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Posts: 2037
Location: lansing, il | has anyone had any experience with the different brands of gel batteries out there, im looking at buying the optimas, but have also heard good things about the trojans and minnkota gels. anyone got any good or bad feedback on comparisions between them. im talking about gel batteries only! |
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| minn kotas are now made by trojan and they are not gel cell...trojans are....trojans have 2 x the reserve capacity as the optimas in the 31 size for a little less money....go with the trojans
in your boat and on your 4" jerkbait.... |
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Posts: 2037
Location: lansing, il | thanks guest, but what do i do with that extra inch???? |
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Posts: 1335
Location: Chicago, Beverly | I'd avoid trojan brand personally. mine barely lasted a year, though it was not a AGM battery, just regular lead acid [scs200](lasted just long enough to get out of warranty).. Maybe the AGM's are much better.
I also have a orbital by exide, basically the same as a Optima.. Have had good luck with that one. The Minn Kota batteries are made by Trojan according to their website: http://www.trojan-battery.com/Products/Marine.aspx If you do go with the trojan, get the 31-agm as its the biggest, I think its 190 reserve? For Optima and orbital also go with the largest, I know Optima has a 31 size, not sure what biggest is for Orbital. Minn Kota would be MK 31 AGM. For some reason the optimas and orbitals with the spiral cel technology do not have as much reserve power as you can get from a AGM type battery. But do weigh much less. If you have a 24v suystem that it will be used for look at the optima trollfury line..
Edited by kevin 1/3/2006 11:12 AM
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Posts: 1335
Location: Chicago, Beverly | Just looked at the optima website: http://www.optimabatteries.com/publish/optima/americas0/en/config/p...
the troll furry is available in 12 and 24v versions
orbital seems to only have the one model I have: http://www.exideworld.com/products/marine_rv/orbital_deep_cycle.htm... |
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Posts: 2037
Location: lansing, il | kevin that troll fury set up is pretty sweet, but it wont fit in my battery compartment. |
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Posts: 1335
Location: Chicago, Beverly | I know, I have the same problem in my boat, would work great but no room.. but has a ton of reserve capacity.. Plus it probably costs a ton
Edited by kevin 1/3/2006 10:18 PM
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Posts: 1086
| Great thread! I'm in the market for two new batteries for the trolling motor as well. I just pulled the two, old Douglas 31 Pro Troll batteries out of my boat. They're shot. Definitely looking for two, new batteries of this size and capability for my 24v system.
Thanks for all the input!
Any more thoughts/opinions/input from others? Pluses or minuses of these mentioned batteries? |
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Posts: 1936
Location: Eau Claire, WI | Friend of mine ran two gel batteries from Car-Quest Auto Parts, it is their brand I'm not sure who makes them. He is very very happy with them, he can run two full days pulling a 20 foot Tuffy without a recharge. I think they were like $90 a piece. |
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| I run two of the 3100 series by Dual Pro for a 24V 65lb Kota. I can run them hard for 2-3 days and have been on 4 day trips without having to charge them on my 1850. Best batteries I have ever purchased. Also have a Dual Pro on board 3 bank. It stays plugged in year round, no porblems. Dual Pro also has outstanding customer service. |
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Location: Contrarian Island | Are all Gel Batteries typically a one year warranty? or do some have longer warranties? seems crazy to spend 150-200 bucks on something that after a year if it goes bad you are SOL... |
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| Do gel type batteries need a special charger or can you use the same type charging system as the lead acid batteries use? |
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| many chargers have a selector that allows you to choose between gel or lead-acid.
my ProSport had one that was a permanent selector, so be sure of what you're doing! |
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gel batteries only!