I saw at WestMarine this battery "Deep Cycle AGM 32," very compact but
lasting shorter.

This website explains that AGMs are better than Gels...

http://www.windsun.com/Batteries/Bat...%20electrolyte

donquijote1954 wrote:
I saw at WestMarine this battery "Deep Cycle AGM 32," very compact but
lasting shorter.

This website explains that AGMs are better than Gels...

http://www.windsun.com/Batteries/Bat...%20electrolyte

I am out of touch with the modern suppliers, but the AGM technology is
the 'spiral cell' tech I was talking about that Exide make. This is
'far' better than a liquid filled battery for boats and the gel cells,
well, they are now 'old' technology that doesn't behave nice.

I personally recommend whatever brand the biggest chain store you can
get to easy sells with the longest warranty! That way you can get a
replacement anywhere usually for free. The chain stores now sell AGM
batteries for really good prices.

Companies like 'Optima' became 'famous' with off roaders for their AGM
spiral cell batteries and the first few were good. Then they put out
crap with 'really' short warranties for big bucks. I switched back to
the chain store brands.

Back when I ran a fleet of electric boats, we only had the liquid filled
type. I ran deep cell with as many reserve amps as I could get.

I had one 18' fishing cruiser that would seat 8 run by two Mercury
Electrics powered by the 12 volt diesel truck sized (double the
footprint of a car battery) battery. One was good for 8 or 9 hours, but
I always had two on board under the bench seat. The car sized batteries
would last in a rowboat for the 8 or 9 hours usually too.


Mike
86/00 CJ7 Laredo, 33x9.5 BFG Muds, 'glass nose to tail in '00
'New' frame in the works for '08. Some Canadian Bush Trip and Build
Photos: http://mikeromainjeeptrips.shutterfly.com

On Dec 19, 11:26 am, Mike Romain wrote:
donquijote1954 wrote:
I saw at WestMarine this battery "Deep Cycle AGM 32," very compact but
lasting shorter.

This website explains that AGMs are better than Gels...

http://www.windsun.com/Batteries/Bat...%20electrolyte

I am out of touch with the modern suppliers, but the AGM technology is
the 'spiral cell' tech I was talking about that Exide make. This is
'far' better than a liquid filled battery for boats and the gel cells,
well, they are now 'old' technology that doesn't behave nice.

I personally recommend whatever brand the biggest chain store you can
get to easy sells with the longest warranty! That way you can get a
replacement anywhere usually for free. The chain stores now sell AGM
batteries for really good prices.

Companies like 'Optima' became 'famous' with off roaders for their AGM
spiral cell batteries and the first few were good. Then they put out
crap with 'really' short warranties for big bucks. I switched back to
the chain store brands.

Back when I ran a fleet of electric boats, we only had the liquid filled
type. I ran deep cell with as many reserve amps as I could get.

I had one 18' fishing cruiser that would seat 8 run by two Mercury
Electrics powered by the 12 volt diesel truck sized (double the
footprint of a car battery) battery. One was good for 8 or 9 hours, but
I always had two on board under the bench seat. The car sized batteries
would last in a rowboat for the 8 or 9 hours usually too.

Thank you much. How about this...

"Battery - 12V AGM, Group U-1, 32Ah, 8.3"L x 5.1"W x 7.25"H, 24lbs"

For "Minn Kota Riptide 12v 40 thrust." I don't need more than 3 hours.

Then getting the charger is kind of complicated too. I read not to get
the one from the Auto Parts.

donquijote1954 wrote:
On Dec 19, 11:26 am, Mike Romain wrote:
donquijote1954 wrote:
I saw at WestMarine this battery "Deep Cycle AGM 32," very compact but
lasting shorter.
This website explains that AGMs are better than Gels...
http://www.windsun.com/Batteries/Bat...%20electrolyte
I am out of touch with the modern suppliers, but the AGM technology is
the 'spiral cell' tech I was talking about that Exide make. This is
'far' better than a liquid filled battery for boats and the gel cells,
well, they are now 'old' technology that doesn't behave nice.

I personally recommend whatever brand the biggest chain store you can
get to easy sells with the longest warranty! That way you can get a
replacement anywhere usually for free. The chain stores now sell AGM
batteries for really good prices.

Companies like 'Optima' became 'famous' with off roaders for their AGM
spiral cell batteries and the first few were good. Then they put out
crap with 'really' short warranties for big bucks. I switched back to
the chain store brands.

Back when I ran a fleet of electric boats, we only had the liquid filled
type. I ran deep cell with as many reserve amps as I could get.

