24 to 36 volt battery question

[70diesel]

I am planning a getting a new Ulterra 36v to replace my current 24v. Currently I have 2 Cabelas AGM 30h batteries that are 1.5 years old, so I will need to get one more battery to make it 3 total. Cabelas doesn't make that battery anymore but BassPro makes a group 30 battery with the same specs (I think its just a replacement for the Cabelas 30h). Can I just add a third brand new battery to my two old AGM batteries? I really don't want to replace and buy 3 new if I don't have to.

Also, another factor to that equation is when reading the reviews of the Cabelas AGM 30h batteries. All of the 1-2 star ratings say that battery failed just around the 2 year mark and they were past the warranty. The 2 batteries I have seem to have a lot of battery acid dust around the top and sides. Not sure how when they are sealed batteries. Could this be an indication of a looming failure thus I should go ahead and get 3 brand new batteries anyways or try to return the old batteries for some type of credit before the warranty expires?

Lastly, if I have to get 3 new AGM batteries, what are some good ones to consider? The BassPro AGM's have no user ratings. THANKS!!!

[A-Jay]

7 minutes ago, 70diesel said:

I am planning a getting a new Ulterra 36v to replace my current 24v. Currently I have 2 Cabelas AGM 30h batteries that are 1.5 years old, so I will need to get one more battery to make it 3 total. Cabelas doesn't make that battery anymore but BassPro makes a group 30 battery with the same specs (I think its just a replacement for the Cabelas 30h). Can I just add a third brand new battery to my two old AGM batteries? I really don't want to replace and buy 3 new if I don't have to.

Also, another factor to that equation is when reading the reviews of the Cabelas AGM 30h batteries. All of the 1-2 star ratings say that battery failed just around the 2 year mark and they were past the warranty. The 2 batteries I have seem to have a lot of battery acid dust around the top and sides. Not sure how when they are sealed batteries. Could this be an indication of a looming failure thus I should go ahead and get 3 brand new batteries anyways or try to return the old batteries for some type of credit before the warranty expires?

Lastly, if I have to get 3 new AGM batteries, what are some good ones to consider? The BassPro AGM's have no user ratings. THANKS!!!

I run Optima Blue tops.  31M X4.  36V plus the cranker.

https://www.optimabatteries.com/en-us/bluetop-dual-purpose-deep-cycle-and-starting?gclid=CjwKCAjwtqj2BRBYEiwAqfzur15P6x9HNvNp-HgPf_GvdWg0ZqMBwfsHLUFVMKUQkSiCLl9QIcBoYBoCtf0QAvD_BwE

4 years and haven't missed a beat.  Make sure to have a compatible quality charging system as well. 

A-Jay 

 

[MN Fisher]

10 minutes ago, 70diesel said:

Cabelas doesn't make that battery anymore but BassPro makes a group 30 battery with the same specs (I think its just a replacement for the Cabelas 30h).

When BPS bought Cabelas, a lot of Cabelas items were renamed...this is probably the same battery with a different label. Neither makes their own batteries, they buy them from manufacturers and slap their own label on them.

10 minutes ago, 70diesel said:

The BassPro AGM's have no user ratings. THANKS!!!

Use the reviews from the Cabelas batteries.

 

2 minutes ago, A-Jay said:

I run Optima Blue tops.

If you can afford them - go with the Optimas. I'm running a 'West Marine' (made by East Penn) battery in my canoe for the TM and electronics...2+ years into a 1 year warranty and it's still performing like new.

[A-Jay]

41 minutes ago, MN Fisher said:

If you can afford them - go with the Optimas. 

"Quality is never an accident, it is always the result of high intention, sincere effort, intelligent direction and skillful execution. It represents the wise choice of many alternatives."

 

"The Bitterness of Poor Quality Remains Long After the Sweetness of Low Price is Forgotten”

 

A-Jay

[WRB]

Always want your batteries the same age, size, type and make when in series. It's the weakest link issue, if 1 battery is low power the others are low power.

East Penn /Deka in PA makes the majority of "store brand " deep cycle marine AGM batteries.

Optima blue top marine deep cycle AGM are made in Mexico.

Tom

 

[Jig Man]

You might sell your batteries to someone and get 3 new ones so they would all be alike.

 

 I am running Optimas now.  They are 4 years old and getting weak.  They don’t seem to be as good as they used to be and for $300 each I am done with them.  My next batteries will be Duracell at Sams Club.  They are rebranded Dekas and are about a 40% savings over Optimas. 

[NHBull]

I am running size 31 tanks and most of the reviews have them lasting 6 years.  I am in year 3 and have not seen a decline.  Your 36 system will only be as good as its weaker link.....pay once, hurt once.

