Tried the forum's search function so that I would not repeat anything previously posted but the function appears to be down.
I've been studying adding a second battery and various combiner/isolator setups to my boat for about a week now. As fate would have it my G "hick-uped" trying to start yesterday. I turned the key, it "grrrrd" for about 1/2 second and stopped as if it didn't have enough amperage to finish turning the engine over. So I tried again and it started. Upon return from a short local trip I checked the date of the Intersate MT-91 battery and it was at 64 months old (out of a 72m warranty period). I then checked a few things using http://www.uuhome.de/william.darden/carfaq4.htm and sure enough the old battery was headed downhill. I thought it would be a helpful site for folks to consider: http://www.uuhome.de/william.darden/
Using Consumer Reports I went with Advance Autos Titanium Series Group 48/91 ($63). In stock and with an April 2005 date [
] . There was enough room to add a battery absorption mat. The old battery was designed for centralling venting battery gases, but it was not installed. I haven't found any literature in the WIS that sez it should be there but I installed it anyway and there was an opening in the bottom of the battery compartment that sure looked like it has that as a purpose (this battery is installed in the back left corner of the truck). No sense having hydrogen gas mixing with the electrics and relays in that same compartment.
Other pricing I found:
-Interstate MT-91 ($115) special order 2-3 day wait
-Walmart Everstart no group 48 in stock or price posted
-Autozone Dura Last Group 48 ($60) not enough CCA or Reserve for my preference
-Autozone Dura Last Gold group 48 ($80) not in stock
-Sears WeatherHandler(North) Diehard ($90) 2-3 day wait or 2 hour round trip for me.
-Varta. could not find the correct application at their website and would have been a 3 hour round trip to the dealer plus whatever wait it would be for one to arrive in stock.
I did take a serious look at the AGM/Spiral technology batteries, but for the money, I got a higer amperage, higher reserve starting battery that is more tolerant of how a charge cycle is applied to it....for at least 1/2 the price (3yr free replacement, 84 month battery(although 5 years is about the average for me on wet cell batteries)).
Now back to adding that second battery to das boat!
I've been studying adding a second battery and various combiner/isolator setups to my boat for about a week now. As fate would have it my G "hick-uped" trying to start yesterday. I turned the key, it "grrrrd" for about 1/2 second and stopped as if it didn't have enough amperage to finish turning the engine over. So I tried again and it started. Upon return from a short local trip I checked the date of the Intersate MT-91 battery and it was at 64 months old (out of a 72m warranty period). I then checked a few things using http://www.uuhome.de/william.darden/carfaq4.htm and sure enough the old battery was headed downhill. I thought it would be a helpful site for folks to consider: http://www.uuhome.de/william.darden/
Using Consumer Reports I went with Advance Autos Titanium Series Group 48/91 ($63). In stock and with an April 2005 date [
] . There was enough room to add a battery absorption mat. The old battery was designed for centralling venting battery gases, but it was not installed. I haven't found any literature in the WIS that sez it should be there but I installed it anyway and there was an opening in the bottom of the battery compartment that sure looked like it has that as a purpose (this battery is installed in the back left corner of the truck). No sense having hydrogen gas mixing with the electrics and relays in that same compartment.Other pricing I found:
-Interstate MT-91 ($115) special order 2-3 day wait
-Walmart Everstart no group 48 in stock or price posted
-Autozone Dura Last Group 48 ($60) not enough CCA or Reserve for my preference
-Autozone Dura Last Gold group 48 ($80) not in stock
-Sears WeatherHandler(North) Diehard ($90) 2-3 day wait or 2 hour round trip for me.
-Varta. could not find the correct application at their website and would have been a 3 hour round trip to the dealer plus whatever wait it would be for one to arrive in stock.
I did take a serious look at the AGM/Spiral technology batteries, but for the money, I got a higer amperage, higher reserve starting battery that is more tolerant of how a charge cycle is applied to it....for at least 1/2 the price (3yr free replacement, 84 month battery(although 5 years is about the average for me on wet cell batteries)).
Now back to adding that second battery to das boat!
