and so on the DEKA's were not that much more expensive.. DEKA is East Penn Battery company.. There is one and only one lead processing plant in the USA which refines (Smelts) lead for use in batteries.. it is owned by... EAST PENN BATTERY COMPANY.. so the batteries are 100% Made in the USA.. Only one that can make that claim.
NOW.. Some observations
The original GC-2 (WOrkaholic U-2200) were 220 amp horus (C/10) and needed watering every mother's day when new. As they grew older they needed more frequent watering (Typical of the type of battery)
The DEKA's are G-20's 230 amp horus. and there are 3 Group 27's in parallel with 'em. they went FOUR YEARS less a month before they got thirsty and needed a drink... So far they are .. Well it is time to check them again. but I do not anticipate adding water.
NEXT: alternative types of batteries
Maintenance free (Also known as Sealed Valve Regulated Lead Acid Batteries) It is hard to find those in DEEP CYCLE less you go to AGM.. These do not have removable caps so you can not add water And since most of them are MARINE/deep cycle or MARINE/rv (Really starting batteries) I do not recommend them period.
FInally AGM and Optima (I do not recommend optima)
These are SVRLA like the Maintenance free. You can get 'em in DEEP CYCLE but they are way way way way more expensive. In my expierence they do not outlast a well tended flooded wet. (in fact they were the last batteries in the RV and the first ones out.. I had them on a 2nd loop with the proper charger on em)
Unless maintenance is an issue I do not suggest these (Some RV's maintanence is a witch)
They are EXPENSIVE but if you go that route LIFELINE is condisdered the best
Just remember most of the "Advantages" folks tout.. Are fiction.
Optima is an AGM battery with about 2/3 the capacity of regualar at 3/2 the price so I do not recommend it either. Optima does have a place though.. 4 Runners, Wave Runners and other "Rough Service" vehicles that go bouncing over rocks, gullies. logs and other "Send for your kiddneys later" as I think it was Phillis Diller said in one Bob Hope (If it was not him) movie.
For traditional Flooded Wet Cell types (The kind you give the occasional drink of DISTILLED water) Trojan has long been considered the best or at least among the best (Crown gets good ratings too) but they are EXPENSIVE and I am not sure the quality is worth the expense.
Sam's Club usually has the lowest price Costco #2 and the batteries are often either US-Battery or Johnson Controls (Same as Interestate) very good batteries.
Interstate is not bad either.
When my OEM Interstates gave up the ghost I was not far from a DEKA battery store. When I figured teh cost of Sam's PLUS membership (Which I do not have) and so on the DEKA's were not that much more expensive.. DEKA is East Penn Battery company.. There is one and only one lead processing plant in the USA which refines (Smelts) lead for use in batteries.. it is owned by... EAST PENN BATTERY COMPANY.. so the batteries are 100% Made in the USA.. Only one that can make that claim.
NOW.. Some observations
The original GC-2 (WOrkaholic U-2200) were 220 amp horus (C/10) and needed watering every mother's day when new. As they grew older they needed more frequent watering (Typical of the type of battery)
The DEKA's are G-20's 230 amp horus. and there are 3 Group 27's in parallel with 'em. they went FOUR YEARS less a month before they got thirsty and needed a drink... So far they are .. Well it is time to check them again. but I do not anticipate adding water.
NEXT: alternative types of batteries
Maintenance free (Also known as Sealed Valve Regulated Lead Acid Batteries) It is hard to find those in DEEP CYCLE less you go to AGM.. These do not have removable caps so you can not add water And since most of them are MARINE/deep cycle or MARINE/rv (Really starting batteries) I do not recommend them period.
FInally AGM and Optima (I do not recommend optima)
These are SVRLA like the Maintenance free. You can get 'em in DEEP CYCLE but they are way way way way more expensive. In my expierence they do not outlast a well tended flooded wet. (in fact they were the last batteries in the RV and the first ones out.. I had them on a 2nd loop with the proper charger on em)
Unless maintenance is an issue I do not suggest these (Some RV's maintanence is a witch)
They are EXPENSIVE but if you go that route LIFELINE is condisdered the best
Just remember most of the "Advantages" folks tout.. Are fiction.
Optima is an AGM battery with about 2/3 the capacity of regualar at 3/2 the price so I do not recommend it either. Optima does have a place though.. 4 Runners, Wave Runners and other "Rough Service" vehicles that go bouncing over rocks, gullies. logs and other "Send for your kiddneys later" as I think it was Phillis Diller said in one Bob Hope (If it was not him) movie.
