Chassis?Starter Grp 31 AGM. CROWN1 AGM?
I've been spending a few weeks trying to save my current CAT 8D Maintenance Free Starter Battery, due to an unfortunate few days of drain from Fog Lights being left on. (Pretty sure I have them back, ...
Forum Discussion
Appreciated the input from all. Will research Northstar/X2Power units, I had seen before they had a good warranty on the X2Power's. I've also noted LY's multiple favorable review of his. And researching the Internet, so it must be true, I also read the Fourwheeler battery review, where Northstar/Odyssey came out very close and at the top of Winch and Boombox testing. The Winch test, probably the closest to Starting duty of a Diesel, the Northstar had a large margin higher feet of winching then the next closest Odyssey. These were all with Grp 34 test batteries. I will comment that both Northstar and Odyssey are very proud of the batteries, when you look at they're prices:)!
http://www.fourwheeler.com/how-to/154-1303-battery-bashing/
I also reflected upon the input from a few here, that Starting duty usage is a lot less strenuous then day after day of higher cycled duty of House support. A valid point, and worth factoring/balancing top potential capability vs costs. (For starting duty, especially when a robust bank of House Battery is just a Battery Boost switch away - is paying 20-40% more money for what may be 'the best' battery - really needed?).
And great timing from when posted this request for input, to an Email from another boating buddy (They're and OK bunch!). He said he'd gone with Lifeline for House duty (He also went with L16's, like I have, X's8 of them in his trawler.), but had gone with two banks of X's2 Grp 31 FullRiver Full Throttle for his two CAT engines. He did say he had another boating buddy, that had bought the SAM's Club Duracell GRP31's AGM's for his Starter duty about two years ago. He's going to check with him to see how they've been treating him. (He's a lobster fishermen, and uses his boat much more frequently then leisure owners, so he thought his input would be relevant.)
And of course, SAM's and Costco (Though Costco never seems to have a many choices for RV'er's as SAM's seems to have.), could have different 'sourced' batteries on any given stores region. And what was the source a year, or two years ago, could for sure be different today. But sure got to like the price:)!
One last comment, again from this game boating buddies email last night. He said he'd known many boaters that have been supported well with Marine/Dual Purpose Batteries in the Starting Duty usage. He stipulated they were 'dedicated' to Starter, vs combo use Starting/House usage. Suppose that goes back to the input here, that the Starting duty is not all that strenuous. He also suggested I just stay with the 8D, to simplify install, and one less set of cables in the mix. So I suppose I'll poke around some more at the 8D AGM's Starting batteries too...
So I've really found myself at an unusual place - where I have not 'definitive' answer/recommendation to provide:)! Might just Cut & Paste both Mexicowander and Pianotuna's comments. (The hat draw, and that the least of the group could serve well....).
And I want to confirm it is always my intention/desire, to properly maintain the charge of any battery I own. House and Chassis both... I did over this 5 year period have some help from a few RV repair places, and I did have the wrong size fuse on my Magnum Smart Battery Combiner (25A blew on me a few times, resulting in a drained battery before I caught it. The SBC LED's all indicated everything as OK, and provides no indication that the fuse is blown. Going to the proper 30A has seen to remedy this problem.) (Like the Magnum SBC product, up to 25Amp diversion of power to the Chassis (Or Aux 2, is not a saving a Chassis.) battery. Finally, I also had an Alternator go out, and caught that as we were driving due to both my dash gauge, and Silverleaf... It had drawn the CAT 8D MF down pretty low before it noted it... Generator driving took care of us for the short term until I replaced the Alternator.). Basically just acknowledging that I never purposely abuse the Chassis battery:)!
I'm pretty sure the CAT 8D MF will be OK for awhile longer... So have more time to reflect on future Chassis replacement.
Thanks to those of you who shared your thoughts, and best to all,
Smitty
http://www.fourwheeler.com/how-to/154-1303-battery-bashing/
I also reflected upon the input from a few here, that Starting duty usage is a lot less strenuous then day after day of higher cycled duty of House support. A valid point, and worth factoring/balancing top potential capability vs costs. (For starting duty, especially when a robust bank of House Battery is just a Battery Boost switch away - is paying 20-40% more money for what may be 'the best' battery - really needed?).
And great timing from when posted this request for input, to an Email from another boating buddy (They're and OK bunch!). He said he'd gone with Lifeline for House duty (He also went with L16's, like I have, X's8 of them in his trawler.), but had gone with two banks of X's2 Grp 31 FullRiver Full Throttle for his two CAT engines. He did say he had another boating buddy, that had bought the SAM's Club Duracell GRP31's AGM's for his Starter duty about two years ago. He's going to check with him to see how they've been treating him. (He's a lobster fishermen, and uses his boat much more frequently then leisure owners, so he thought his input would be relevant.)
And of course, SAM's and Costco (Though Costco never seems to have a many choices for RV'er's as SAM's seems to have.), could have different 'sourced' batteries on any given stores region. And what was the source a year, or two years ago, could for sure be different today. But sure got to like the price:)!
One last comment, again from this game boating buddies email last night. He said he'd known many boaters that have been supported well with Marine/Dual Purpose Batteries in the Starting Duty usage. He stipulated they were 'dedicated' to Starter, vs combo use Starting/House usage. Suppose that goes back to the input here, that the Starting duty is not all that strenuous. He also suggested I just stay with the 8D, to simplify install, and one less set of cables in the mix. So I suppose I'll poke around some more at the 8D AGM's Starting batteries too...
So I've really found myself at an unusual place - where I have not 'definitive' answer/recommendation to provide:)! Might just Cut & Paste both Mexicowander and Pianotuna's comments. (The hat draw, and that the least of the group could serve well....).
And I want to confirm it is always my intention/desire, to properly maintain the charge of any battery I own. House and Chassis both... I did over this 5 year period have some help from a few RV repair places, and I did have the wrong size fuse on my Magnum Smart Battery Combiner (25A blew on me a few times, resulting in a drained battery before I caught it. The SBC LED's all indicated everything as OK, and provides no indication that the fuse is blown. Going to the proper 30A has seen to remedy this problem.) (Like the Magnum SBC product, up to 25Amp diversion of power to the Chassis (Or Aux 2, is not a saving a Chassis.) battery. Finally, I also had an Alternator go out, and caught that as we were driving due to both my dash gauge, and Silverleaf... It had drawn the CAT 8D MF down pretty low before it noted it... Generator driving took care of us for the short term until I replaced the Alternator.). Basically just acknowledging that I never purposely abuse the Chassis battery:)!
I'm pretty sure the CAT 8D MF will be OK for awhile longer... So have more time to reflect on future Chassis replacement.
Thanks to those of you who shared your thoughts, and best to all,
Smitty
