that's what I thought, thanks. I may get one too for the trailer. Nice to have the same size in the truck and trailer.
added: went down from 115 to 90 Ah?
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Anyone use a marine dual purpose lead acid battery?
- Thread starter Kernal
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that's what I thought, thanks. I may get one too for the trailer. Nice to have the same size in the truck and trailer.
added: went down from 115 to 90 Ah?
well, I ended up buying another Costco Kirkland group 27 dual purpose (starting and deep cycle), and not the Duralast. Both made by Johnson Controls as far as I know.
Reasoning:
- it has 115 Ah vs the 90 of the Duralast. To me that's important cuz I'm running a fridge on a 1 battery system. 30% longer for the fridge is a big deal to me.
- the CA is 750 vs the 1000 for the Duralast, but I'm rarely at low temps and the same battery in my 80 can easily start the engine many times in a row even when seriously depleted. I think the 80 does not require a lot of power to start when in good condition. I'm a wuss, I like balmy weather for my wheeling... Plus a cold
feels better when it's not freezing outside 
- the same battery in my 80 suffered some serious travails when I did quite a few tests to full depletion. Looks fine so far.
- it's $71+tax vs the $89+tax of the Duralast. Pretty inexpensive in the grand scheme of things.
Basically: higher capacity, sufficient Cranking, withstanding abuse, a tad cheaper. Looks good to me.
Reasoning:
- it has 115 Ah vs the 90 of the Duralast. To me that's important cuz I'm running a fridge on a 1 battery system. 30% longer for the fridge is a big deal to me.
- the CA is 750 vs the 1000 for the Duralast, but I'm rarely at low temps and the same battery in my 80 can easily start the engine many times in a row even when seriously depleted. I think the 80 does not require a lot of power to start when in good condition. I'm a wuss, I like balmy weather for my wheeling... Plus a cold
feels better when it's not freezing outside - the same battery in my 80 suffered some serious travails when I did quite a few tests to full depletion. Looks fine so far.
- it's $71+tax vs the $89+tax of the Duralast. Pretty inexpensive in the grand scheme of things.
Basically: higher capacity, sufficient Cranking, withstanding abuse, a tad cheaper. Looks good to me.
- Thread starter
- #23
E9999: Amp hour versus reserve capacity confuses me a bit. Like your Costco battery will produce about 5 amps for 20 hours, versus a 20 amp draw for 180 minutes (the Duralast Marine DP), if I got it right?? Seems like the higher Ah rating will allow a lower amp draw for a longer time period, but the higher RC will allow a higher amp draw for a short period? That seems to go along with the differences in CA. My final price was $77.90, but that was with a 10% discount. Sounds like we both got what we needed (no fridge for me, yet). We'll have to bring this thread back in ?? years to see how the batteries performed over time.
Here is a link that discusses Amp hours, maybe someone can decipher it better than I can, and it includes a example!
Amp Hours and Beer
Here is a link that discusses Amp hours, maybe someone can decipher it better than I can, and it includes a
example!Amp Hours and Beer
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E9999: Amp hour versus reserve capacity confuses me a bit. Like your Costco battery will produce about 5 amps for 20 hours, versus a 20 amp draw for 180 minutes (the Duralast Marine DP), if I got it right?? Seems like the higher Ah rating will allow a lower amp draw for a longer time period, but the higher RC will allow a higher amp draw for a short period? That seems to go along with the differences in CA. My final price was $77.90, but that was with a 10% discount. Sounds like we both got what we needed (no fridge for me, yet). We'll have to bring this thread back in ?? years to see how the batteries performed over time.
Here is a link that discusses Amp hours, maybe someone can decipher it better than I can, and it includes a
Amp Hours and Beer
I'm sure there are many folks who would be be better served by the Duralast. Especially in colder climes. The CCA is pretty good.
the RC is the number of minutes it can deliver 25A before it's pooped.
Yes, Ah seems to be more an overall picture of the capacity for low amps.
RC is moderate Amps
CA is very high Amps
check out Jason's nifty chart on discharge rates in my current thread on winches in the recovery section. Interesting.
IIRC Amp Hours can be measured in several ways. It's one thing manufacturers do to make their specs look better.
Like Duralast measuring the CCA at 32* instead of 0*.
I'm sure
No, there are actually several standard definitions: M(arine)CA or CA which is at 32F and C(old)CA which is at 0F, and IIRC another one around 80F, H(ot?)CA.
It's actually not bad, you can get a pretty good idea of what performance the battery is capable of, with all these numbers (assuming they are truthful).
