I had the same trouble a few years ago. Not I use Opti's
Battery issues
I have size 27 Interstates for my TM. Last year at this time (after less than a year), they got tired. It's especially noticeable when chasing striper boils in the heat since I operate the TM at 100%. OK, now my new ones are again going after about a year. This time the dealer says that they test ok, but I know they are not keeping me fishing all day. I tried charging them at 2 amps on an outboard charger but that didn't help.
I'm sure they are just tired. I use them and recharge them a lot. One telling thing is that when they were new it took over night to bring them back to 100% and now they come up in a couple of hours. That's on the on-board charger.
I'm thinking that these interstates just can't take all I ask. What has your experience been with these? Am I asking too much? I can go with something like Franklin was talking about yesterday, but hate to spend that much if I'm going to face the same problem.
I remember an old post where one of you guys just would get yours at Sam's or WalMart and take them back for replacement after a year. I think those places will take them back without checking them.
I greatly appreciate your thoughts.
BTW, full water, no corrosion on the terminals, none of the other obvious issues.
Art
I'm sure they are just tired. I use them and recharge them a lot. One telling thing is that when they were new it took over night to bring them back to 100% and now they come up in a couple of hours. That's on the on-board charger.
I'm thinking that these interstates just can't take all I ask. What has your experience been with these? Am I asking too much? I can go with something like Franklin was talking about yesterday, but hate to spend that much if I'm going to face the same problem.
I remember an old post where one of you guys just would get yours at Sam's or WalMart and take them back for replacement after a year. I think those places will take them back without checking them.
I greatly appreciate your thoughts.
BTW, full water, no corrosion on the terminals, none of the other obvious issues.
Art
1 - 20 of 21 Posts
I also run Interstates but haven't encountered the same problem as you. I did have one die on me after the first year however.
But aside from that, no problem. I even fished an entire day with only a couple hours of charge, ran the livewells and graphs and still managed an eight hour day.
Do you charge immediately after every trip?
But aside from that, no problem. I even fished an entire day with only a couple hours of charge, ran the livewells and graphs and still managed an eight hour day.
Do you charge immediately after every trip?
champ thanks. I just hate to spend the big $. BTW, can you still charge the optis with an on-board charger?
always recharge right after each trip and don't leave them on the charger. Unplug after they are brought up.
I use Costco size 27 batteries. The ones I have now have been in the boat 2 years with no problems. They do not check them when you take one back. No questions asked.
I use the autozone blue tops and have never had problems. I have in the past used the much more expensive brands (except optis) and they did just as well or worse than the blue tops. I have had them last as long as 5yrs for cranking and 3+ for trolling. I usually have them long enough to burn out the warranty. I do take good care of them also.
Decoy,
Yes I can charge them with my onboard charger and have never had an issue with them. Actually I have 3 TM batteries and one of them is a regular battery. I upgraded to a 36v TM so..it was cheaper but I need to replace it with another Opti. But I charge them as soon as I get back home or to camp everytime. FYI, I had interstates in my diesel truck too and they did not last like an old interstate use to. Now I run Auto Zone. Had one go south after less than a year and they replaced both of them.
It is also just this frickin heat that takes the life out of them fast!
Yes I can charge them with my onboard charger and have never had an issue with them. Actually I have 3 TM batteries and one of them is a regular battery. I upgraded to a 36v TM so..it was cheaper but I need to replace it with another Opti. But I charge them as soon as I get back home or to camp everytime. FYI, I had interstates in my diesel truck too and they did not last like an old interstate use to. Now I run Auto Zone. Had one go south after less than a year and they replaced both of them.
It is also just this frickin heat that takes the life out of them fast!
i use opti group 31 bateries had the extra room so i fitted 2 of those in there dont have a troling motor on my big boat but they will power 2 12'' subs all day long and never die. the key with gell cells is just charge them slow have some that are 5 years old and i can drain them all the way and bring them back nice and slow and good as new
You will be amazed at the difference a group 31 will give you. Try another Intersate dealer and have them re-checked. Ran into this problem with ours, and a different location went ahead and replaced after testing. The place we had bad luck at was the Interstate on Bell out in Surprise. Got new ones, and upgraded at the same time, with the Interstate in Mesa.
Decoy dude Im the battery pro when it comes to trolling motor batts....I have done tons of research on what to use.....I use Lifelines, they were recommened to me by that **** RangerZ520(chad) and Basslady...they both know thier stuff....but thier is a cheaper alternative....
The Sears DieHard Platinum Marine Group 31's are awesome as well....many will say you dont need to spend that much on a batt, w/ with 3 a 4 year free replacement who cares....let them go to Walmart every 6 months....I dont have the time...
http://www.sears.com/shc/s/p_10153_...=Automotive&keyword=deep+cycle+marine+battery
These are what I use
http://www.lifelinebatteries.com/marineflyer.php?id=3
The Sears DieHard Platinum Marine Group 31's are awesome as well....many will say you dont need to spend that much on a batt, w/ with 3 a 4 year free replacement who cares....let them go to Walmart every 6 months....I dont have the time...
http://www.sears.com/shc/s/p_10153_...=Automotive&keyword=deep+cycle+marine+battery
These are what I use
http://www.lifelinebatteries.com/marineflyer.php?id=3
If you have room for grp 31s step up also very important no matter what batt you have the on board chargers get very hot and need all the ventilation they can get open the hatches on your boat when charging and out of the sun if possible.
Decoy dude Im the battery pro when it comes to trolling motor batts....I have done tons of research on what to use.....I use Lifelines, they were recommened to me by that **** RangerZ520(chad) and Basslady...they both know thier stuff....but thier is a cheaper alternative....
The Sears DieHard Platinum Marine Group 31's are awesome as well....many will say you dont need to spend that much on a batt, w/ with 3 a 4 year free replacement who cares....let them go to Walmart every 6 months....I dont have the time...
+1
http://www.sears.com/shc/s/p_10153_...=Automotive&keyword=deep+cycle+marine+battery
These are what I use
http://www.lifelinebatteries.com/marineflyer.php?id=3
Thanks for the input guys, and thanks Franklin for the post on the Sears Platinum series. I'm going to bite the bullet tomorrow for those. I hope they will be worth the money and will last more than a year.
Go with the optima's. If the ones Franklin is recommending are spiral cell, give them a try. But you just can't go wrong with optima batteries. I have a yellow top that is around 5 yrs old, and still a solid reliable battery.
Dude Optimas suck ass......not enough capacity....Go with the optima's. If the ones Franklin is recommending are spiral cell, give them a try. But you just can't go wrong with optima batteries. I have a yellow top that is around 5 yrs old, and still a solid reliable battery.
Good choice dude.....you wont be sorry....FYI heres the exact same battery, you could be paying $300Thanks for the input guys, and thanks Franklin for the post on the Sears Platinum series. I'm going to bite the bullet tomorrow for those. I hope they will be worth the money and will last more than a year.
Plus you know for sure you wont be buying any batteries for 3 years.....thats nice....thats 2012....
http://www.tnrbatteries.com/odysseypc2150s.html
These seem to be the best of the three types and my on-board charger will handle them fine without changing chargers which I would have to do with the gell types.
How many batts on your boat and is the t/m on it's on curcuit?
Two TM and 1 cranking. All are hooked up to the on-board Ranger (Power pro) charger. TM has it's own circuit.
1 - 20 of 21 Posts
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