Batteries, who's running them for their TM and how are they doing?
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Batteries, who's running them for their TM and how are they doing?
I'm running the blue top Optimas if that's what youre talking about. The boat I bought had 'em in it so I dont know too much about them except theyre getting the job done.;)
John, Zack (doublegobble) did a lot of good research on batteries not long ago and he found the Trojen to be a very good battery, you might check them out.Quote:
Originally Posted by Rees Guide
Trojans and Optimas are good but you can but 3 Wally's or Interstates for the same money. I have been getting 2 to 3 years off the cheap ones which is pretty good considering how much I fish.Quote:
Originally Posted by majflyboy
I will, one appeal to the optima is the size. Dont have a ton of storage in my boat and am trying to arrange some things to make it work better.Quote:
Originally Posted by majflyboy
Delco Voygers (29) are the way to go. Ran new Terrova 36v all day Friday and Saturday and had no problems with the batteries going down. I have run these batteries for over 10 years and have never had a minutes problem. I won't buy another brand.
Thanks holic.
I sell them all. here is what you need to know. The optima's or any gel cell battery are designed to last longer IF you never let them go all the way down. I had a set in my boat and let them sit through the winter without a trickle charge and could never get them back up. I use the napa group 27 marine battery on my TM. I have also used group 31's but the wieght differrence is not worth the performance difference.
Group 27's are 104.26 over the counter can sell them for 93.60 exchange.
Group 24's are 88.10 over the counter and can sell them for 76.94 exchange
I am not a fan of gel cell technology.
I think we have had this discussion several times and I think the underlying factor on any battery is to keep it charged 100% at all times. I plug up the on-board charger as soon as I get home and don't unplug it until I get ready to pull out of the driveway. Same for out-of-town tournaments. If you think about it, there is only 3 battery manufactures. I was told recently that everyone is going to the same casing to save money.
The fellow at Ryan Supply in Jackson said that Delco was fixxin to come out with a gel battery.
I have the blue top Optima, 2 yellow top Optimas, and an interstate deep cycle marine battery. When I fish out of the 2 man boat with the 55lb Minn Kota, they are all about the same. I have to take 2 batteries if I want to fish all day. One will wear down, no matter the type or color, they all go flat after about 2:00. I assumed the $200 Optima battery would last me all day due to the cost, but I was wrong. It lasted about the same as the regular marine battery.
With my 36v Motor guide I have the 2 yellow tops and the interstate in series. I have never had these go down. I charge them all to 100% and then fish all day. I have actually fished 2 eight hour days on these batteries and they were still in good shape when I was loading up heading home. When I put them on the charge, the interstate was showing over 1/2 way drained and the yellow tops were about 50%.
Now I will say this, I bought the first yellow top Optima the spring after my daughter was born, and she is going to be 5 this year, and the battery is still going strong. I got the 2nd yellow top the following spring and it is still kicking as well.
Maybe the double cost on the Optima will be worth it if the battery will last double the life.
Cost per battery versus performance, I will not be getting any more Optimas.
Optimas are great if you need to mount them upside down. That is about the only advantage to Gel Technology. Otherwise, what Feelay said (I don't fish as much as Feelay, but I get 5-6 years out of my Interstates).
I think the gel technology is much misunderstood. They do not provide more run time than traditional flooded cell batteries. In fact, in most cases, the Reserve Capacity is slightly lower for a comparable group size.
The advantage to gel over flooded cell is:
Slightly less weight for a comparable group
Longevity - meaning the number of cycles of charge and discharge before replacement
Zero maintenance - don't need to worry about water
Vibration resistance - don't have to worry about a cell busting and ruining the batter (this is a very slight advantage in that a well made battery won't give you this trouble, but it does happen)
As mentioned, you can mount upside down if desired.
So, if you're a spider rigger, you can expect twice the life out of a blue top Optima compared to, say a Wally World special. Perhaps 3 times the longevity or a "speshul" battery or maybe twice the life of a more expensive one like Die Hard or AC Delco. In my mind, I would expect less than twice the life of a premium battery, such a Trojan. Now, I'm talking spider rigging and single poling here.
If you want to pull cranks or maybe even long line with Optimas or gel batteries, you're going to be sorely dissappoinged. #1 you won't get more capacity than a comparable sized flooded cell and the big one, #2, gell does not like to be fully discharged (ie run way down to say 30% charge or less) you will loose the longevity of the battery and as Torch mentioned, you potentially could ruin the battery.
Thats it. Class dismissed. Oh, but don't forget to do you're homework.
Wannabe...
All battery casings and most batteries are made in Mexico, along with most electrical switches.Quote:
Originally Posted by crappiholic
That's what hear.