Best deep cycle ?
Any battery recommendations?
Any opinions on the ever start Max?
Thanks
Any opinions on the ever start Max?
Thanks
Forum Discussion
102 Replies
westend wrote:
X2.... He is wrong on so many points, that I wouldn't know where to start... And I really don't feel like writing that much.tplife wrote:
Your assumptions about use and price is definitely flawed. The comparison is not accurate. I choose not to explain it, I'm pretty sure everyone knows.
RJsfishin, I paid $120.00 for my Optima vs. $80.00 for the Costco marine flooded battery, an extra investiment of $40.00 more for my example...and the AGM has far exceeded what I expected for a power source. AGMS are rated to last 2 to 3X longer than flooded batteries, at least according to a lot of their customers. There are too many advantages to list here, but like pre-'75 cars, folks cling to what they know and love rather than what they buy and try!
Lets say you needed 100Ah usable capacity from your batteries, and your main charging system was from the vehicles alternator. Now with conventional deep cycle batteries because you would only have 25% of your battery bank usable you would need 400Ah of battery bank, now there are a few ways you could do this, but the least expensive way would be four x 225Ah 6 volt Trojan batteries at a cost of $1,120. Now with AGM batteries you could have just two x 100Ah giving you 200Ah total, so there is your 100 Ah with heaps in reserve and an easy life for the batteries, so only 2 batteries, at a cost of $710 all up, or better still you could use a single 200Ah battery for a cost of $695.00. - See more at: http://www.fridge-and-solar.net/agm.htm#sthash.lE3bx5yy.dpuf- had a pair of grp 27 everstart maxx that lasted 7 yrs of boondocking. Take care of them and you can get good life out of them. It's all about how you are gonna use them. And what your needs are. I usually am the only one in my toyhauler so batt use is very minimal. Think I'll try 2 6v next time just for kicks. Right now I am havin conv issues. That's first.
- I read that a flooded battery's #1 killer is vibration, the primary reason AGMs outlast flooded batteries and are the choice of the military. I also considered flooded batteries for my application, but my research provided so many good reasons why the extra money I paid was more than worth the price difference...and no more holes in my jeans or hydrometer readings! :)
tplife wrote:
...I'm sorry that you thought I was apologizing to you, it was meant for those who either don't want to throw good "toy" money into the wind, didn't understand AGM technology, or were unable to read the detailed links that I offered for the discussion. If you got a laugh out of my posts without bothering to understand what AGMs are and why they are superior, I am stoked...
LOL...
Not sure how you come to your conclusions, but I chose FLA technology over AGM for many of the reasons DryCamper posted.
I am also not sure that the energy argument in your link is really that valid either since energy in = energy out + losses, which the losses aren't really that significant when comparing well maintained batteries.- DryCamper11 thanks for the great link with links.
As AGM purchase price drops in time I want to look at them as well. As more and more cars start going with AGM batteries that will help volume. It seems the old FLA battery technology after 100 years of usage is phasing out.
AGM Auto Usage
“We’re installing 6 million in AGM annual capacity for the U.S. market. tplife wrote:
Beemerphile is correct about AGM batteries not being the best solution for everyone. I am sorry if he or anyone are insulted - I backed up my experience and findings with links all the way. Sometimes the difference between long-term cost efficiency and "I want it right now" is the money that pays the fees at the campground or puts gas in the tank for the next campout. The references in my posts are legitimate charts from real-world experience of a lit of people (like myself) who have been buying flooded batteries for decades and are taking an open mind
I consider myself to have an open mind (who doesn't :) ). I looked at one link you provided. If you have any more, I missed them, but would like to look at them. The one link you provided had four comparisons - energy stored per weight, energy stored per volume, cost per energy stored and total cost over life of the battery. In 3 of the 4, the flooded cells beat all others (AGM, gel, and more). In the total cost, the AGM won, but only by making assumptions that weren't warranted and don't apply to most of us.
I am of the opinion that AGM batteries are better than flooded cells in many ways (gas emission, vibration resistance, extreme charge rate and others), but not in lifetime cost, nor in the other measures of that article that I care about:
Battery Type Comparisons
If AGMs ever drop in cost to the level of flooded cells, I'll buy them. Until then, I'll stick with flooded cells.64thunderbolt wrote:
skipnchar wrote:
Probably will replace those Neverstarts about every year and a half. They are actually modified starting batteries. Best true deep cycle in my opinion is the Trojan T 105 (for RVing use) I average over 8 years per set ad they're used HARD.
I had 2 gr27 everstarts last 7 yrs. Just need proper maint & care.
I agree if was not for my DC 27's abuse they would last longer but abusing the house batteries is still cheaper than abusing the spouse. :)
After years of learning about batteries I have decided the effort get the last 30% of life out of them just shortens mine so I stopped trying. Same way with tires.NYCAMPDUDE wrote:
Wow 2 6 volts....Awesome.....That would be the ultimate....on a pop up...Thanks:B
??skipnchar wrote:
Probably will replace those Neverstarts about every year and a half. They are actually modified starting batteries. Best true deep cycle in my opinion is the Trojan T 105 (for RVing use) I average over 8 years per set ad they're used HARD.
I had 2 gr27 everstarts last 7 yrs. Just need proper maint & care.- One maker of car batteries is planning to ad the capacity to make about 6 million AGM batteries annually for use as starting batteries. At some point they should become about as cheap as FLA. I have started moving to AGM for like mowers, ATV's, etc because they do not get the care they need. When Lithium batteries starts gaining real market share the AGM will become the low end. I expect EPA to kill of the FLA type batteries like the old light bulbs and other old technologies.
When I buy six new ones for the GC it will be more T-105's or something similar I expect because $$$ x 6 adds up. :) If the next set lasts for 8 years like the current set the cart will be 16 years old and I will be 70.
Some day our battery needs will go to zero anyway. :)
