New batteries

When I had my 37C Silverton; only used AC Delco Voyager deep cycle batteries. Totally maintenance free. While at dock would leave battery charger on 24/7. Only had 2 on board; 1 for each engine & house 12V. 6/7 years easy !

BOB J
 
Used wet cell 8Ds on my workboat & got 3-4 years out of them. Put a 4D Lifeline AGM in my 5th wheel trailer spring of 2010. We do upwards of 150 nights on the road each year & do a fair number of nights off grid. It is still there. Winter storage is just that. Battery is disconnected in November & is untouched till April. Will be July this year. No top up charging. No trickle charging. Nothing. Hoping for at least another 2 seasons out of it.
 
4D? did you use two in parallel?

"Dave, you need the watering system. Just sayin'........."
I have a sprinkler system at the house
 
since I know batteries have a limited life and end of life is uncertain I have always just replaced them after 4 years or so, using wet cells.

I have never understood all the never ending discussions on getting the last bit of life from batteries. Not much more disappointing than the silence of a dead battery when you hit the switch.

I guess in house service you dont care if the lights go off early.
 
Bruce, You are a MASTER of the Written Word! Have a great day Shipmate!
 
Sam's Club yesterday. 8D in the "Duracell" brand was just under $200 a copy. From what I could tell, there might be caps that would come off to allow watering. Not sure about that. The little GP 24 "marine/RV deep/start" batts I got from them are so-called "maintenance free" which to me, means: "You can't do anything to try and extend its miserable life."
How'd I do, Bruce?
 
Great as usual. Exactly what I have always done.
 
Here it is:

0008399630045_A


Price $192.50

And it appears to be a maintenance free battery so my memory wasn't right. I have noticed, in their car batteries, that Sam's Group 65 "Ford" battery is heavier, with higher cranking and reserve capacities, than it's counterpart at WallyWorld, EverStart brand, I believe.
 
IMO weight is the only indicator we get regarding how goof he battery may be. More metal more weight more electrode inside.

Boat batteries usually have wing nuts though. adapter terminals are available. I have had good luck with Interstate batteries. They have stores everywhere.
 
8Ds have post like the picture above. I have never seen a seal 8D other then AGM? I'm a little confused about this! I would love to know more about this battery.
 
8d is a battery case size. Same size built in different technology's and configurations
 
I believe over-the-road diesel tractors use, at least used to use, 8D batteries. The ones I've looked at used paired batteries about half that size. Group 31's?
This appears to be an Engine Start battery, not a Deep Cycle. The Sam's Club webpage starts out calling it an AGM battery, which the detailed Q&A says it is NOT. Also says it is NOT a Deep Cycle. This is URL of their page: https://www.samsclub.com/sams/duracell-commercial-battery-group-size-8d/prod3590261.ip
Copied from the webpage:

Features:
Special computer-aided design and heavy-duty manufacturing techniques mean more durability for line haul trucks, buses, farm tractors and off-road equipment. Premium deep pocket envelope separators, protect the plates on all four sides to dramatically reduce shorting and extend service life. Genuine calcium lead alloy provides longer waterless operation and extended battery life. Anchor-locked elements with tight-pack commercial plates resist the damaging effects of vibration, delivering more power-per-pound than other batteries. Available wet and many can be ordered dry. A special dry-charge process completely eliminates moisture for virtually unlimited shelf life. Most popular sizes feature tough polypropylene cases which resist breakage and extend service life. Many are also available with handles and special terminals for easy installation. One of the most complete line of enveloped calcium maintenance-free commercial batteries in the industry including such hard-to-find group sizes such as 3D.

Specifications

Battery Electrolyte Composition:Acid
Battery End Type:Top Post
Battery Purpose:Starting Lighting Instrumentation
BCI Group Size:8D
CA at 32 degrees F:1720
CCA at 0 degrees F:1400
Freight Class:65
Reserve Capacity:430
Terminal Type:TSAE3
Volts:12

Manufacturer Info

For additional questions or concerns regarding this product, please contact the Manufacturer's Customer Service Department at 1.888 - 844 - 7704
 
I bought 8Ds at Sams in Cape Coral Fl. that had normal automotive posts and caps allowing maintenance this past Fall.

SamsLink

0072111277537_A
 
There is really no such thing as a "maintenance free" wet cell battery. They may be advertised that way because over its expected lifespan in a car it will not need water added. But, in the environment that is being discussed here with the timelines involved, you are going to need to add water to the batteries.
 
Yes they were common on trucks but with SAE posts only Posts and studs are available in starting and deep cycle. All my 8Ds were posts and studs because multiple cables hooked up.
 
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