Replacement for Die Hard Marine

[Ken C]

So my die hard finally gave out after a few years. This is my third one after swapping warranty 3 times. This is the one that lasted for more than 1 year.

I know there are a ton of battery threads here, but I'm wondering what company still has good quality?

Most swear by optimum, but I've had trouble with their yellow tops before.

Thinking about going Interstate. Anyone know what the biggest battery I can fit into the stock battery tray of the 80? I need extra terminals for lights, winch, etc

 

[NV1971FJ40]

Do you have dual batteries or are you using one deep cycle as your main cranking battery plus attaching a lot accessories to it?

 

[SmokingRocks]

This is the battery I have for both of my front batteries.
X2 Power AGM Group 27M

Had them for 3 years and they've been great. These batteries are basically rebranded Odyssey Extreme Batteries

Odyssey's are in my opinion (and many others too) the best batteries on the market today. I've also heard good things about interstates batteries, I would not buy an Optima again.

You can fit group 27, 34 and some have jammed in a huge group 31. The group 31 battery is 25lbs heavier than the group 27.

I chose the group 27m because it's a nice balance between the huge 31 and the smallish 34.

 

[BILT4ME]

I use an O'Reilly's battery 34RPLT AGM battery and have had it for 2 years so far. I killed it completely once by unknowingly turning on my off road lights and leaving it on all day until dead. I have recharged and no issues since. 767 CCA I believe. Ithink they are about $190 right now.

I have gone away from Interstate because they have deteriorated in their customer service and in our area rarely honor the warranties, especially for the prices they want to charge.

 

[BILT4ME]

Funny, I was totally confused by the title. I thought you wrecked your truck and needed a replacement because you're a "Die Hard Marine" because there are a LOT of those on this forum!

@UltraFJ40 ......

 

[UltraFJ40]

Funny, I was totally confused by the title. I thought you wrecked your truck and needed a replacement because your are a "Die Hard Marine" because there are a LOT of those on this forum!

@UltraFJ40 ......

Strap it on your back and carry it to the shop, then I'd go with the O'Reilly that Bilt suggested or an Interstate.

 

[Ken C]

Do you have dual batteries or are you using one deep cycle as your main cranking battery plus attaching a lot accessories to it?

Just 1 battery.

 

[pedwards]

for interstate, the prescribed battery is group size 24F
but i have fit a code 36, group size 27F.

 

[ppc]

Group 27F was the original OEM battery installed.

 

[ChaseTruck]

This is the battery I have for both of my front batteries.
X2 Power AGM Group 27M
....

I chose the group 27m because it's a nice balance between the huge 31 and the smallish 34.

We use the X2 Power in several trucks, group 27F for the 80

 

[stpetedale]

Walmart agm 5 year free replacemet $180.Use the extra $$ to buy a noco jump starter. My interstate just went out after 3 years so got a two year pro rated on remaining warranty. Gave me a harder time than usual because no receipt. You may have an alternator or charging issue?

 

[OffRoadScott]

I currently am running an Autozone battery group 24 in my LC, here in AZ batteries do not last as long as other states that have a battery friendly climate. The heat here in AZ and the underhood temps kill batteries. If I was to do an aftermarket battery like Odessey or Optima, I would go with the Odessey. I have run the Odessey in my Civic when it was my road course car and daily. That Odessey spun that motor every time without complaints. If or when I go to a dual battery setup up both will be an Odessey battery.

 

[Qball]

Assuming the marine battery is deep cycle then the alternator does not charge it correctly and will kill it. I had the same exact problem and now on a cheap interstate lead acid starting battery and no issues. Like me a lot of people used agm deep cycle battery as the starter battery but it will kill deep cycle batteries really quick.

Especially with agm deep cycle batteries you need to hook them up as secondary/house battery and use one of them smart chargers like ctek or redarc. Even with the dual battery setup with simple cutoff you will be better off getting 2 starting batteries or lead acid dual purpose batteries. AGM batteries need different charging conditions that the alternator does not provide so you won’t get it to fully charged or over charge and shorten it’s life a lot.

Ask me how I know this!

 

[rockstate45]

Funny, I was totally confused by the title. I thought you wrecked your truck and needed a replacement because you're a "Die Hard Marine" because there are a LOT of those on this forum!

@UltraFJ40 ......

At my last battery death, I ended up with an Interstate. Shopped around a little, and bought mine at Costco for $90 OTD (subtract $15 or so for core) and it’s been solid for the last year.

