Buying all new batteries this year. I want one for my CD Player, Depth Finder, Acces. Then one for starting and lighting only. What would be a good CCA to look for? What sizes would be the best? I am willing to spend the cash. Thanks guys.
You need a deep cycle battery for your house battery, and a starting battery for.......well, starting. Keep the starting for only engine and drive necessities.<br /><br /> Click here and scroll down to the electrical section, lots of good info on batteries.
my old brain gets a bit confused with this starter or leisure battery thing..<br /><br />years ago a battery was a battery.. they were always sold by their capacity.. the bigger the demands on em the bigger capacity..<br /><br />then the makers starting selling smaller lighter batteries sold by their cold start performance or ability to give out heavy loads for short time periods.. the capacity never got mentioned..<br /><br />this was about one thing and one thing only.. batteries that cost less to make.. batteries that in essence had less lead in em.. batteries that had less capacity.. they simply made the plates thinner and managed to get a smaller cheaper battery to start the same engine as used to need a bigger one..<br /><br />this was partly connected with cars changieng over from dynamos to alternators and the realization that all a battery had to do was start the engine .. once started the alternator took over..<br /><br />anyway the end result was cheaper crappy batteries that were nowhere near as good as the old fashioned variety..<br /><br />i used to call em "donkeys on steroids" they could do the job for a while but soon died of fatigue unlike the old heavy carthorse type that went on for ever..<br /><br />cynically i have a strong suspicion that what is now called a starter battery is really one of these donkeys on steroids and a nice big heavy leisure battery is still the old carthorse type and one of large enough capacity dosnt really need a donkey to help it start an engine..<br /><br />the thing i do find odd thow is that at the moment at least these big old heavy "leisure" batteries can be had quite cheaply..<br /><br />we seem to have a situation where what used to be the cheap crappy no lead in its guts donkey on steroids cost more to buy than the carthorse..<br /><br />praps the chinese have a promotion going on carthorses at the moment.. dunno..<br /><br />the older i get the more confused i get.. he he <br /><br />trog100
Trog, you may have a point there, I just don't know. What I can say is that the starting batteries of today are designed to be used and maintained close to full charge, run them down to less than 80 percent charge on a regular basis and they will not last too long. The deep cycle batteries can be taken down to 50% charge (yes, I know some people run them further down) and will charge back up fine.
my views go thus.. the bigger and heavier a battery is the better.. simply picking them up and testing the weight is a good way of sorting a donkey from a carthorse just like it would be for real..<br /><br />so called starter batteries are special (cheap) low capacity batteries that will give up enough current to start an engine.. when new they will have enough spare capacity to crank an engine over quite a few times before going flat.. each time u crank the engine u are in essence abusing the battery.. each time u crank the engine u lose some capacity just like a tire loses rubber each time the wheel goes round.. the smaller the battery the more it suffers.. these things have a design life based on a given number of engine starts.. as they lose their capacity they behave just like a smaller battery would and start to die off at an ever increasing rate.. basically the bigger one u start off with the longer it will last..<br /><br />the simple reason a starter battery aint much good as a leisure battery is that it just does not have the capacity in the first place..<br /><br />so called leisure batteries are built heavier and have more capacity and if used wisely and not abused will literally last for years.. but in this day and age do we really need em to last for years..??.. useing em to start an engine is an abuse and will shorten their life.. but so is it an abuse with a lower capacity starter battery.. one of these will also last for years if u dont use it to start an engine several times a day and only use it to power your stereo..<br /><br />most of what u read about batteries is about how to eak the last ounce of use out of em.. in normal use i am happy if a battery lasts me three years.. they really aint expensive enough to worry over much..<br /><br />when i used to run taxicabs i was happy if i got six months out of em.. but i dont call that normal use..<br /><br />my choice would be one or two big leisure batteries with enough spare capacity to never ever go below 60% of full charge.. these would also be used to start the engine.. <br /><br />i would also carry a spare booster battery.. one of those things that come in a plastic case with jumper lead attached and is portable just for emergencies..<br /><br />just my views for what they are worth.. they dont follow the book but i have tendancy not to do that..<br /><br />trog100
here is an example of battery bullsh-t..<br /><br />my local auto store sells batteries.. they used to advertize widely.. batteries from XXXX read super cheapo price.. to comply with the law they had to have such batteries at that price but u try buying one.. he he<br /><br />gonna use a price figure here..lets say $20.. can i have one of your $20 batteries please.. what car is it for sir.. xxxxx car.. that is a $40 battery u want then sir..<br /><br />actually i dont want it for a car.. i want it to start my model airplane.. the battery is meant for a car sir.. bugger what its meant for gimme one of your $20 batteries.. sorry sir cant do that..<br /><br />gimme a $20 battery.. okay then sir but u will have to sign a disclaimer giving up your warranty rights..<br /><br />over the years i have bought several of those $20 batteries and had to fight for very one... they are in fact good batteries just that they dont get listed for any cars in their book.. he he<br /><br />also if u refuse to take their sales advice and insist on a bigger more expensive battery than they have listed in their book.. u get the same hassle.. and have to give up your warranty rights..<br /><br />most of what u hear and read about batteries is bullsh-t..<br /><br />trog100
goto your local yellow pages, look up Interstate batteries, tell them what you need batteries for, they will have what you need, and you can't go wrong with that brand.