 

[WRB]

1 hour ago, Jig Man said:

You might sell your batteries to someone and get 3 new ones so they would all be alike.

 

 I am running Optimas now.  They are 4 years old and getting weak.  They don’t seem to be as good as they used to be and for $300 each I am done with them.  My next batteries will be Duracell at Sams Club.  They are rebranded Dekas and are about a 40% savings over Optimas. 

Optima was bought by Johnson Controls (Interstate) and the production sent to Monterey Mexico. 

[K1500]

As stated, you want batteries in series to all be as identical as possible (age, group type, brand, capacity, etc.).  Mixing is a bad idea. You should buy 3 new identical batteries. I just had a 14 month old battery die for my 24v system. I bought 2 new batteries and kept the remaining good one for use in an rv. 

[70diesel]

Thanks for the tips. ?

[Bankc]

Definitely replace all of them.  If you have batteries of different capacities, brands, or different ages, then you have batteries with a different internal resistance.  What happens when you run them in series is you get some of the batteries being tasked to push harder than the others, because the load is not equalized between them.  If the difference is great enough, this can cause you to have batteries that overheat, and in some cases, explode.  The last thing you want is to have a hydrogen gas explosion that spews sulfuric acid on a boat in the middle of the water.  I'm not saying that that is the most likely scenario, and I'm sure other people have mixed batteries and never had a problem.  But it is a realistic possibility.  I've seen it happen before, and more than once.  Luckily, never on a boat.

[Jig Man]

On 5/24/2020 at 6:32 PM, WRB said:

Optima was bought by Johnson Controls (Interstate) and the production sent to Monterey Mexico. 

So Tom is that a good thing or a bad thing?

[WRB]

Optima was initially independant battery company being sold by Trogan Battery dealers.

When Inwas looking at Optima at my local dealer he told me Interstate is now making the Optima batteries and the quality has gone down hill based on the number being returned.

Tom

[J Francho]

I used Optima for years with great results.

[RoLo]

 

I use Optima Bluetop without issue.

 

Roger

 

 

[Teal]

14 minutes ago, J Francho said:

I used Optima for years with great results.

Same here, they are expensive  but only at first...you save money  having them

[Johnbt]

I run electric-only 90% of the time and recently decided to upgrade to AGM and get 3 matching batteries.

 

(I have 2 Duracell Ultra Group 31's running the Maxxum 70 and one is slowly fading a bit on the volt meter. The new Minn Kota Endura Max 55 on the transom is running on a Group 31 Walmart Maxx battery that was purchased in 3/14 and still charges to 90%. I had been running a 1995 Minn Kota Turbo 65 that didn't draw much power putting out 36 pounds of thrust. I gave it back to the guy who loaned it to me 10 years ago.   )

 

I looked at the Optima Group 31 batteries, but wondered why the C20 rate appeared to be so low.

 

"we would recommend using either the D34M, D27M or D31M BLUETOP batteries for trolling motor use."

 

www.optimabatteries.com/en-us/bluetop-dual-purpose-deep-cycle-and-starting/d31m

 

"BLUETOP^® D31M

D31M

Weight: 59.8 lb

C20 Capacity: 75 Ah

Post Type: Dual SAE & 5/16 Stainless Stud

CCA: 900 Amp"

 

I'm no electrician and got tired of reading battery reviews, so I went ahead and ordered 3 Group 31 Duracell(Deka/EastPenn Intimidator) Platinum AGM batteries yesterday. Fwiw, they weigh 67.5 pounds each. My back may regret it by the time I get my tradeins to the store and the 3 new ones installed.

 

 

[Dirtyeggroll]

My opinion is to pick a battery that can easily be replaced locally. If it fails, I want to replace it (under warranty), right now so I have the opportunity to salvage the day.

 

Personally, I went with the Duracell 31AGM batteries due to price, availability (Sams and Batteries Plus), warranty 18-30 months and reputation of the manufacturer (East Penn/Deka).

 

Optima batteries in general are easy to find (most auto parts stores/BPS/Cabelas). I know 10 years ago when I was really into minitrucks the Optima battery was the gold standard for running audio and other car electronics systems. When I purchased my boat 18 months ago it had 27AGM BlueTops with a stamp of 4/17 and one failed over the winter while on the charger in Spring of '18 (less than a year old). I can't speak to how the battery was maintenanced, but when I was looking to replace it (and the rest to match age). It seemed there were plenty of equal or better batteries for much less cost.

 

If I weren't going with AGM batteries, I would go to Walmart or O'reilly's/Autozone/NAPA and pick the cheapest battery with the AH and RC that fit my needs.

 

One of the most overlooked components in how long a battery will last is the charger maintenance. Even a "cheap" battery can last a long time (several years) if appropriately kept charged and not overly discharged.