Pros to Costco:
- no questions asked warranty.
-longer warranty on the exact same battery from Batteries Plus (theirs was prorated)
-$90 vs $140 (+their core) in price

I had it die once on me in 8* weather when a coworker left my door every so slightly open and i didn’t drive it for a few days. Costco had no issues replacing it.

 

[SmokingRocks]

Assuming the marine battery is deep cycle then the alternator does not charge it correctly and will kill it. I had the same exact problem and now on a cheap interstate lead acid starting battery and no issues. Like me a lot of people used agm deep cycle battery as the starter battery but it will kill deep cycle batteries really quick.

Especially with agm deep cycle batteries you need to hook them up as secondary/house battery and use one of them smart chargers like ctek or redarc. Even with the dual battery setup with simple cutoff you will be better off getting 2 starting batteries or lead acid dual purpose batteries. AGM batteries need different charging conditions that the alternator does not provide so you won’t get it to fully charged or over charge and shorten it’s life a lot.

Ask me how I know this!

Yes and no.

Without getting too deep into the physical properties and science behind modern AGM deep cycles the biggest threat to their life is overcharging. Most vehicles ours included have a fixed output from the alternator of 14.4v roughly, this is where lead-acid batteries like to take charge at, sometimes slightly higher. AGM's are most sensitive to overcharging, they can handle up to 2.4v overcharge in most moderate climates and they will be just fine however they prefer the float charge to come in at 2.25-2.3v over 12 (so 14.25-14.3v).

In climates that are hotter year round the float charge should be even less than 2.25 over. This is why AGM deep cycles used for starting in Arizona don't last as long as they do in say Colorado or Montana. This is why applications like mine where I have 3 agm deep cycles work just fine for years and years (mine are also parallel float charged to 13.9v when the rig is parked in the sun)

Additionally, internet people state that deep cycles aren't designed to deliver cold cranking amps and thus shouldn't be used as a starter battery, there is a tiny bit of truth to this but it's mostly false. AGM deep cycles are more than capable of delivering all their rated CCA's to a starter, the limitation is that this discharge level is available for less continuous time than flooded lead-acid batteries. This really isn't an issue because the duration which they are able to deliver the CCA's is still more than enough to run the starter for a minute or so.

If you want more info send me a PM and I'll be happy to share it, just don't want to get this thread too far off into the weeds.

 

[Qball]

Yes and no.

Without getting too deep into the physical properties and science behind modern AGM deep cycles the biggest threat to their life is overcharging. Most vehicles ours included have a fixed output from the alternator of 14.4v roughly, this is where lead-acid batteries like to take charge at, sometimes slightly higher. AGM's are most sensitive to overcharging, they can handle up to 2.4v overcharge in most moderate climates and they will be just fine however they prefer the float charge to come in at 2.25-2.3v over 12 (so 14.25-14.3v).

In climates that are hotter year round the float charge should be even less than 2.25 over. This is why AGM deep cycles used for starting in Arizona don't last as long as they do in say Colorado or Montana. This is why applications like mine where I have 3 agm deep cycles work just fine for years and years (mine are also parallel float charged to 13.9v when the rig is parked in the sun)

Additionally, internet people state that deep cycles aren't designed to deliver cold cranking amps and thus shouldn't be used as a starter battery, there is a tiny bit of truth to this but it's mostly false. AGM deep cycles are more than capable of delivering all their rated CCA's to a starter, the limitation is that this discharge level is available for less continuous time than flooded lead-acid batteries. This really isn't an issue because the duration which they are able to deliver the CCA's is still more than enough to run the starter for a minute or so.

If you want more info send me a PM and I'll be happy to share it, just don't want to get this thread too far off into the weeds.

Great info! However like you said once the AGM batteries are full they like to be float charged or not charged at all. I was told that if I bring a dead deep cycle agm battery in a car or admit I used it in a car it will void the warranty due to over charging....or something. Yes I lied to sears.

this is why after much internet searching it seems the smart charger systems are the way to go. Otherwise why would all the RV and boats use those expensive smart chargers. Fortunately the same technology have made it to the auto(smaller) application and I don’t see any reason not to use them. Multi stage charging including floating charge when batteries are full, plus solar charging controller, plus battery temperature sensor, plus smart ignition detection, plus support for all types of batty types, plus some even has Battery management system for lithium battery if you got the coins. Also the traditional disconnect system isn’t any cheaper once you factor in the expensive cables required. Most smart chargers are 20-25amp so I only need cheaper and much easier to work with cables and not have to hook up separate solar controller. Just a much better, simpler and safer system over all.