Unfortunately, one of my two deep cycle batteries appears to be done for as it won't take a charge. It lasted since 2006 or 07 but I just found out the brand, Dual Pro, is still making their chargers but no longer the batteries. So, I want to match up the remaining good Dual Pro battery with some new brand of the AGM type but NOT a multi purpose design battery. Or maybe it's better to get two of the same brand from scratch? Anyone had good luck with a battery of this type? Thanks!
Chuck,
If you bought the two Dual Pro batteriers at the same time then I would replace both of them now.
I picked up a couple of the Cabela's Advanced Anglers AGM batteries back in the spring of 2005. If I remember correctly it was Chad who was telling me about them. They are not cheap, $160 to $180 each. One of the best investments I have made. This will be my sixth season on these batteries and when they finally die, I will go buy two more.
I use the interstates and they're great. I have had my cranking battery since 04 and replaced it finally this year. I do you the dual purpose batteries for my 24 volt system and have no problems. I would think twice about those expensive batteries like the optima I don't think you're going to get any more for your money, IMHO.
It's not about how long they last it's about how many charge/discharge cycles they can handle (if you take care of them). I've always used cheaper walmart batteries because they have a great warranty and they will last me about three years. Three years for me is about 450 charge/discharge cycles. I can't justify the AGM batteries because they aren't going to triple my number of charge/discharge cycles.
Thanks guys!
I think I lucked out. I went online to see if I could find any info about DEEPLY discharged AGM style batteries and found "Tech Tips" on the Optima Battery website. It said any type of good battery may work in the following fashion to rejuvinate a questionable one from a near death status.
Line up the fully charged battery (of any kind) parallel to the questionable AGM one (Dual Pro in this case) and connect them together positive to positive and negative to negative. Then hook up the good battery to the charger. Check back in an hour to make sure the questionable battery is not HOT to the touch or making a hissing sound both of which indicate a serious problem with the battery. This did not happen so I kept it on all night and this morning I removed the conecting wires between the batteries and hooked up the questionable AGM battery in tandem with the good one to the charger. Immediately the charger (Dual Pro) indicated both were fully charged as the green lights for both banks were on.
Most chargers have safety features. A traditional battery that's at 10.5 volts or less is seen as defective. The charger "know better" than to charge a defective battery because the results could be unsafe. But, apparently, the fact is the AGM battery may be just fine; it has just slipped below the minimum voltage threshold of the charger and the charger doesn't know what to do with the battery. So, in this experiment the good battery was the conduit in recusitating the deeply discharged one with the charger maintaining the level of charge on the good one to maintain it.
One advantage of even having AGM style batteries is their very low internal resistance. This allows very high amperage output AND for the battery to accept a charge very quickly. Usually I can completely recharge them after a long day on the water relatively quick (2-3 hours at the most) and return my boat to the storage facility I keep it at the same day or evening.
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