Deep cycle /marine battery question

[tomplum]

I have a service truck that has a 5000 watt power inverter in it. It is ready for new batteries soon, so I was cleaning stuff up, checking the system and found something peculiar, at least to me. As I have an extra core, I wanted to save the best one if the need for one came up and return the worse three . Out with my tester and found that 2 of three gave distinctly different readings testing from the threaded posts rather than the tapered lug next to it. I can assume that there is a defect in the battery. How it worked at all, I dunno. Does it matter which set of terminals are used normally?

Also, can anyone recommend a good manual disconnect for this heavy cable?

 

[Industrial Toys]

No, it should make no difference, except sometimes you get a better contact on the zinc as opposed to lead post.

 

[Industrial Toys]

No, it should make no difference, except sometimes you get a better contact on the zinc as opposed to lead post. That's for testing. I would use the threaded posts if I had the choice, but maybe you can get more starting current out of the old lead posts.

I am always getting used (but supposedly still good) batteries from a friend that sells thousands of them a year for commercial inverter service. It's a real crap shoot.

 

[tomplum]

Do you find certain brands work out better? I've been using Exide. Good for ~ 3 years of fun.

 

[Industrial Toys]

No. I get all kinds of take out batteries, so they could be anything. As a side note. I have a Walmart Everstart battery in my Mule. It has worked well. A guy on Youtube just did a test of various batteries and this battery did very well. Better than more expensive batteries. You don't always get what you pay for. Glassmat batteries didn't perform that well either. Certainly not worth their extra cost.

 

[Tractor Seabee]

It is claimed that deep cell batteries do not hold up well under starting service. They are designed for long draw high currents where regular vehicle batteries are designed for short high currents and sustained lower currents.

Ron

 

[Industrial Toys]

You can get both, like for marine applications.

 

[arkydog]

i have found that interstate the best. in my diesel truck, 3 cars, bass boat which has i marine starting and 2 deep cycle, and my tractor. all interstate. started putting then in in 2012 and wish i had used them many years earlier! side by side has agm and small fishing boat, electric start agm.

 

[Industrial Toys]

It would not surprise me at all if one battery was made by one company and the next same battery comes from another. I think, there is only three or so US battery manufacturers and all the other "apparent" manufacturers are just brand names probably getting any given run of batteries from the cheapest supplier at the time.

 

[WranglerX]

My concept is batteries with side post are the worst thing yet to come out of Detroit.... Pretty much prefer batteries with tapered top posts.... But yes on combo batts with side posts and tops post should get same readings.... Should be common connection internally, unless problem internal on how it was manufactured or just plain failing...

Http://batteryfaq.org

Also my favorite batteries...

ODYSSEY Battery - Official Manufacturer's Site

Several times I have left lights on in my Jeep and battery was "dead"... Bounced right back with extended charge ( overnight with 6 amp charger - them driven).... Abused it quite a bit with winch, sucked voltage down to where it killed ECU in Jeep, about 15 minute rest it bounced back enough to start Jeep... And so it goes....

Really disappointed when locally I can not get the good batteries like a "Exide" and have get FLAPS house brand of a questionable battery... Have to get my Odyssey's via i-net and have shipped also...

Dale

 

[fried1765]

No. I get all kinds of take out batteries, so they could be anything. As a side note. I have a Walmart Everstart battery in my Mule. It has worked well. A guy on Youtube just did a test of various batteries and this battery did very well. Better than more expensive batteries. You don't always get what you pay for. Glassmat batteries didn't perform that well either. Certainly not worth their extra cost.

I use Walmart "Everstart" in everything.
I used to use Interstate.
Top of the line Walmart (East Penn?) seems to last just as long as Interstate, and cost is 40-50% less.

 

[Ford850]

Interstate is a distribution company. They don't make their own batteries, but have them made by several other companies. The interstate batteries sold in many of the southern states are made in Mexico. I think the northern states' Interstate batteries are still made in the US for the most part. Just a brand name, using their labels on batteries of all flavors.

 

[tomplum]

Captain Duh here. I went to town this morning and picked up 3 new batteries. Put my little loadtester on to check out the new ones. Hmmpf. Comparative readings between the big lead lugs and stainless stud terminals- way off. Well, someone's getting a phone call on this! Went in for lunch and and listened to the marble roll from side to side until it dropped into a hole and light went on. You have to tighten the stud down before you test it dummy. Sure enough. All is fien in Voltville once again. Should this ever come up in your world, I hope this helps. Thanks for the replies.

 

[Industrial Toys]

Not sure I understand. I have been checking various batteries on charge all week and alternately use the lead posts or threaded posts. Whatever is convenient or closest to me. Using pointy test leads. Makes no difference.

 

[radios1]

It is claimed that deep cell batteries do not hold up well under starting service. They are designed for long draw high currents where regular vehicle batteries are designed for short high currents and sustained lower currents.

Ron

golf cart batteries work well in both..

 

[Industrial Toys]

Just put my E-Gator batteries on charge. Man, they do NOT like the cold. Not only don't they not last as long, they just don't deliver the same power, which I don't quite understand. The batteries still have charge and the controller should do what it has to do with that remaining charge. It shouldn't slow down.

 

[tomplum]

Not sure I understand. I have been checking various batteries on charge all week and alternately use the lead posts or threaded posts. Whatever is convenient or closest to me. Using pointy test leads. Makes no difference.

So these batteries that I tested I had pulled out of the vehicle and were on the bench, so the threaded posts were not drawn tight against the lead post assembly. I have this vision that the stainless threaded post is essentially a bolt, probably with a plate type head that makes a good connection with the lead when tight, not so much when not tightened. I was testing improperly by clamping my little load tester to the stud, without it being tightened. Hope this makes sense.

The 2 batteries in the battery box are group 24 which new are 550 + CCA. The best one was 340 and the other was under 200 CCA. I didn't run through anything more elaborate for testing as I didn't have to. I'm sure if one wanted to split hairs you would do an extended draw test . The third battery is now a group 27 with more AH and RC.

 

[Industrial Toys]

I understand now. I have to go look at my batteries. I thought the threaded post was seperate.

 

[tomplum]

Just put my E-Gator batteries on charge. Man, they do NOT like the cold. Not only don't they not last as long, they just don't deliver the same power, which I don't quite understand. The batteries still have charge and the controller should do what it has to do with that remaining charge. It shouldn't slow down.

It may be just as simple as those Canadian electrons are whirling around a bit slower this time of year. How cold is it?

 

[Industrial Toys]

Not so bad today, Just below freezing, grey day, light snowfall, snow squall warnings. Three or so inches of snow, about at the limit of the 2wd E-Gator. Stop on a grade and your done.