I had one 18' fishing cruiser that would seat 8 run by two Mercury
Electrics powered by the 12 volt diesel truck sized (double the
footprint of a car battery) battery. One was good for 8 or 9 hours, but
I always had two on board under the bench seat. The car sized batteries
would last in a rowboat for the 8 or 9 hours usually too.

Thank you much. How about this...

"Battery - 12V AGM, Group U-1, 32Ah, 8.3"L x 5.1"W x 7.25"H, 24lbs"

For "Minn Kota Riptide 12v 40 thrust." I don't need more than 3 hours.

Then getting the charger is kind of complicated too. I read not to get
the one from the Auto Parts.



Minn Kota used to be decent trolling motors with one quirk. They had
this silly light bulb to tell you they were on. Well, it was in series
with the motor feed so when the light bulb burnt out, the motor stopped.
I don't know if the new ones are the same.

All batteries do best with a long slow trickle charge, like an overnight
one. The battery maker will give the specs on what is the best charging
rate for that battery so you just buy one that matches.

Automotive chargers are usually fast chargers because their batteries
can take that. Just buy what matches.

That battery is a 32 amp hour battery. You can pull 32 amps off it for
an hour or 10 amps for 3 hours or 5 amps for 6 hours, etc.... How many
amps does the Minn Kota draw? I couldn't find your model on the Minn
Kota site.
http://www.minnkotamotors.com/produc...=sbm_riptidesm

It implies really good battery life though.

Mike

"donquijote1954" wrote in message
...
On Dec 19, 11:26 am, Mike Romain wrote:
donquijote1954 wrote:
I saw at WestMarine this battery "Deep Cycle AGM 32," very compact but
lasting shorter.

This website explains that AGMs are better than Gels...

http://www.windsun.com/Batteries/Bat...%20electrolyte

I am out of touch with the modern suppliers, but the AGM technology is
the 'spiral cell' tech I was talking about that Exide make. This is
'far' better than a liquid filled battery for boats and the gel cells,
well, they are now 'old' technology that doesn't behave nice.

I personally recommend whatever brand the biggest chain store you can
get to easy sells with the longest warranty! That way you can get a
replacement anywhere usually for free. The chain stores now sell AGM
batteries for really good prices.

Companies like 'Optima' became 'famous' with off roaders for their AGM
spiral cell batteries and the first few were good. Then they put out
crap with 'really' short warranties for big bucks. I switched back to
the chain store brands.

Back when I ran a fleet of electric boats, we only had the liquid filled
type. I ran deep cell with as many reserve amps as I could get.

I had one 18' fishing cruiser that would seat 8 run by two Mercury
Electrics powered by the 12 volt diesel truck sized (double the
footprint of a car battery) battery. One was good for 8 or 9 hours, but
I always had two on board under the bench seat. The car sized batteries
would last in a rowboat for the 8 or 9 hours usually too.

Thank you much. How about this...

"Battery - 12V AGM, Group U-1, 32Ah, 8.3"L x 5.1"W x 7.25"H, 24lbs"

For "Minn Kota Riptide 12v 40 thrust." I don't need more than 3 hours.

Then getting the charger is kind of complicated too. I read not to get
the one from the Auto Parts.

You have been getting good advice from several on the group. As a point of
reference, I took a canoe trip in a cave in Belize. There were no motors,
but the light was supplied by a simple car battery driving a standard
automotive headlamp. The battery was sitting just forward of center in the
canoe, with no box or mountings.

While I'm not advocating such an arrangement used in the cave, a typical
marine type battery might serve you well, depending upon the current
requirement of the motor. With relatively low current, a standard car
battery might even get the job done.

On Dec 19, 1:58 pm, Mike Romain wrote:
donquijote1954 wrote:
On Dec 19, 11:26 am, Mike Romain wrote:
donquijote1954 wrote:
I saw at WestMarine this battery "Deep Cycle AGM 32," very compact but
lasting shorter.
This website explains that AGMs are better than Gels...
http://www.windsun.com/Batteries/Bat...%20electrolyte
I am out of touch with the modern suppliers, but the AGM technology is
the 'spiral cell' tech I was talking about that Exide make. This is
'far' better than a liquid filled battery for boats and the gel cells,
well, they are now 'old' technology that doesn't behave nice.

I personally recommend whatever brand the biggest chain store you can
get to easy sells with the longest warranty! That way you can get a
replacement anywhere usually for free. The chain stores now sell AGM
batteries for really good prices.

