need battery wisdom

C

cleo

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Jun 12, 2008
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30154
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2
my regal has a D4 deep cycle house battery that has failed with a dead cell. each battery lasts about four years.

question do i just replace with like kind as a lead acid type. or how about gell battery, or a modular battery where each cell is independent?

any suggestions to get more than four years of life? i have an good OEM automatic charger
also i turn off the charger and disconnect the battery over winter.

any advice?
 
Make sure what ever type you get you charger can be set to charge it. I was going to switch to gel batteries when these need replaced but the OEM charger I have won't charge them so I would have to replace that first.
 
agree, 4 years is about it
the gells are more expensive and John is right, your charger has to match
 
To each his own, but, from what I understand regarding gel cells- It is critical that they not be charged below or above a certain voltage. The exact voltages can be found by going into a battery web site. I forget the exact numbers, but on our boat the normal charging voltage from the alternators would be too high.
A little more money but I like the AGM type. Sealed for less maintenance and they are not fussy about charging voltages.
Good luck,
Ron
 
Gel is not what you want for a house battery. Gel types are designed to long term standby, and the downside is a s l o w recharge rate.

Flooded, sealed ( SLA ), AGM would all be a decent choice.

Flooded might be the most cost effective.

There is no real, major, difference between using a 12v battery, two 6v batteries or an array of single cell batteries. Equal battery weight ( volume ) should very nearly be equivalent electrical storage regardless of the choice.

I do not know what size a "D4" battery is, but those type designators define the case size, and not necessarily capacity.

In most situations, due to their being commonplace, choose either 12v batteries or and equivalent capacity of 6v batteries.

You DO want a battery that is "deep cycle".

---

What is the rated capacity of your D4 battery. Maybe some more specific suggestions can be offered.
 
Say it over and over again AGM, AGM & AGM. All of my batteries are AGM you can purchase group 31's from Sears. 2 in parallel will give you similar AH's to a 4D. I happen to have chosen Lifeline AGMs. I am on my 5th season and they are showing no signs of lost capacity. AGM's are a true dual use battery meaning you can use them to start engines or as house battery systems. They are also
-0- maintenance other thajn occasionaly checking the terminals to make sure they are clean and tight.
Bill
 
Yep AGM, Gel cells are a dead technology.
 
IMO you cand spend more and get longer life but I think the life per $ will be about the same as wet cell batteries.
You dont say how you maintain and use your battery and that has a lot to do with life. Is it heavily discharged frequently? Is it fully charged after use??
 
last yr. I changed from a 4D wet cell to an AGM, and I feel more cofident of the power realibility. No checking fluid, but the charger is your first concern. Ours, does all types, and I still have fluids for starting. I did get 8 yrs from my 4D. Make wise choices, because your back will appreciate this doing it only one time.
 
As usual, Billy III is spot on.

Compare to flooded LA batteries, AGM's hold their charge better when not in use, are not prone to developing " memory ", can be stored in sub freezing temperatures without damage, are maintenance and spill free, and do not vent gasses. They can also be installed in any orientation, ie on their side or end if installing in tights places.

I have 8 of the 100+ ah group 31 AGMs (platinum marine from Sears) in my house bank and have had no difficulties.

They have a 3 year full replacement warranty. Our batteries are installed under the salon floor, so vent free was important.
 
while AGMs will last a little longer, when you consider the cost per year, they will cost more. On the up side, you dont' have to top them up every couple of months... if you only have to replace a single 4D, the cost difference isnt' much so go for the AGM, if you're charger can be set for AGM. If you have larger banks with multiple batteries in each bank, I still feel Lead Acids are a better value overall
 
<<...."Say it over and over again AGM, AGM & AGM. All of my batteries are AGM you can purchase group 31's from Sears. 2 in parallel will give you similar AH's to a 4D. I happen to have chosen Lifeline AGMs"...>>

I agree with the marine AGMs from Sears. I have a the 31's. No worries. I have left them for months unused (not on a charger) in FL while I'm up in VA. I use them as starting batts. Full cranking power every time, even after months of non-use. Best batts I've had, but a bit pricey. Get 'em when Sears runs a sale.
 
Like Billy said AGMS are the way to go. I have Sears AGMS in the boat. I beat the living snots out of these things. Im going into my 4th season and not hiccup from any of them yet.

Rob
 
Thanks to everyone for your interest and assistance!!

i think the consensus is AGM, AGM,!! i will surely check it out and i am sure Sears will have a sale before spring!!

Thanks Again to all!!
 
AGM batteries have the lowest internal discharge rate over any other flooded battery. That is why they can be left with a full charge in the winter come back in the Spring and fire up those engines.
I could go on and on. Now that Sears has come out with an affordable 31 series marine battery I will probably switch over to them after I get my 8-10 years out of my Lifeline AGMs.
Also an AGM can take as much current as you can throw into them in the initial phase of charging with no damage. You can not do this with a flooded battery you will boil the electrolite or damage the plates. Then there is no dangerous gassing or topping off.
More new boat manufactures are using AGM batteries as standard equipment now.
It's a no brainer for me. When my main house bank of 8D's AGM's go I will replace them with the same capacity in AH's using 31 series AGMs.
Bill
 
We have AGM house batteries and Lead Acid starters. Our house charger is an inverter/charger and it is set to Flooded (Lead Acid). So far so good and I believe Flooded is the correct setting for AGMs. Three+ years and counting. Temperature depending they still float at 13.4 and deliver when required. Every time we move the boat they drive the inverter.
All the way down the ICW from NYS, back and forth to the Bahamas several times as well as many power outages in the Bahamas.

The only controversy regarding AGMs I've heard is whether or not to "Gas" them.
 
Their website (Odyssey) recommend specific dockside chargers. Do you have to stick to these or will any tri-mode charger (bulk/absorption/float) work?
 
Stephan , if ur talking about agms ? Any flooded battery charger will work !

Rob
 
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