Battery question

[Smithvillesteve]

I cant thank you boys enough for your valuable input here. My dad used to tell me that batteries are like trees and people. they all have their own personality. MixermarkB. I did/do check water levels. Dutch: It is a deep cycle battery. Seth: I do recharge as soon as i can. I also had heard that was a good thing to do. Fishinwrench: I was hoping you would help here. And your info, as pointed out by others, is so good. My problem is i am not mechanical at all!! Dont own a voltmeter. But sounds like maybe i should so i could start testing batteries. Once again, thanks boys. 

[mixermarkb]

I never seem to get any more than 3 years, max, out of a set of troller batteries. Usually just 2 years. I've run several brands, including Optima's. I read about the guys getting 5 years out of a set of batteries with jealousy, but it's never happened for me. I just decided to go with Walmart specials, and replace every 2 years. I wish I could say the more expensive ones last longer, but the way I abuse them, they don't. 

[176champion]

I'm using group 31 deep cycle batteries for my trolling motor, super starts from Oriely's auto parts and going on 3rd year. I have a Dual Pro professional 2 bank battery charger that i have hook to them it's 15 amp charge each bank and once the green light comes on it goes into maintenance mode.

[mixermarkb]

I'm going on the third year of my everstart maxx 29's. I can tell they aren't holding like they used to, and I'll buy a new set as soon as I have available funds when my work season gets rolling. Dual pro charger here as well. My problem is that I keep my boat in a storage unit with no electric. I try to charge after fishing, but as often as not I fish until I have to leave for home and end up putting the boat away for weeks without charging the trollers. It's outright abuse, and nothing can be expected to last season after season doing that. The bass pro AGM's did best for me, some years ago, but in running the numbers it just wasn't worth paying the price for them. Cheaper replaced faster is a better deal for me.

[Old dog 417]

Fishinwrench's chart was such good info I couldn't pass it up.

I printed it out and hung it on the wall in my shop readily available for reference.

It answers questions I didn't even know I had!

Thank you Fishenwrench. 

OD

[Seth]

I should have also mentioned that I tend to get more longevity out of the 29/31 series batteries versus when I have went the 27 series route. The bigger series batteries don't get run down nearly as far as the 27's and I think that is also a big factor in how long your batteries will last.

[Bill Babler]

Good stuff wrench. 

On the Everstart battery deal I tried 6 of them and they all pooped out on me in no time. 4 in the boats a one each in my tractor and the wife’s car. Tractor I only start about 1 time a month and it was dead all 6 times I tried to start it in a 6 month period

On the boats they would not either take or hold a charge  On wife’s car she accidentally left the ignition on one night and ran it completely down and it never worked again

Put in Pro-Guide and have had zero problems  

 

[Smithvillesteve]

Wrench: You say when the green light comes on indicating a full charge on my charger that the battery is really not fully charged? Is there a certain amount of time I should still leave the charger on? Or buy a volt meter and check myself is the only way? I know you are busy and really appreciate your help. Yesterday I went down and hooked up the charger again, it read full charge, and left it on for approximately 4 more hours. Unplugged it and pushed the button on my trolling motor. It showed 2 lights out of the 4. Grrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrr!!!!!

[fishinwrench]

2 minutes ago, Smithvillesteve said:

Wrench: You say when the green light comes on indicating a full charge on my charger that the battery is really not fully charged? Is there a certain amount of time I should still leave the charger on? Or buy a volt meter and check myself is the only way? I know you are busy and really appreciate your help. Yesterday I went down and hooked up the charger again, it read full charge, and left it on for approximately 4 more hours. Unplugged it and pushed the button on my trolling motor. It showed 2 lights out of the 4. Grrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrr!!!!!

It sounds like your batteries are on their way South.    

Leave them off the charger for 12 hours, test the voltage, then test the voltage drop when loaded.     If you loose more than 0.5 (half a volt) after the 10 second load test then you should start saving up for a pair of fresh batteries.

[Smithvillesteve]

thanks Wrench!!