Battery Brands

Atalla

Atalla

Active Member
Sep 1, 2020
244
Seattle
Boat Info
2007 38 Sundancer
Engines
Twin Merc 8.1 S Horizon V-Drives
I've been browsing battery specs and am struggling to make a call. The range in price for Group 31 AGMs can go from like $150 to $550 (I'm sure lower and higher somewhere) and I'm trying to figure out if I really do get what I pay for here or if Firefly is just a bunch of marketing hype and a $165 Dyno will get me the same performance. I have a good smart charger.

Any strong opinions?
 
Little Ducky said:
Sam's price for $179 Group 31 AGM

Batteries Plus for $249 Group 31 AGM

Looks like quite a few places are out of stock.
Click to expand...
Sam’s Duracell AGM 31 go on sale for two weeks in the spring. From $179 to $159. I bought four at $179 this past spring. Tough to get your hands on.
 
Check farm and fleet if they are near you. While I didn't go AGM they had the best deal on reg bat -- exact same as WestMarine sells, probably $50 cheaper.
 
dtfeld said:
If you can find them in stock. I was not.

I bought some from BatteriesPLUS.
Click to expand...

I picked up some from Sams Club this year - had to watch the local store every day to see when they came instock. It was well worth it for 4x Group31 AGMs. I also had my wife pick up a Group 27 AGM when she was near another store not local to us. These Duracells are DEKAs and I love maintenance free AGMs.

-Kevin
 
I just installed 4 L16 sweeper batteries. They are 6 v and I have them in series for 2 banks. Each bank has 420 ah of power at 12v. I have a seperate generator battery. All batteries are from US Battery.
 
The Sams Club agm are tough to beat if you want a mid tier AGM. If you want top tier, Batteries Plus sells the rebranded Northstar AGM with an additional year of warranty. However it is $170 vs $409. I can’t justify over double for my application, so I always stick with the Sams ones. I get 5 plus years from them then swap them out though they are still ok.
 
Atalla said:
I've been browsing battery specs and am struggling to make a call. The range in price for Group 31 AGMs can go from like $150 to $550 (I'm sure lower and higher somewhere) and I'm trying to figure out if I really do get what I pay for here or if Firefly is just a bunch of marketing hype and a $165 Dyno will get me the same performance. I have a good smart charger.

Any strong opinions?
Click to expand...

First, you get what you pay for.

That said... Firefly Oasis Carbon Foam AGMs fit a special use case that might not be what you're about. If you anchor out for weeks at a time, seldom find shorepower (or don't have solar) to recharge AGMs to 100% often -- ideally after every deep cycle -- Firefly batteries might be for you.

OTOH, typical day usage, occasional anchoring but returning to the marina within a week or so... most other AGMs could be fine.

I've had good luck with Odyssey PC-2150s -- 11-12 seasons per dual-purpose (start/house) banks. I've also had good lick with Lifeline AGMs, but not in G31 format. Bothe brands expensive, but both also publish a 1000-cycle spec sheet and that longevity is what we needed.

Can't speak to the others.

-Chris


-Chris
 
There's only a few battery manufacturers. Most "brands" are just brands.

Buy based on the warranty. If it has a 2 yr warranty, you'll get about 2 yrs out of it, same for 3 or 4 years. Just buy from a reputable source that will be around to support the warranty if needed.
 
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