New house batteries last only 1 year?

[markrinker]

Spring 2013 installed four new lead/acid Interstates on my 410DA to replace the four 'BrandX' lead/acid that were nearly four years old and showing signs of their age. This time I used cranking batteries for the port side pair, and deep cycles for the starboard side (house), retaining the factory charger and cleaning up cables, tie downs, etc.

I was never impressed with the deep cycle longevity when it came to keeping the 'Nevercold' and a few lights (incandescent) on overnight on the hook. However, I was surprised after only 8-10 months to find the starboard deep cycle bank incapable of starting the starboard engine (yes, I tried to always remember to bridge the port/starboard banks as to not tax the deep cycles) and barely getting through nights without dead house batteries.

Last night the batteries were shot, after days on the charger. I assume a bad cell in one or both...

Q: With the current setup, should I use cranking batteries for both port and starboard, or is this a fluke and replace the two deep cycles with deep cycles.

Note: No signs of charger 'cooking' either pair, no acid venting, tops are dry and clean and levels good.

 

[The Bill Collector]

I replaced my sealed gels with Costco's wet group 27 and have been very happy..

 

[RollerCoastr]

I use Costco Grp 27 dual-purpose batteries on both sides. I like to stagger the replacement costs, so when I buy a new pair, they go to the stbd/house side and the older ones get "demoted" to Port. This has worked really well for me until this year. It's worth noting that my 454's require a lot fewer MCA's to crank than your Cats, but if Bill Collector is happy, I bet they'd work for you as well.

Something went wrong this year, so I have a thread going about the same issue. The stbd pair was new a year ago, and are all but dead now. I'm assuming a cell or two went bad and the other cells have been cooking. I'm going to pull them this wkd and see what kind of mercy Costco will bestow on me. If they decide I'm beyond the warranty or pro-rate it nearly nothing, then I'll just wait until spring. The port batteries just completed their 6th season and the 280BR needs 3 batteries, so spring could be ugly.

 

[Mike Blake]

Just went through this last June. 3 year old OPTIMA Batteries 8052-161 - D31M Group 31 BLUETOP[SUP]®[/SUP] Dual Purpose (Deep-Cycle & Starting) Seems I am only going to get 3 years out of them.

 

[RollerCoastr]

Sounds like it's time to shop for a new charger?

 

[Mike Blake]

If you were talking about mine I did 3 years ago a xantrex3 bank 3 AMP

 

[RollerCoastr]

Maybe a setting on it? I would personally abandon Optimas if they're not lasting as long as I would expect lead-acid to last....

 

[Mike Blake]

Maybe a setting on it? I would personally abandon Optimas if they're not lasting as long as I would expect lead-acid to last....

AHHHHHH I think it s set correctly or the optima's. Also everybody has their own opinion. The reason I have those are not to have pull the floor up every 5 minutes to check them

 

[RollerCoastr]

Also everybody has their own opinion.

lol Have I been one of the infamous "big personalities" all this time without even knowing it?!?

 

[Bt Doctur]

you should dedicate the engine starting batteries ,you need those to start the motor not the norcold.
have a dedicated house system
install a generator or solar

 

[dpmulvey]

you should dedicate the engine starting batteries ,you need those to start the motor not the norcold.
have a dedicated house system
install a generator or solar

SR never set the 330 up correctly in my year. Port side is house/port engine start combined. I could never figure that out.

 

[IanBat]

Deep cycles should not be starting.......which of course you realise.........I would surmise that even using the emergency start and paralleling with the starboard batteries was taxing the deep cycles, and hence why the weren't lasting on the hook.

Go back to start batteries.

And if you want to fix it, put a 3rd set in, a dedicated house deep cycle set.

Yep that's my opinion


Sent from my iPad using Tapatalk HD

 

[Ike]

I agree. House batteries should be deep cycle, batteries for starting the engines should be starting batteries. Starters have different needs than appliances. That's why there are two different types of batteries, to meet the different needs. I also agree that you should have your charger checked out. It may not be set up right or putting out the right amount of charging current. If you have one charger for house batteries and starting batteries it should be set up to charge them separately, not simultaneously. Deep cycles need slow steady charging. Start batteries charge much faster and need higher charge rates.

 

[Creekwood]

I have my 330 battery set up differently from stock. I now have two group 31 cranking batteries under the seat as the starboard engine start set. On the original boat set up that would have been the house bank and I think port. I then had a pair of 6v 225AH golf cart batteries installed in the bilge (I have no genny) and have that set up as port engine start and house bank and inverter feed. I can always use the emerg start if the house bank gets too low. I do notice that the port engine cranking speed is slower than the starboard side since the golf cart batteries have lower cranking amps, but its not a problem. I don't think it hurts the deep cycle batteries.