Batteries

P

PhilR

Well-known member
Joined
Feb 3, 2011
Messages
416
Fluid Motion Model
C-28
Vessel Name
TUGALONG
Well, the time has come to buy batteries for my boat and I'm still trying to decide.....AGM or flooded. Don't like the added weight, but I'm leaning toward AGM. Any suggestions on where to buy? Sales? Thanks.

Phil
 
AGM, hands down. Never and acid/hydrogen issues. No maintenance. Less sensitive to vibration. No orientation issues (although this is not a real issue with our tugs). Good charge/power profile. More expensive, but these are mission-critical components in the system. Cabela's, if there is one near you.
 
AGM's are also very good at sitting unused without much self-discharge, and at surviving winters without worry about freezing. I've had great experience with East Penn (Deka) g31's, which also appear under several other labels. Look for a model number like 8A31DTM to identify a Deka g31 AGM. Our first house bank pair lasted 11 summers cruising BC and SE Alaska, anchored out most of the time, with no generator or charging source other than the engine while underway. I get them at a industrial battery supplier, most recently for $197/ea.

A pair of the smaller group 34's make great starting banks, for both boat and diesel truck.
 
We are a Lifeline Dealer and their GPL 31 XTs have 125 amp hours ea. Thats 20ah more than most group 31s . 2 of those make a great house bank and the standard 31s [105 ah] are all you need for start and thruster batteries .
Marc
 
Hi All,
I was wondering if AGM's require a different battery charger?

Thanks,
 
Depending on the charger. Typically ProMariner chargers are programmable. The 1240I Plus handles three banks but only one type can be programmed for all three banks. The 1240i has been discontinued but ProMariner has a replacement on the market.

Pat and Carolyn, Ladybug, Too
 
I don't know Phil, I still think I would go Walmart Everstart Flooded. If my research is correct, as an example, the optima AGM for Group 27, which is in the R-27 has 75 amp hours. The Walmart has 109 amp hours, for a current price of $79.00. You can buy 3 Everstarts for one AGM. If you replaced them every three years regardless of status it will take 9 years to equal an AGM. My research also indicates that the Everstart is manufactured by Johnston Controls one of the best battery manufacturers around. I have my thruster linked to my house when on the hook and after a night on the hook using anchor light, C-pap machine, refrigerator, charging various phones, TV watching and other ancillary items I am at over a 70% charge in the morning. If you had a special situation where you needed to store the battery upside down or sideways then the AGM would be the way to go, but I can't seem to reconcile the cost in a standard installation. Then again we all have our particular preferences so it all boils down to one's own choice and pocketbook.

Take care,
Mike Rizzo
 
Hi Phil,

I am also of the flooded battery camp. They have the best value. AGM are good if you need/desire their advantages such as no watering maintenance, lower self discharge rate, and lower internal resistance. I used an AGM battery in my airplane. Due to the very small battery size (25AH!) that needed to start a 320 cubic inch engine the AGM provided better starting performance. The lower self discharge also allowed the battery to hold its charge better during 1-2 week idle periods. If you do go with AGM get a good one such as the LifeLine. They are made by Concorde which made the aircraft battery that I used, this is a highly regarded company. I woyuld not recommend the Optima, it uses a spiral cell design which wastes space and reduces capacity.

I permanently connected the thruster and house banks together in my R27. This was a double win, the house bank is 50% bigger and the thrusters actually work better with 3 batteries in parallel. I did a rewire project adding 600A bus bars and a Victron battery monitor. If you do something like this make sure you use the correct battery cable, lugs, heat shrink, and crimping tool. Photos are in my album.

I will be starting my 4th season with the factory original Centennial batteries. They were still working well at the end of last season. They have been in the boat over the winter on the hard at the marina. I disconnected them and they still were at about 12.7V last weekend. I reconnected them and powered up the battery chargers to top them off (I have added a 45A auxiliary charger to supplement the factory 20A charger) to top them up.

Warehouse clubs are also a good source, the marine deep cycle batteries in Sams Club, Costco, etc. are made by either East Penn or Johnson Controls, both good companies. These are a good value. When I need to replace my batteries I will go to Sams club. Try to avoid the dual purpose batteries if possible for your house bank, you want a good deep cycle battery to provide longer life. The engine battery should be a starting type.

Howard
 
I purchased AMG's seven years ago and they are still going strong!

Wilkie
 
2 years to go to break even. And if you decide to wait 4 years to change your flooded every then you have 5 years to go to break even. And if you sell your boat before that ........ 😀
 
FYI Group 31s are the same footprint as group 27s .
There are different quality levels in batteries .
Good ones can last a long time with no worrys.
Marc
 
knotflying said:
If my research is correct, as an example, the optima AGM for Group 27, which is in the R-27 has 75 amp hours. The Walmart has 109 amp hours, for a current price of $79.00.
Click to expand...

FWIW, Optimas are not a very good choice as an AGM house bank - much better as starting batts (a pair of Optimas lasted 10 years starting my Cummins truck). They have plenty of cranking amps, but not many Amp-hours, per pound or per dollar. Deka, Sears Platinum, and Lifeline g31's are far better for a house bank.
 
Thank you all for the good advice.....Mike, you should be a battery salesman. I'm leaning toward the AGM batteries as they have so many advantages, not to mention my mile long lazy streak that seems to have come with advanced age. No maintenance...put them in and forget them...very appealing. The extra weight will add to the port list, but If I fill every nook and cranny on the starboard side with adult beverages...problem solved.

Phil
 
Hey Phil,

If every body thought the same it would be a boring world, but then again everyone would then own a Ranger Tug with flooded batteries and an Airhead toilet and life would be perfect! :lol:
 
Hi Mike,

I decided on AGM, and have ordered Group 31 batteries (same footprint as 27s) thru Marc at Wefings. Two 125 AH for the house bank and two 105 AH for engine and thruster. Don't feel that I don't value your advice. I did after all, rush right out and buy an Airhead toilet on your say so. In another few months, winter may end and I'll get to try out all this new stuff.

Phil
 
Making a choice with all the information that is available is what it is all about. My only concern is that you took my advice on the Airhead and subconsciously sending me a message that I am full of s!@t. :lol:
 
Update: As it turns out, the Group 31 AGM batteries do not have the same footprint as Group 27s. Had to cut one side off each battery tray and reinstall them with a bit of extra space between the trays. Wrestling those slightly larger,and a bit heavier AGM batteries into position was not fun.

Phil
 
Touché.....but the job is done and I can forget about batteries for a looooong time....I hope. I installed the 22 lb Rocna and now I have to tackle the Airhead. Incidentally, do you know if I have to make any adjustments to the charger for the AGMs or is it automatic?

Phil
 
Phil, I know for the Promariner charger you must change the switch settings which are located under the end cap of the charger. The proper switch setting are labeled inside the cap. There are actually two switches, one for battery type and one for conditioning time. I keep my conditioning time set on 1 hour as opposed to the 4 which the charger is preset to. I am on year 4 with AGMs.
 
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