here is another battery bullsh-t story..<br /><br />i go in my little auto parts seller shop.. not the.. we claim to sell cheapo batteries but we dont really shop.. this is another one..<br /><br />my theory is simple.. buy as big a battery as will fit in the place intended for it..<br /><br />have u a battery roughly so big says i.. the guy says whats it for.. i tell him and he say nah u only need one half that size.. i say nah it wont last two minutes..<br /><br />he says it dont matter it has a two year warranty if it fails bring it back and i will give u another one.. okay says i and walks off with a battery i know will only last me six months..<br /><br />after six months its knackered as i knew it would be.. still starts the taxi but leave your lights on for five minutes and it dont.. thats knackered in my book..<br /><br />i takes it back and the guy true to his word gives me another one.. six months later its knackerd also.. in theory i could have repeated this four time during my two year warranty period but being an honest or stupid kinda guy i decided i have had my moneys worth and buy another too small battery which they claim is intended for my car and insist upon selling me..<br /><br />six months later i go back with my currently knackered battery.. there is a different guy in the shop.. out comes his bulb specific gravity thingy for sucking up battery acid.. <br /><br />he puts a short but heavy load across the battery terminals then he pokes his bulb thingy down into the acid.. sqeezes it a few time to stir things up draws some acid out and takes a look at it..<br /><br />this is what we call a "black acid test" says he.. this battery is knackered the acid looks black its a sign that the plate material is not on the plates any more but loose in the bottom of the cells.. <br /><br />this battery is worn out says he.. its had too many charge discharge cycles... he he he<br /><br />have u got a battery roughly so big.. errr.. sound familiar...<br /><br />that two year warranty by the way turns out to be just for defective materials and workmanship.. it in no way shape or form means its warranted to last two years as most folks think..<br /><br />i dont hate batteries.. just the prats that sell em.. and know bugger all other than what it says in their little part number book.. he he<br /><br />trog100<br /><br />ps.. i dont blame em for not knowing by the way.. and this applies to most folks i find behind sales counters in todays times.. they are just mostly minimum wage dudes who aint bin in the job long enough to know.. what i blame em for is refusing to listen when the guy they are talking to quite clearly knows a million times more about the product they are selling than they do.. still i spose they really do have to pretend that they are experts even when they aint.. its the way they are trained..
Maybe you should get out of the "AUTO" stores when you're shopping for BOAT parts.......Just a thought, don't tell me, I know, I'm Stupid.<br /><br />Personally, on this side of the pond, if we find people that give service or products as you describe, we stop going there and go somewhere else. he he he......
Originally posted by Don S:<br /> Personally, on this side of the pond, if we find people that give service or products as you describe, we stop going there and go somewhere else. he he he......
don.. boats and autos have much in common however much u try and pretend they dont.. much of my life has been spent with autos.. much of what i have learnt about autos and many other things mechanical and technical serves me well with boats.. i learn quick don.. i think i know the "boat" difference now.. i have also had a twenty year love/hate realtionship with batteries of all kinds not just the lead acid variety.. u wanna know a little more about batteries.. ask me nicely and i might tell u..<br /><br />as for the "go somewhere else" thing.. well if only it were possible but i find the same situation everywhere to be honest.. guys behind counters that look up part numbers either in book or computer form and if they find a match they hand it over if not they look blank.. u want something a little unusual and they are lost.. i mentioned points to one the other day and he really had no idea what the hell i was talking about..<br /><br />u dont find what i find on your side of the pond.. i can only think of two reasons for that.. guys on your side of the pond stay in their jobs longer and do get to know their jobs better or on your side of the pond u are more easily fooled by the salemans hype.. not living over there i dont know for sure.. but i think u probably do get a better deal and better service.... u certainly get a better price..<br /><br />when a american waitress says "have a nice day" she means it.. when a british one says it she is being sarcastic.. he he he<br /><br />trog100
I bought the Master repair manual for my outdrive and motor. I also have the owners manual for my boat. I cant find the the battery requirements though for starting. I guess I am confused as to what cranking amp rating I should get, or is the bigger the better? I hate this battery stuff.
I go to Wallmart or Costco or Kmart and load the battery I want on the cart.<br /><br />A good RULE of thum for a starting battery in to double the cubic inch of your engine. Have a 350 c.i. then your need at least 700 CCA. Does not hurt to go bigger, but if your engine is in good shape that is all you need.
