Battery Debate Question

[MDVols]

I was going to order an extra battery Blue top Optima battery for my boat. Should I get the 34M with 800 cold cranking amps or the D34M which is a deep cycle with 750 CCA. I can't remember if my other battery is deep cycle or not, I think it is but was wondering which is best.

[Ptownkid]

Is it for starting or for powering stuff? For starting get the 800, for powering stuff get the deep cycle.

[michael hunter]

Why are you spending the extra for a optima?

[Ptownkid]

He's got a point...spending three times as much on something that might last twice as long as a cheap one does not add up.

[MDVols]

Ok is it worth it to buy a deep cycle. I'm going to have 2 batteries regardless. Didn't know if that was mainly for trolling motors and stuff.


Bam! Supra, what's that!

[michael hunter]

As Ptownkid said a deep cycle is for a slow steady power release like stereos , trolling motors, lighting and such . A starting battery is made for short bursts of high amps like a starter would require . They will both work for both jobs but to get the max usable life you should use the correct battery for the job. I bought one of each the starting batt runs the boat just as it was form the factory . The deep cycle runs the stereo only the only connection to the boat is through an isolator to the alternator for charging.

[MDVols]

Thanks MH


Bam! Supra, what's that!

[Wylietunes]

I was going to order an extra battery Blue top Optima battery for my boat. Should I get the 34M with 800 cold cranking amps or the D34M which is a deep cycle with 750 CCA. I can't remember if my other battery is deep cycle or not, I think it is but was wondering which is best.

What will the battery be used for, starting or house loads while at rest? The Ah of an Optima as compared to a traditional marine deep-cycle of that same group, is about 60%. An Optima marine deep-cycle has about 55 Ah and a group-29 Interstate has about 105 AH.

[Zim]

I run two of the blue top 34M's in parallel with no battery switch, so basically just one large battery. I run 3 amplifiers... 1 for the 6 cabin speakers, 1 for the 4 tower speakers, and 1 sub amp, and I can be at the beach for 4-5 hours and start right up no problem after playing music the whole time. If you take care of an optima battery, they're worth the money IMO. Plus, anything goes wrong in 2 years and they're replace them no questions asked.

[jasun]

Walmart was a group 29 MAXX deep cycle with a 2 year warranty for around 110 I think. I have 2 of them on an isolator and have not had any problems during year one.


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[wotan2525]

Walmart was a group 29 MAXX deep cycle with a 2 year warranty for around 110 I think. I have 2 of them on an isolator and have not had any problems during year one.


I've got 2 of the group 31s in my house bank. The last set I had lasted for 4 years (longer than any other batteries I've had.) I have one of the smaller ones as a starting battery and it's probably going on year 5 or 6.

[SquamInboards]

I am on year 5 with my wal-mart deep cycle... It tested ok but we will see if it makes it through the season. Hard to beat for the price, $110 as jasun said. But with the abuse that my starting battery avoids, it's on it's 6th season! Low expectations from that one, too. But it also tested ok...

[haugy]

Another pair of Wal-mart specials here. Going on 2 years, no problems.