Battery

[Arminius]

Got a Diehard 800 cold cranking amps marine starting battery at Advance Auto for less than $150. The marina said go for the CCA. I only had 3 years on a 1st Interstate deep discharge but the final start of season was a flop. I have one battery starting a 305 with a low voltage alarm and audio amp cut-off.

 

[ranger58sb]

The marina said go for the CCA.

Maybe, maybe not. If that battery starts an engine (CCA) and also services house functions (Ah) then a dual-purpose battery might have been a better choice.

(If it was called "deep cycle" or "deep discharge" that's more of a truth in advertising issue... unless Interstate published a 1000-cycle curve. Otherwise, it's just a dual-purpose battery.)

I only had 3 years on a 1st Interstate deep discharge but the final start of season was a flop.

Nothing magic about Interstate batteries; they don't last forever... so maybe 3 years is about average... and your Diehard might be the same.

-Chris

 

[Flyer5]

Got a Diehard 800 cold cranking amps marine starting battery at Advance Auto for less than $150. The marina said go for the CCA. I only had 3 years on a 1st Interstate deep discharge but the final start of season was a flop. I have one battery starting a 305 with a low voltage alarm and audio amp cut-off.

Interstate is not the battery it used to be. And their warranty sucks. They go by the date on the sticker not the date of sale.

 

[blaster]

Im sure the draw from all of those lights and power mushroom anchor had to be the death nail for the battery. Maybe go to a LifePO4 battery setup with an automatic charge relay and on off switch.

 

[blaster]

Interstate is not the battery it used to be. And their warranty sucks. They go by the date on the sticker not the date of sale.

Costco sells Interstate batteries and honors the warranty from the date of purchase.

 

[randmhall]

I'm thinking that you should replace the plywood bow cover with a giant solar panel. Multitask.

 

[Arminius]

I put a low voltage cut-off switch from Blue Seas on the audio amp. It also has a low voltage alarm which has alerted me when I forgot to turn something off and failed to turn the battery off. So, the First Interstate has not been depleted below 12.7 volts or abused. As I recall, it had 650 CCA and cost over $200. Boat hadn't been run in months and we had seen freezing temps so the failure to start may have been excusable but having the boat in the garage with a multiple rope hoist above it was the opportunity. "DieHard" used to be the superior Sears brand. I'm guessing the brand is Chinese owned now but it would be smart business to continue with a superior product. Advance carried it out to my truck for me while Costco makes me carry the core in and wait in line with my hand truck. You may note I followed the schematic on the Blue Seas switch although it can be wired in simply as a stand alone. Good people in Bellingham WA with live help available.

 

[GypsmJim]

You bought the wrong battery. Not just the grade, but the manufacturer as well. DieHards and Interstates went to crap a few years ago.

If you want a good battery, one of the few left is a Trojan. You get what you pay for.

 

[Thornton69]

Can't tell in the pic where the large + batt cable goes. Is that the main battery disconnect in the pic and the large leads to the starter come in and out through the back of the panel it is mounted on?
Also, any kind of moisture or residue between the posts of a battery at rest for an extended period will allow it to self discharge. Not sure what state the old one was in when you removed it.

 

[blaster]

Is it me or does the water level seem way low in that battery?

 

[Nater Potater]

Is it me or does the water level seem way low in that battery?

Good eye. If that's truly the case, then there's your reason for the short life.

 

[Bill Curtis]

Is it me or does the water level seem way low in that battery?

Good eye. If that's truly the case, then there's your reason for the short life.

Really good eye. There is the reason for the "low battery capacity" , caused by low water.

PS: I see what looks like a set of battery
charger leads connected to the battery. If that is one of those cheap "Battery Tender" s, then that may be boiling the water off. Have seen a couple of them go kaput and cook off batteries.

Throw it in the trash and get a good computer controlled battery charger / maintainer. Have used these for almost 15 years and they have never skipped a beat or boiled off a battery.

 

[Arminius]

There are additional leads to an Anderson connector. I've got jumper cables with an Anderson connector on one end to power the electric trailer winch when using a rental truck. I keep the cables in the boat for whatever and they will connect, if necessary.

 

[Arminius]

Can't tell in the pic where the large + batt cable goes. Is that the main battery disconnect in the pic and the large leads to the starter come in and out through the back of the panel it is mounted on?
Also, any kind of moisture or residue between the posts of a battery at rest for an extended period will allow it to self discharge. Not sure what state the old one was in when you removed it.

https://d2pyqm2yd3fw2i.cloudfront.net/files/resources/instructions/980016770.pdf