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Are any of the walmart batteries any good? I need a battery for my 10 ft pelican... The current battery is shot and about my only options are auto zone (or other car parts stores) or Wally World... The battery is used to operate a 30lb thrust trolling motor... Any help is appreciated I don't know much about batteries
I'm running 2 series 29 deep cycle batteries from Wal Mart right now. I trolled all day (10 hours) Sunday and they were just starting to noticeably drain. I looked at other makes but for the price and guarantee, plus there is always going to be a store close by, I went with them. I would think a series 27 would work fine for your boat.
Check your area for a outfit that sells and services Golf Carts. Our local shop has batteries at considerably lower prices than even WalMart. I bought my first one in 2005 and replaced it this year.
Mrdux did you get the everstart batteries? Thank you
Clint I'm not sure if we have a golf cart shop close but I'll check
WM batteries are fine. That's all I use, and I'm on the water close to 200 days a year. Main thing is to have a good charger and plug it up after every use. Also check the water regularly.
I never checked water on my last one :/ what do you need to do water wise? And should I set it up to charge at 2 amps
WalMart series 27 is all you need for the Pelican. They will last a long time between charges. I fish all day
in my Pelican with a 27 series with a 30# MinnKota and it still shows 12volts. Don't take much to pull that Pelican around. I used a lawn mower battery for a long time. Would last 5-6 hours.
Those golf cart batteries would last forever in that Pelican, BUT, they weigh as much as the boat.
Whatever you get, check the water level regularly and charge as soon as possible after use. If it's in your budget use a 5amp, three stage charger. They are temperature sensing and will only supply juice when the battery needs it. A 2 amp trickle charger provides 2amps all the time.
You just keep the water level to the top?
NO! Keep the plates covered and no higher than the bottom of the filler ring. More will bubble out and shorten the the life of the battery. And charge the battery before you add water. There is an excellent sticky about batteries. Good read.Quote:
Originally Posted by VaCrappieMan
Okay gotcha my last battery didn't last any time but I never checked the water :/
the lawn mower batttery is ok for about 6 hours but that a long time, and the size and weight is nice
With batteries that water check is needed, you really have to stay on that. I don't use them any more, but would keep a gallon of Distilled water around just for that and also my cigar humidifier. Distilled is best and can't cost much to get one gallon.Quote:
Originally Posted by VaCrappieMan
Is that a WalMart or Auto Zone brand?Quote:
Originally Posted by VaCrappieMan
Walmart
You have a humidor on your boat?!?!?! Now I'm jealous.....Quote:
Originally Posted by skiptomylu
Use distilled water, it's a buck at WM, and get a smart charger there as well, a Shumacher 6/3 amp is about $30. I've got one and it has the smart technology where it charges it up and then maintains, does not overcharge it. Plug the charger up as soon as you get home, can leave it hooked up if you want/can, the display will let you know if you hooked it up correctly, it's charging, and when its "maintaining" the battery. Good battery maintenance the key to getting good service life from a battery.
If I fully charge it then I can take it to basement do I need to charge again before trip?
I've used WM batteries for a while and won't ever go any other way! Good performance at a fair price! Friend of mine was out of town and had one go bad while under warranty. There was a WM close to where he was, and they replaced it no questions asked! You might be able to get one cheaper, but you can't beat getting a replacement just about anywhere you go!
I got the Walmart 29. It comes with a 2 yr full replacement warr. (just keep receipt). The
27 series little cheaper but less warranty.
I run a Walmart Everstart series 27 deep cycle battery in my Pelican-sized Bass Baby 8' boat. It does just fine but of course depends on the distances you plan to travel in your lakes. Keep your motor below 3/4 speed and it will last a lot longer.
The 29 series will last even longer and give you more safety margin to ensure you do not run out of juice. I recommend the 29 series but bought the 27 because my Walmart was out of the 29 series. It is doing fine and I do a good bit of trolling. You have to be religious on the recharging. Make it the absolute first thing you do when you get home after every trip. Every single time I unload the boat and immediately put it on the charger.
I use a Vector brand smart charger that detects the state of the battery and applies a variable charge depending on how deplete the battery is. It usually starts with a high charge rate like 30 amps (models vary), then the rate of charge decreases during the charge cycle until it tapers off to a trickle charge.
http://s.stpost.com/eccstorefront/pr..._98240_1.1.jpg
Had good luck with autozone. Just make sure you keep them on a tender/smart charger. I am a big fan of the minnkota onboards.
I go the opposite way but.. Wal Mart Batteries are good but usually last about 2 years of course you can take em back next spring and trade them in for new ones. I know a couple guys that do exactly that and the first year on those batteries is very good.
I prefer optima blue tops for TM get 5-6 or more years (but more importantly can get 10 hours of trolling per charge) 2 for the 24v TM, 1 for electronics, and 1 for starting use d31m's for the TM and d27m's for starting and electronics.
Been working on getting the parts together for a friends boat and found a good deal on on d31m's on amazon for a good price.
Use a Minn Kota 460D to charge all batteries works very well unless you forget to plug it in. Idea > Docking Station for Boat!!!!!
Batteries are truly a pay me now or pay me later proposition. My Neighbor gets out almost as much as I do and is on his 4th set of wal mart batteries. My Fishing Boat was set up the first year he had his boat. I am still on my original batteries 6 years and will probably make it through the season his batteries cost about 1/2 of what mine did originally. He uses an old charger that I think overcharges the batteries but that is a different story so to date, he has spent twice as much on batteries. Could have bought an onboard charger with extra money and still be money ahead.
I come home, plug the charger to an extension cord and walk away, He charges each of his batteries individually and its now 11:30 and I just saw/heard him changing charger over again. He will be gone at 5am. I am not fishing tomorrow but at 5am my 6 year old batteries will be fully and properly charged and will stay that way until next trip.
Good luck with your choices.. BTW optima has a sepcial deal right now where you get additional warranty if you buy a battery and their charger at the same time.
I've had good luck with WM batteries, but like everyone else says, keep them charged and make sure the water doesn't get low. My current ones are both group 27 Everstart deep cycles and are five years old and still work great. I have an on-board smart-charger that I just plug in my boat when I get home and know i'll be good to go next time i want to hit the water.