Replacing my cranking battery

[Bandersnatch]

Currently looking at replacing my optima blue top 31 12vt battery, I'm not looking into adjusting my 36v setup yet. 

 

What is the biggest baddest battery I can put in there that's not absolute crazy expensive. I'm talking about lithium, not going to go that route. Also, it would need to be plug and play with my 2008 ranger 4 bank. There's a logo stating new batteries since 5/17 under my lid but I've been having issues. Honestly, my ultrex gets slow after 4-6 hours. Yesterday my outboard wouldn't start after running by livewell, two helix 10s, hydrowave, gopro stick and whatever else for about 6 hours. I was testing everything running consistently for a long period of time because we have a 4 day tournament that's all day with only two hours of charging during lunch. Currently it has a 31 bluetop, I'm wondering if a battery place should test it. I also know nothing about batteries or dual purpose ones. It looks like there's room in there if i wanted to put a bigger tray and battery. Any help is appreciated. 

 

I saw odessy and x2 recommendations. 

[Jig Man]

Lithium may not work with a charger of that age.  If not then the North Star X2 is probably your best choice.  Batteries +bulbs carries it under their label.  That is what I had to go to to make it all day.

[looking45]

If you have the room, add another battery. Hook up one just to start the outboard and the oner to power all the other stuff you have. You might be asking too much of ANY battery for a full day.

[jbsoonerfan]

Replacing your cranking battery won't have any effect on the performance of your TM. I would look at reserve capacity as a determining factor. Not sure what size motor you have but most batteries will have plenty of cranking amps to crank your motor, but your graphs are using the reserve capacity and when it gets low it won't crank. It looks like your current battery has 155 minutes. I found an Exide with 200 minutes, but it is more expensive than the Optima.

 

 https://marinebatteryguy.com/exide-xmc-31-megacycle-agm-200-sealed-maintenance-free-agm-marine-battery/

 

 

[Way2slow]

You have about the worst battery you could have for a bass boat cranking battery.  Look at that reserve capacity (RC), 155 minutes.  Interstate AGM, Deka AGM and a few other top brands, will have 200 minutes or more RC.  All those big CCA/MCA numbers mean nothing for running your electronics when the motor is not running, it's the RC number that's doing that.  If you want to get the most, ditch the AGM and get the baddest flooded cell battery with caps on it you can find.  They will be up there around 225 RC.  There is a trade off with the flooded cell battery though, the AGM typically have a much higher cycle count than the flooded cell and you will have to keep check on the electrolyte level in one with caps.  Cycle count his how many times it can be discharged and charged before it goes bad.

 

 

[Bandersnatch]

1 hour ago, jbsoonerfan said:

Replacing your cranking battery won't have any effect on the performance of your TM. I would look at reserve capacity as a determining factor. Not sure what size motor you have but most batteries will have plenty of cranking amps to crank your motor, but your graphs are using the reserve capacity and when it gets low it won't crank. It looks like your current battery has 155 minutes. I found an Exide with 200 minutes, but it is more expensive than the Optima.

 

 https://marinebatteryguy.com/exide-xmc-31-megacycle-agm-200-sealed-maintenance-free-agm-marine-battery/

 

 

Is there that's much difference between 155 and 200 minutes? Lol, to a battery newb it doesn't seem like much but I don't know anything. I'd prefer to not add a 5th battery especially since I like the plug and play of the four bank charger 

[Way2slow]

25%, that's eight hours versus six hours under the same conditions.  If you are running the big motor enough to boost the charge in the battery, no problem.  If you are running the TM for long periods and only run the big motor for short distances, then it's a big difference.

[WRB]

Take a look at VMAX Tank MR137-120 group 31 marine deep cycle AGM battery, RC 230 minutes.

Tom

[Bandersnatch]

18 hours ago, WRB said:

Take a look at VMAX Tank MR137-120 group 31 marine deep cycle AGM battery, RC 230 minutes.

Tom

Do you think that agm would be okay on my 2008 ranger four bank charger? 230 rc minutes seems about the best put there? 

[gim]

Whatever you decide to do, it might be worth adding a power pack/jump starter to your gear.  I keep one in my truck just in case I need a boost to my starting battery there or in my boat.

[Bandersnatch]

29 minutes ago, gimruis said:

Whatever you decide to do, it might be worth adding a power pack/jump starter to your gear.  I keep one in my truck just in case I need a boost to my starting battery there or in my boat.

It's something I do have. The problem is if I get to the point that I need a jump pack to start my outboard I'm guessing my little bit of running on a small lake will not be enough to continue to run my electronics and live well for the remainder of a tournament day. 

[WRB]

19 hours ago, WRB said:

Take a look at VMAX Tank MR137-120 group 31 marine deep cycle AGM battery, RC 230 minutes.

Tom

I have these batteries going on 10 years now, with 10 amp per bank charger.

Before the AGM I used Trogan SC225's, RC 225, wet cell's area PITA to maintain and used a auto watering system that helped.

You are using the GP 31 battery more as a house battery that starts your big engine then a cranking battery. As long as you charge all the batteries after fishing the AGM should be good.

Tom

[A-Jay]

59 minutes ago, gimruis said:

Whatever you decide to do, it might be worth adding a power pack/jump starter to your gear.  I keep one in my truck just in case I need a boost to my starting battery there or in my boat.

Yup ~ 

The one below is in my boat all open water season for the 4.6L V8 ProXS and 

then in the truck for the 6.2 L V8 all winter.

Holds a charge for a stupid long time. 

Although I've not needed it (have jumped others with it though) I carry this one -

https://www.amazon.com/NOCO-GB70-UltraSafe-Lithium-Gasoline/dp/B016UG6PWE/ref=sr_1_1_sspa?dchild=1&keywords=GB70&qid=1594067584&sr=8-1-spons&psc=1&spLa=ZW5jcnlwdGVkUXVhbGlmaWVyPUFIMUc2RTU5SThOOTImZW5jcnlwdGVkSWQ9QTA2NjYzNDBPQk9OTklaWVVCME4mZW5jcnlwdGVkQWRJZD1BMDgyOTI5MzNUM1c2TVBNMFBVQUgmd2lkZ2V0TmFtZT1zcF9hdGYmYWN0aW9uPWNsaWNrUmVkaXJlY3QmZG9Ob3RMb2dDbGljaz10cnVl

 

(Prefer to have more than I "need").

A-Jay

 

[jbsoonerfan]

I have the same one @A-Jay has and it is a great pack. I had to use it once on my boat before I upgraded my cranking battery and have used it on a couple pontoons (not sure why they wait till they get to the lake for a weekend to check it) and a car.

[A-Jay]

1 minute ago, jbsoonerfan said:

I have the same one @A-Jay has and it is a great pack. I had to use it once on my boat before I upgraded my cranking battery and have used it on a couple pontoons (not sure why they wait till they get to the lake for a weekend to check it) and a car.

Yea ~ 

Pretty sure that's a regulation that is strictly monitored by UPOA.

United Pontoon Operators of America

The fine must be severe as blatant violations seem rare. 

A-Jay