In 2006 Consumer's Reports rated the Autolite 96 from WalMart near the top of the Group 24s, so I snagged one in the correct 80 format regarding the terminals. It's been a great battery through 2 N. Idaho winters and has survived several episodes of the kids leaving lights on overnight and such on the family 80. Shows no signs of weakening at all though I admit I'm in the habit of hooking up the trickle charger on all my vehicles a couple times a winter and whenever I think of it in summer. I tend to get 6-7 years out of batteries and wonder if this habit impacts that. I'm pleased with it and the price was in the $80 range if I recall correctly. I have a Delco marine dual purpose battery that's working out well - kicks the butt of a dedicated marine deep cycle battery sitting right next to it, actually. I always run the boat on the Delco, then switch to the deep cycle when we overnight, knowing that if the deep cycle dies on a trip the Delco will get us home every time.
DougM
DougM
yes, I think the trickling is very helpful for deep cycle batts.
IIRC, I remember reading on the Johnson controls site that they were very explicit that one should not use high amps to charge deep cycle batteries. (I don't know why)
(still want to play with desulfation chargers one of these days. I just lost a 4 or 5 years young mucho$$ Trojan size 31 giant affair. Would not take a charge, but I gave up on it since it was also seriously bulged... (no pun intended, don't go there...))
IIRC, I remember reading on the Johnson controls site that they were very explicit that one should not use high amps to charge deep cycle batteries. (I don't know why)
(still want to play with desulfation chargers one of these days. I just lost a 4 or 5 years young mucho$$ Trojan size 31 giant affair. Would not take a charge, but I gave up on it since it was also seriously bulged... (no pun intended, don't go there...
))
I have a big Marine starting/deep cycle battery in my 4runner. It is the largest battery that will fit my truck, fills up from the fender, to the radiator with only about 1/2 inch to spare.
I have winched with it quite a bit off the smaller screw posts with no problems and it spins the little 22r over like it is nothing.
Been on my truck about 3 years at this point.
I have winched with it quite a bit off the smaller screw posts with no problems and it spins the little 22r over like it is nothing.
Been on my truck about 3 years at this point.
The Optima's are overpriced for what you get.
Optima Yellow Top Group 31 ($249.99 on Summit)
Cranking Amps at 0 Degrees (F) 900 amps
Cranking Amps at 32 Degrees (F) 1,125 amps
Reserve Capacity155 minutes
Sears PM-1 Group 31 ($249.99 on Sears.com)
Cranking Amps at 0 Degrees (F) 1150 amps
Cranking Amps at 32 Degrees (F) (Not Listed)
Reserve Capacity205 minutes
The Optima's are overpriced for what you get.
snip
not being an expert on Optimas, admittedly, that is indeed my impression. Together with some alarming rates of failure, maybe sporadically.
But of course, they fill a specific niche (no water replenishment to be worried about, higher resistance to vibration perhaps, and no leak when you're rubber on top...)
Same niche that the Sears marine Die Hard's fit. Both the PM-1 and PM-2 match everything you said.
Except the PM-1 is 14 pounds heavier than the equivelent yellow top (61 vs 75 lbs).
My best guess (and without cracking open both the PM-1 and Yellow Top it's impossible to say for sure) is that the extra weight of the PM-1 is due to the heavier construction of it and thicker plates. Both of which translates into higher resistance to vibration and more likely to hold up.
Optima's advertising is excellent, however.
these PM affairs, are these the Platinum series? cuz those are also gel batteries IIRC.
Kernal, any update on the Duralast battery?
I just picked up same one as you today. I wanted the marine Deep cycle but could not find it at any Autozones in my area. So i got the Group 27 dual purpose.
I'm using it as my second battery in my dual battery setup.
I just picked up same one as you today. I wanted the marine Deep cycle but could not find it at any Autozones in my area. So i got the Group 27 dual purpose.
I'm using it as my second battery in my dual battery setup.
- Thread starter
- #40
Bringing this thread back from the dead to close the loop. The Duralast Marine battery, purchased in Oct 2009, was not used much in the vehicle I moved it to, but it did take and hold a charge up until about a year ago. It had been put on a smart charger about twice a year to keep it topped off and would drop down to maybe around 12.4v if it sat unused for a few months.
Recently I put it on a smart charger for a couple of days then after letting it sit a couple days more it only measured 10.4v, totally dead.
So the end of the story is that this Duralast Marine battery came with a one year full replacement and two additional years partial replacement warranty but seemed to last long beyond it's predicted life. FWIW.
Recently I put it on a smart charger for a couple of days then after letting it sit a couple days more it only measured 10.4v, totally dead.
So the end of the story is that this Duralast Marine battery came with a one year full replacement and two additional years partial replacement warranty but seemed to last long beyond it's predicted life. FWIW.
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