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Posts: 501
Location: S.Wisconsin | Is anyone using a agm for starting/electronics? I'm thinking of upgrading to one of farm and fleets large marine agm batteries for starting and electronics. any input would be appreciated. Thanks |
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Posts: 676
Location: Wisconsin | I have been using the Cabelas AGM batteries for my starting / accessory battery for years. Perfect. Cranks the engine over in January on Lake Michigan like it is summer. |
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Posts: 493
Location: midwest | Same here. Cabelas AGM for starting and electronics as well. Never had any issues with them. |
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Posts: 3240
Location: Racine, Wi | Which one are you running? Are you running a lot of electronics off of them? I'm in the market for a new starting battery as well and was looking at these, but want to make sure I get a big enough one so I don't run into troubles when night fishing will all the electrics and lights on. |
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Posts: 501
Location: S.Wisconsin | Thanks guys. I think I will give one a try |
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Posts: 676
Location: Wisconsin | I have a 27 series in the back and I have several locators and lights, etc running and have never had a worry about it.
If you have the room, bump up to the 31 series for added capacity.
I used to run two bats in the back, one for starting and one for electronics (lake michigan insurance policy) and I move to the one AGM and have never thought twice about it. |
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Posts: 726
Location: Eau Claire, WI | Hi Tuffy1,
A few years back, I had a problem in my boat w/ a 27 Interstate in situations you describe. I'd fish long hours at night and there wasn't enough left to turn over the opti. There was enough left though to start the kicker so I'd fire that up, let it run a few minutes then I'd start the opti. It worked in a pinch but hardly the way to go.
I replaced with a 31 AGM and never looked back. I have 2-520c, 1-x67c, and 1-HDS5 running off this battery plus lights, marine radio (don't use it all the time though), plus starting the opti and the kicker. Will probably be adding a stereo this year so I'll be pushing it harder yet.
I'm not sure who the mfg is for my AGM. The battery is branded by CarQuest.
Good luck,
Jono
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Posts: 3240
Location: Racine, Wi | Awesome! Thanks guys. Just tired of having battery issues even when charging.
I'm assuming that's the 31 series starting (cranking) battery right? Not a deep cycle.
I run AGM deep cycles for the TM and LOVE them. No maint, no worries, and very good running time.
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Posts: 726
Location: Eau Claire, WI | Joel, I believe mine are CarQuest NGT Extremes. Part # NG31. They are dual, not just starting. I have the same model batts for my trolling motor too. I'm sorry my boat is in storage so I can't confirm the numbers but I think this is right.
Jono
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| My 02 Tuffy has a cranking battery from 01 in it still. I installed a marine stereo last year, and had lots of issues with it running out of power. After talking it over with an electrical engineer, I'm upgrading this year to a yellow top Optima, the 27 series to be exact. The reserve capacity is what's important when it comes to continuously running electronics, and the 27 has the most in the yellow top series.
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Posts: 968
Location: N.FIB | why the yellow top and not the blue top,not sure what the difference in the colors are for. |
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| The yellow top is a deep cycle, cranking combination. The blue tops are RV/Marine batteries. I run blue tops for my trolling motors, but the yellow top combination battery is used for cars with large stereos or electronics. Since I am running a GPS, a fish finder, and a large stereo off of it, that's why I'm going with the yellow top. Check out their website, lots of great info.
http://www.optimabatteries.com/home.php |
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Location: Contrarian Island | I use a 27 size Trojan AGM starting in my Ranger and run three 5 inch color units and one 8 inch color gps...no issues with starting ever |
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Posts: 501
Location: S.Wisconsin | How often are you guys charging your starting/electronics batery?
Thanks a bunch |
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Posts: 2752
Location: Mauston, Wisconsin | Hi Joel - I've said this before here on MF, but thought I'd give it another shot. Marine AGM technology batteries typically come in three flavor's depending on how you're going to use the battery.
Deep Cycle- These are best for trolling motor applications, or if you just want to run electronics. Low to medium current applications.
Starting/Cranking - These are best for engine starting - high current applications.
Dual Purpose - These are a compromise between deep cycle and starting. These are best where you need both cranking and running electronics or lights.
These three flavors may look alike from the outside, but inside they are very different in the design and construction.
Based on your application I would recommend the largest dual purpose you can afford or fit in the space. Simply upsizing a starting battery to handle electronics or lighting loads may find you stranded at the end of a long night.
K- There are guy's here who are obviously biased toward a specific brand because of their personal experiences. Just like different brands of boats, reels, or any other products, there are differences in battery brand construction. The most obvious is the Optima spiral wound versus the flat plate design. There are also price delta's. I don't own any Optima's, but if I were fishing every day or running/pounding my boat on big water/rough water or a guide, I would use Optima's. As is; given the price delta's - the everyday "Walmart" AGM marine battery works fine for me. I have deep cycles for my TM and a dual purpose for the starting/electronics-lights.
So, in the end you get what you pay for, don't expect miracles from cheap batteries, they are cheap for a reason.
I recharge mine every 30 days during winter. But it also depends on the storage temperature - most manufacturers recommend 90 days as a maximum duration between refresh charges. If the boat is inside in a heated garage you might want to refresh them more often as they self discharge more as a function of the ambient temp. Here in WI- my boat is outside, so 90 days is probably OK , but I personally opt for 30 days just because I have little better understanding of what can and will kill my batteries. Leaving any lead-acid battery either wet-cell or AGM in a partial discharge condition for any significant length of time is a killer.
Have fun!
Al
Edited by ESOX Maniac 2/1/2011 12:40 PM
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Location: Contrarian Island | as far as charging I plug my on board charger in after every use in the garage...it charges the starter and two trolling motor batteries... |
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Posts: 110
Location: Albertville, Minnesota | Good advice on charging the batteries every 30 to 90 days. I guess I charge throughout the winter after each time out (Pool 4 walleye fishing) in the winter....otherwise I could of been in some hurt. I run 3 AGMs (been running two for 3 years now for my minnkota) for the electric and starting and the Minnkota. So far so good...money well spent so far. |
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Posts: 3240
Location: Racine, Wi | Thanks Al, great breakdown. Now I just have to find a good one prior to opening day and hook'r up. I love the deep cycles and have not had any issues up to now, and definitely have gotten more life out of them. I'm not the most technically inclined dude when it comes to the battery stuff, so I like mostly hands off batteries like the AGMs.
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Location: Contrarian Island | Joel, I would go with a 27 yellow top Optima or if you can fit it, the 31 blue top....Fleet Farm or Gander carries them and has decent pricing...
Edited by BNelson 2/1/2011 7:52 PM
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| The 31A is 269$ direct from the optima website. Free Delivery.
http://shop.optimabatteries.com/products/productdetail/part_number=... |
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Posts: 32880
Location: Rhinelander, Wisconsin | And a great battery. |
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AGM batteries