Deka or Exide?

[Skuza]

Going to be purchasing batteries this year and wonder if anyone has experience with either and has a recommendation?
The Deka's are a few dollars more with less reserve minutes but are supposed to be better quality.
We have had Sam's Club STOWAWAY batteries for the past 5 years without any problems. I barely maintained them and they lasted longer than expected. When we replaced them the first time there were Deka's in there. I'm hesitant to buy the more expensive ones after having very good luck with the average brand.
Anyone have any thoughts?

 

[fc3]

Are you buying AGMs or flooded cell batteries? If the latter, then there's all about the same in my experience. Get the least expensive. If AGMs get whatever Frank W or Gary recommends. I don't get into batteries enough that I need to buy AGMs.

 

[osd9]

I have the DEKA AGMs. I didn't buy them, the PO, SeaGull bought them. He had them for one season and I have had them for two seasons. This will be the fourth season on them and they start my diesels without issue. They are truly maintenance free. When these go, I will definitely consider buying DEKA AGMs again.

 

[Four Suns]

If the Sam's club batteries held up for the way you use the boat, then get the same ones again. Can't argue with 5 years... I file that under "if it ain't broke, don't fix it."

I did a cool mod and switched to AGM (Deka) because the flooded ones wouldn't hold up more than 2 years because they get drained/cycle a lot the way we use the boat. Plus, moving D size batteries in and out of the bilge was truly back breaking (4 batteries were over 600 pounds). I'm also still debating putting an inverter on the front 8D batteries that drive the bow thruster... I can't have Tim out doing me.

 

[Skuza]

Hey guys thanks for the input. Sorry I forgot the important parts! I plan on getting wet cell's and group 31's. The 4 batteries I'm replacing are all deep cycle. Like Gary said I feel the same way. I hate to spend the money on good ones after having a great experience with "no names". I honestly don't cycle the batteries alot. Most of the time when I'm on the hook (which is rare) or away somewhere I'm either on the genny or plugged in. That could be why the cheapies lasted soo long too? The cheaper ones I'm looking at this time which are the Exide's actually have a longer min reserve, 205 vs. 185 on the Deka's.

 

[osd9]

You have to consider convenience. I can remember doing handstands to first check and then top off the water in the wet cells on my 380. Take the cost difference between the wetcells and the AGMs, and then divide by 5 (life expectancy in years). Is that extra anual $$$$ cost worth it now to never have to check the batteries again?

 

[Skuza]

Actually convenience isn't a factor. The batteries are very easy to replace and check. There is nothing in the way.
On a side note I will say everything is damn easy to get to our old 400. The hardest thing so far has been the plugs on the genny. They are on the outboard side and you have to use the "brail" method.

 

[Banagy]

When I purchased my Sundeck 200 new in 2005: the dealer ask me if I wanted to upgrade the batteries to better Deka batteries: of course I said yes. One of the batteries lasted two years and three months, so I called Deka and they said," the warranty was only for two years so you need to purchase another new battery". When these two go to heaven I will switch to AGM.

 

[Robski97]

Guys ,
Can u mix and match wet cell with AGMS ?

Rob

 

[Four Suns]

Guys ,
Can u mix and match wet cell with AGMS ?

Rob

On the same boat? Yes.
On the same circuit? You should not. The charger is going to charge the batteries based on essentially the reading from the batteries hooked together and each battery is going to accept charge differently so the charger could damage them eventually. You should have the same type (and age) batteries hooked to each bank on the charger and make sure the bank is charging for the particular battery type (AGM and wet cell usually have the same setting).

 

[Robski97]

thanx gary. Last year Marine max swapped out two wet batteries that were leaking from the posts. So now i have some 4 yr old batteries and some 1 year old. I needed one swapped on each bank. NOw one of the 4 yr old batteries is dead. Anyway with what u said I can take one bank of 3 and make them AGM and leave the other bank of 3 wet alone ?

Thanx

Any perference DEKA over Optima ?


Rob

 

[Skuza]

I wound up buying the DEKA's. I guess I just hope for the best now! Price still wasn't bad ~$85.