Deka DC31DT battery? Deep Cycle?
"True Deep Cycle" according to local battery dealer. Here's the specs: Deka DC31DT Marine Deep Cycle Battery (Lead Acid) 12V, 650 CCA Our batteries from DEKA are made with the highest quality...
Forum Discussion
Let me share the details of a telephone conversation I just had with Tom in customer service at East Penn Mfg.
My questions summary:
1. DC31DT is a True Deep Cycle or hybrid, considering it is listed as "Marine" which is normally used as a distinction between True Deep Cycle batteries and a combinations deep cycle/starting battery.
2. Discharge rate is listed as "1500 cycles at 80%" A true deep cycle battery has acceptable repeated discharge of 50% without shortening the life of the battery.
3. Spec sheet says, "Note: The three "DC" deep cycle part numbers above include double insulated glass mat separators." Using the term "glass mat" now makes one think AGM technology.
Responses:
1. Whose part number is that, where did you find it? (he transposed the beginning of the part number to 31DCDT). Seems odd he isn't familiar with his own company's model number method, but okay. It is a true deep cycle. 'Marine' means it can be used for boat applications, like trolling motors and fish finders.
2. First response was it is an 80% battery. Then he said, no I think that is incorrect.
3. It is not AGM battery, but he did find and confirm that same statement is on their current product sheet as well.
I told Tom that not only would I like the information, I would ask for it in a formal manner so I could quote it online and clear up any confusion.
He said he'll talk with someone else, as he has never had such a high tech question before. He said he could Fax it to me.
I asked if he could email it. "Would you like me to fax it to you?" was the non-answer response. A little strange. Can you scan and email it to me, we have limited fax capabilities here. "I can put it in the mail to you"
I asked if he had a scanner, maybe could scan and email it. "Would you like me to fax it to you" was the response. Very odd.
I said, "Tom, if you're telling me you do not have any scanning or email capabilities, it gives a bad impression. I start thinking 1982 technology there. Do you have a scanner?"
Response: "Would you like me to fax it to you"
Okay, thank you, is there someone else I could talk to? Sure.
Turns out Mary, supervisor of customer service is in a meeting until this afternoon. He offered to allow me to leave a message. I told him I'd rather call back.
Where to go from here? Well, I'll call back and talk with Mary. Tom was polite, just not really familiar with batteries and I guess email is a bit out of his comfort zone. Seems odd, but I'm guessing he deals mostly with warranty work, shipments, orders, or whatever else.
I thought it odd there wasn't any offer to speak with someone more technical, but I didn't ask, either.
Shame they are 4.5hrs from me. I'd probably just stop in and clear it all up in about 10 mins.
Why is this important? Well, if we build a battery bank out of these batteries, we're going to stick with the exact same brand and model forever. Not like buying a car battery, where you are only stuck with something until the next change and can always just buy ONE if you don't like it. Buying 2-4 of these at $120/ea adds up quickly.
I can't help but think of the phrase, "Just the fax{sic}" :p
Stay tuned for the actual, definitive results.
Maybe I should just drive the nearly 3hrs round trip to Sams Club and buy 4 6v GC2 and be done with it.
My questions summary:
1. DC31DT is a True Deep Cycle or hybrid, considering it is listed as "Marine" which is normally used as a distinction between True Deep Cycle batteries and a combinations deep cycle/starting battery.
2. Discharge rate is listed as "1500 cycles at 80%" A true deep cycle battery has acceptable repeated discharge of 50% without shortening the life of the battery.
3. Spec sheet says, "Note: The three "DC" deep cycle part numbers above include double insulated glass mat separators." Using the term "glass mat" now makes one think AGM technology.
Responses:
1. Whose part number is that, where did you find it? (he transposed the beginning of the part number to 31DCDT). Seems odd he isn't familiar with his own company's model number method, but okay. It is a true deep cycle. 'Marine' means it can be used for boat applications, like trolling motors and fish finders.
2. First response was it is an 80% battery. Then he said, no I think that is incorrect.
3. It is not AGM battery, but he did find and confirm that same statement is on their current product sheet as well.
I told Tom that not only would I like the information, I would ask for it in a formal manner so I could quote it online and clear up any confusion.
He said he'll talk with someone else, as he has never had such a high tech question before. He said he could Fax it to me.
I asked if he could email it. "Would you like me to fax it to you?" was the non-answer response. A little strange. Can you scan and email it to me, we have limited fax capabilities here. "I can put it in the mail to you"
I asked if he had a scanner, maybe could scan and email it. "Would you like me to fax it to you" was the response. Very odd.
I said, "Tom, if you're telling me you do not have any scanning or email capabilities, it gives a bad impression. I start thinking 1982 technology there. Do you have a scanner?"
Response: "Would you like me to fax it to you"
Okay, thank you, is there someone else I could talk to? Sure.
Turns out Mary, supervisor of customer service is in a meeting until this afternoon. He offered to allow me to leave a message. I told him I'd rather call back.
Where to go from here? Well, I'll call back and talk with Mary. Tom was polite, just not really familiar with batteries and I guess email is a bit out of his comfort zone. Seems odd, but I'm guessing he deals mostly with warranty work, shipments, orders, or whatever else.
I thought it odd there wasn't any offer to speak with someone more technical, but I didn't ask, either.
Shame they are 4.5hrs from me. I'd probably just stop in and clear it all up in about 10 mins.
Why is this important? Well, if we build a battery bank out of these batteries, we're going to stick with the exact same brand and model forever. Not like buying a car battery, where you are only stuck with something until the next change and can always just buy ONE if you don't like it. Buying 2-4 of these at $120/ea adds up quickly.
I can't help but think of the phrase, "Just the fax{sic}" :p
Stay tuned for the actual, definitive results.
Maybe I should just drive the nearly 3hrs round trip to Sams Club and buy 4 6v GC2 and be done with it.
