Today, August 3, Sam's club has a sale on Marine/RV batteries. Since my current Interstate is getting to be 3+ years old I'm considering purchasing one of the Duracell Marine/RV batteries at Sam's & keeping the Interstate currently in the camper as backup. My Interstate hasn't been holding up well when dry camping at music festivals we attend. I do use my Honda 2000i as a backup charger, but would like a longer lasting battery plus one festival doesn't allow generators. Any background or experience with Duracell Marine/RV batteries would be much appreciated.Two batteries under consideration:Duracell 27MAGM Platinum w/ CCA-580 & MCA-900 price: about $160Duracell SL34MAGM w/ CCA750 & MCA 850 price: about $120This is for my 2015 Cedar Creek Silverback 29RECurrent Interestate - CCA-550 & MCA-690

Chances are it's the charging and not the battery. Percentage like 90%.100% guesswork until you obtain an accurate hydrometer and observe reality vs guesswork.Some folks go through batteries like a 10-year-old goes through M&M's. They refuse to make an effort to diagnose an obvious argument between reality and what they think :)

In the OP aren't they all "starting" batteries? You want a "deep cycle" battery. At least get one with "DC" in its name even if it is a hybrid starting/deep cycle type. Look for AH rating at the 20 hr rate. Should be 90 or so. More is better.

BFL13 wrote:In the OP aren't they all "starting" batteries? You want a "deep cycle" battery. At least get one with "DC" in its name even if it is a hybrid starting/deep cycle type. Look for AH rating at the 20 hr rate. Should be 90 or so. More is better.Yeah, the 20 amp hour rate: 92 according to the website description. I agree, I don't need cold cranking, but deep cycle.

Hate to say it but look at golf cart jars. They are true deep cycle batteries.

I would consider those batteries about the same as Interstate, no better or worse

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pianotuna
Nomad III
Aug 04, 2019
I'm more of a poorwad than a tightwad.

MEXICOWANDERER wrote:
Trojan and only Trojan offers a BCI car jar battery with other than pathetic plates. Of course, there is Rolls, but the price scares tightwads back under the bed.
pianotuna
Nomad III
Aug 04, 2019
Hi

Here is some information that may help:

https://www.driveduracell.com/pub/media/wysiwyg/Duracell_Spec_Sheet.pdf

Parrothead Mike wrote:
Original poster here.

Bought the Duracell 27MAGM Platinum w/ CCA-580 & MCA-900. Was on sale for $138 + tax. Had to get it at Sam's today due to the one day sale. Thanks to everyone for your input.
MEXICOWANDERER
Explorer
Aug 03, 2019
Trojan and only Trojan offers a BCI car jar battery with other than pathetic plates. Of course, there is Rolls, but the price scares tightwads back under the bed.

There is 50 TIMES the difference between a standard golf car battery and a standard car jar battery. Thirty times the difference between a golf car battery and a Trojan car jar and 500 times the difference between a car jar and a Rolls.

The only difference between car jar batteries is the plate paste. The RV marine has a more porous cured paste. then a golf car the same manufacturer. The really big 2-volt cell batteries offer significantly harder plates. As I pointed out in earlier threads getting a 175 MCA out of a hybrid Car jar with 2-volt cell type plates would be a miracle.

I do love Costco's return refund policy. Best in the buiness.
Parrothead_Mike
Explorer
Aug 03, 2019
Original poster here.

Bought the Duracell 27MAGM Platinum w/ CCA-580 & MCA-900. Was on sale for $138 + tax. Had to get it at Sam's today due to the one day sale. Thanks to everyone for your input.
MDKMDK
Explorer
Aug 03, 2019
I've had two of the Duracell SL34MAGM and used them as starting batteries in a Cavalier and an F150. Both perform well as starters. The 20 Ah rate for them is 55. Not much if you're off gridding a lot.
theoldwizard1
Explorer II
Aug 03, 2019
CCA and MCA are not very important for a "house" battery. Reserve capacity (RC) and 20 amp hour rating are a more important numbers.

pianotuna wrote:
Hate to say it but look at golf cart jars. They are true deep cycle batteries.

Yep ! In the long run, you will be happier with a pair of 6V GC-2 golf cart batteries. If AGM is a "MUST HAVE", AGM golf cart batteries do exist, but are difficult to acquire and are much more expense than "flooded" golf cart batteries.
Lwiddis
Explorer II
Aug 03, 2019
Except for running AC and microwave why aren’t you recharging with solar? That one “generator free” festival must be pleasant.
Ron3rd
Explorer III
Aug 03, 2019
I would consider those batteries about the same as Interstate, no better or worse
pianotuna
Nomad III
Aug 03, 2019
Hate to say it but look at golf cart jars. They are true deep cycle batteries.
Parrothead_Mike
Explorer
Aug 03, 2019
BFL13 wrote:
In the OP aren't they all "starting" batteries? You want a "deep cycle" battery. At least get one with "DC" in its name even if it is a hybrid starting/deep cycle type. Look for AH rating at the 20 hr rate. Should be 90 or so. More is better.

Yeah, the 20 amp hour rate: 92 according to the website description. I agree, I don't need cold cranking, but deep cycle.

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