Who make the best deep cycle battery?

10 amps minimum for all deep cycle batteries. I've worked in the battery industry for 18 years, so many people do not charge there batteries to 100%. Only way to check for 100% charge is with a hydrometer, they cost about $7. I always recommend to check your batteries with a hydrometer to make sure the charger is accurate for full charge. Interstate is top of the line and there sold all over the US, anything made by JCI,Eastpenn or Trojan will give you good life and good quality. Maintenance is key to long life. Watch out for batteries with longer amp hour ratings than others of the same size, some are tested at a lower amp giving them higher numbers. Same size should be within a few min depending on brands.

Check with Batteries Plus. They have really good marine batteries. When looking at a battery especially for trolling motors you want to look at the minutes that the battery has. Most batteries have close to the same specs until you get looking at the minutes that they have. The minute rating will be how long the battery will last at 25 amp load on the battery.

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Originally Posted by scturkeyhunter

Check with Batteries Plus. They have really good marine batteries. When looking at a battery especially for trolling motors you want to look at the minutes that the battery has. Most batteries have close to the same specs until you get looking at the minutes that they have. The minute rating will be how long the battery will last at 25 amp load on the battery.

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i'd consider another source. The BP group 31 deep cycle is only 185 minute RC, which is barely bigger than most group 27s. You can find 29s and 31s with more than 200 minute RC everywhere. With 185 minute RC, it's most likely a Deka.

The one I bought at Batteries Plus is 225 minutes not 185. With 10 rebate it was $100.00.

Is the BP battery RC tested at 25 amps? Only 59 pounds for a GR 31 is little on the light side. Interstates GR 29 has a RC of 210

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Originally Posted by scturkeyhunter

The one I bought at Batteries Plus is 225 minutes not 185. With 10 rebate it was $100.00.

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"

• SLI31MDC Xtreme Deep Cycle Battery BCI Group 31M Deep Cycle Marine and Boat

• BCI Group 31M Deep Cycle Marine and Boat Xtreme Deep Cycle Battery SLI31MDC Get maximum power from a group 31 Xtreme Marine Deep Cycle battery. Built for extended run time of your trolling motor, bilge pump, lighting, depth finder, locators and accessories, Xtreme batteries provide the reliable power you need on the water. We recycle old batteries too! *Information on this product is for reference only. Please contact a Store near you for specific availability and pricing details.
• Item number: SLI31MDC
• Weight: 59.0000 lbs
• Voltage: 12V
• Capacity: 105AH
• CCA: 650
• RC: 185.00

"


You've been suckered by Deka and their 23A RC testing. They market their DC31DT, which is the same battery as yours with 225 minute RC at 23A and 185 minute RC at 25A. A 59 pound battery won't come close to a true 225 minutes.

Let me fill you all in on a little secret. I work at a factory that makes lead acid batteries including deep cycle marines. The internal guts of the different brands of batteries are all the same. The same type of lead positive and negative plates are in all the different brands. The only thing that is different between different brands is the container that all the internal parts go into and the labels. When you buy a battery a big part of what you pay for is the warranty. So when shopping for a battery I recommend looking for the best warranty because everything else is pretty much the same

I find this hard to believe, Interstate has a patent on there plate design, don't think there all the same. They could be very similar thoe.

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Originally Posted by Nastynate

I find this hard to believe, Interstate has a patent on there plate design, don't think there all the same. They could be very similar thoe.

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Interstate doesn't have patents on anything. Interstate is just a chain of stores that sells batteries. They do not make any batteries. They buy them from Johnson Controls mostly.

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Originally Posted by Nastynate

I find this hard to believe, Interstate has a patent on there plate design, don't think there all the same. They could be very similar thoe.

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Interstate does not have a patent on there plattes. I make these plates everyday, and trust me buddy there all the same.