Batteries

[Tom_Barb]

What are the best batteries to get to replace 4 -6volt deep cycle for our house battery pack.
brands and type please.

[ArchHoagland]

Duracell AGM battery maker


Last week I replaced both my 6 volt house batteries with the Sam's club GC2 AGM batteries. They were $179 each with an $18 core charge.

Got rid of the one gallon distilled water container and turkey baster I had to carry along all the time. Good riddance. Figured it was worth the extra money to have maintenance free batteries.

First you need to take pictures of the existing batteries and how they are connected before you disconnect them.

Second you need to measure the physical size of the existing batteries to make sure the new ones will fit.

Are you going to do the installation yourself or have it done?

[Smitty77]

I'm not in Sam's Club as often as Costco. But I've noted the in Costco, different regions of the country may have different suppliers of GC2's. Perhaps Sam's Club is that way too?

And OP, only other item I'll add, at least until you quality what your objective's for Best is to you:)!

If you boon dock/dry camp often, the fastest recharging (Shore Power/Generator/Solar/Wind) batteries will be:
1) Lithium
2) AGM (Lifeline's are ~20% faster at recharging - if you have a charging system that can maximize power in Bulk mode. We have X's 4 Lifeline L16's - and wish our Magnum MS2812 could produce more power for Bulk, as Lifelne's, especially this size bank, can handle just about anything you can toss at them:)!)
3) Conventional Wet

So if one of your criteria's is for faster re-charge, their's some Hmmm info for you:)!

Best to you, and all,
Smitty

[twodownzero]

wa8yxm wrote:
"The sams club batteries are the same as deka. "

Do not know if they are or not. Only know that by the time I paid for the membership ther would not be enough savings to cofer the additional miles to get to Sam's Club and the Deka store assistant helped me install so I'm very happy with the DEKA store.. and the DEKA batteries.

They are the same batteries. Nothing wrong with getting them elsewhere; I got them at Sam's Club because they were the only place open on Saturday when I went to buy them. They seem great so far.

[wa8yxm]

"The sams club batteries are the same as deka. "

Do not know if they are or not. Only know that by the time I paid for the membership ther would not be enough savings to cofer the additional miles to get to Sam's Club and the Deka store assistant helped me install so I'm very happy with the DEKA store.. and the DEKA batteries.

[twodownzero]

wa8yxm wrote:
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.

The sams club batteries are the same as deka.

[Nomadac]

I brought 4 Crown Batteries that were blems from a distributor for a really good price with a 1 year warranty. If you contact Crown they can tell if they hadealer or distributor in your area . I have been very satisfied with them.

[dons2346]

If your battery tray can handle them, then Lifeline L 16s

[Lwiddis]

Not sure you need the “best” batteries. I don’t.

[pianotuna]

If you can afford them, Rolls Surrette.

[wa8yxm]

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.

[jorbill2or]

Best ? In what way? Top brand for years has been flooded Trojan t105 golf cart batteries. $$$
Best in AGM ? No “maintenance” ( checking water levels) probably Lifeline $$$$$
Best “overall” ? switch to 2-3 100 amp 12 volt battleborn lithium at 2-3 grand $$$$$$$$$$$$$$$
Best lower priced ? Probably the clubs flooded offering .. Sams , Costco
Even expensive batteries require attention or they can be toast quickly. Best may be inexpensive so if you forget and drain too much from them they are less expensive to replace

[accsys]

One of the best is Lifeline AGM. Not inexpensive but very much worth it.

[s_N_s]

I don't have the name right off hand but I purchased ours from Sam's Club. Duracell is the brand they handle, just ran out to the garage to take a look. $90 Brrrrrrrrrrrrr! that was a cold run. lolol