Companies like 'Optima' became 'famous' with off roaders for their AGM
spiral cell batteries and the first few were good. Then they put out
crap with 'really' short warranties for big bucks. I switched back to
the chain store brands.

Back when I ran a fleet of electric boats, we only had the liquid filled
type. I ran deep cell with as many reserve amps as I could get.

I had one 18' fishing cruiser that would seat 8 run by two Mercury
Electrics powered by the 12 volt diesel truck sized (double the
footprint of a car battery) battery. One was good for 8 or 9 hours, but
I always had two on board under the bench seat. The car sized batteries
would last in a rowboat for the 8 or 9 hours usually too.

Thank you much. How about this...

"Battery - 12V AGM, Group U-1, 32Ah, 8.3"L x 5.1"W x 7.25"H, 24lbs"

For "Minn Kota Riptide 12v 40 thrust." I don't need more than 3 hours.

Then getting the charger is kind of complicated too. I read not to get
the one from the Auto Parts.

Minn Kota used to be decent trolling motors with one quirk. They had
this silly light bulb to tell you they were on. Well, it was in series
with the motor feed so when the light bulb burnt out, the motor stopped.
I don't know if the new ones are the same.

All batteries do best with a long slow trickle charge, like an overnight
one. The battery maker will give the specs on what is the best charging
rate for that battery so you just buy one that matches.

Automotive chargers are usually fast chargers because their batteries
can take that. Just buy what matches.

That battery is a 32 amp hour battery. You can pull 32 amps off it for
an hour or 10 amps for 3 hours or 5 amps for 6 hours, etc.... How many
amps does the Minn Kota draw? I couldn't find your model on the Minn
Kota site.http://www.minnkotamotors.com/produc...p?pg=sbm_ripti...

It implies really good battery life though.

I couldn't find that info either. I just know it's the smallest one.

Well, I think I'm gonna go for it, after making sure the amps it
draws. Maybe write to the factory.

Thank you all!

Well, I already ordered the Minn Kota motor, and so now remains the
battery and the charger...

WHAT KIND OF CHARGER?

The link I gave above recommends this type...

http://www.boatersland.com/statpower.html

Which one though. The second one is recommended for deep cycle.
Thanks!

'Chargers: Most garage and consumer (automotive) type battery chargers
are bulk charge only, and have little (if any) voltage regulation.
They are fine for a quick boost to low batteries, but not to leave on
for long periods. Among the regulated chargers, there are the voltage
regulated ones, such as Iota Engineering and Todd, which keep a
constant regulated voltage on the batteries. If these are set to the
correct voltages for your batteries, they will keep the batteries
charged without damage. These are sometimes called "taper charge" - as
if that is a selling point. What taper charge really means is that as
the battery gets charged up, the voltage goes up, so the amps out of
the charger goes down. They charge OK, but a charger rated at 20 amps
may only be supplying 5 amps when the batteries are 80% charged. To
get around this, Statpower (and maybe others?) have come out with
"smart", or multi-stage chargers. These use a variable voltage to keep
the charging amps much more constant for faster charging.'

Oh, this site has all deep cycle chargers. I like the third one
because it's cheaper...

http://www.batterymart.com/c-deep-cy...-chargers.html

http://www.batterymart.com/p-cliplig...y-charger.html

donquijote1954 wrote:
Oh, this site has all deep cycle chargers. I like the third one
because it's cheaper...

http://www.batterymart.com/c-deep-cy...-chargers.html

http://www.batterymart.com/p-cliplig...y-charger.html


I looked at them.

From experience I know that the AGM or spiral batteries are 'very'
picky about being overcharged. They will still vent hydrogen like a
normal battery on hard charge, but just don't have that much to vent so
they 'boil' dry easy.

For this reason I personally would go for one with an AGM 'switch'. I
think it would be worth it.

The second one also has the AGM sensing technology and it's waterproof.
Sometimes the fancy stuff like the 1st isn't always the 'best' stuff.

The 3rd or 'cliplite' only says it is for conventional lead acid
batteries....

If you will be charging at home or from a power grid, input voltage
sensing isn't needed like some have for running off inverters or generators.

Mike

donquijote1954 wrote:
Well, I already ordered the Minn Kota motor, and so now remains the
battery and the charger...

WHAT KIND OF CHARGER?

The link I gave above recommends this type...

http://www.boatersland.com/statpower.html

Which one though. The second one is recommended for deep cycle.
Thanks!

Nope, it's only for lead acid batteries and gel, no mention of AGM or
spiral.

Quote: Supports charging for flooded or gel lead-acid batteries.

Mike