FYI/ what say you

[big_whitey]

Browsing today in a batteries + store in Miami . They had a battery brand name X2 with a five year free replacement warranty. It was a 90 amp hour battery and cost was $320 plus tax. Kinda $pendy but I must admit the five year warranty is enticing. I don't or hope I don't need a battery at this point but might be worth a second look when I do. I'm sure they aren't the best battery for the $$$ out there but that warranty will go a long way toward leveling the playing field.

[Sparky87k5]

I have used Interstate for years on my boat and get at best 3 seasons from 4 Group 27's. I now use AGM's and haven't replaced them in 6 years so far.

[kerry4951]

I am going on 4 years with my group 31 Deka AGMs. They are still working fine. They stay in the TC all year and my solar panels, while parked under a carport, keep them maintained. I installed them 4 years ago and have done nothing to them. Just the fact that I dont have to keep checking on water levels, or worry about leaking, makes it worth what I paid for them. Some have even installed them on their sides, which can be done with no issues. My next set will be AGMs.

[stickbowjoe]

I have bought expensive batteries, and less expensive batteries.

Full timing, plugged into shore power about 60% of the time, they have all gone south in under 2 years.

I am now on my third Autozone biggest, best battery. Or I was last week, when I traded for a new camper.

Good price, 1 year warranty, and they install it.

Works for me.

Batteries are like tires and diesel fuel and engine oil and brake pads to me.

Replace as needed.

Joe

[covered_wagon]

skipbee wrote:
You might consider AGM batteries, they are pretty much maintenance free, no water to add. Penn Manufacturing makes the Deka brand which we have used for several years, I will never go back to lead/acid batteries. The AGM's charge quicker, hold the charge better. I just clean the terminals annually. They are not as expensive as the ones you mention, I believe.

Skip why are AGM's better? I heard because you cannot add water to them they won't last as long simply because the water/ electrolyte does evaporate in the long run.

Also does AGM's last longer?

Thank you, Mike

[skipbee]

You might consider AGM batteries, they are pretty much maintenance free, no water to add. Penn Manufacturing makes the Deka brand which we have used for several years, I will never go back to lead/acid batteries. The AGM's charge quicker, hold the charge better. I just clean the terminals annually. They are not as expensive as the ones you mention, I believe.

[big_whitey]

The warranty would be the only reason I would even consider a battery this $pendy. Not sure what the warranty is on some of the other premium batteries like Lifeline etc. I dry camp exclusively and for months at a time so my batteries are absolutely critical and need to be as bullet proof as humanly possible. That said a warranty is no good if they have a small dealer network aka few locations.

[Butch50]

Like stated above about 3X the cost of the same size battery. Take the Interstate and it is warrantied for 30 months, So half the time but I'll bet the batteries as about 1/3 the cost. Also I'm sure many more places stock Interstate than you can find Batteries + for the warranty. For that price you could buy AGM batteries.

[popeyemth]

.

[Fishcamper]

The devil is in the details. I suggest you read every word of the actual warranty. For instance, what kinds of failure trigger the warranty? Is is absolutely no questions asked or will you have the hassle of proving that the failure was not caused by something you did or didn't do? Is there ever a situation where it will be pro-rated rather than a completely free replacement? And so on...and so on...

Pardon my cynicism but in my experience, the actual warranty is never as comprehensive as the advertised catch phrases suggest.

[covered_wagon]

Just need to keep the water above the lead plates. You can see them inside with a flashlight.

Actually it's best to buy the heaviest battery you can find, but, what battery place has a scale? I just pick them up looking for a good heavy one with a good price as my batteries have always lasted at least 5 years.

Just make sure your battery charger isn't a battery destroyer boiling the liquid all the time. You can hear it if you listen carefully. It shouldn't be boiling after a full charge. That ruins a battery in a big hurry.

I would not pay that price you mentioned because it's too much money.

Go cheapest, heaviest but most importantly a good charger that knows when to float not boil.

[trop-a-cal]

Interstate batteries are best, but like all batteries you need to keep them full of distilled water as when they are low they go bad fast.