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Old 12-28-2017, 09:49 PM   #1
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Battery weight?

Hello my fellow TFers.
I was looking at some GC2 batteries and I noticed that some of them are heavier than others. Does the weight of the battery a sign of its quality? Does this weight mean that the lead plates are thicker and of better durability?

L
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Old 12-28-2017, 10:47 PM   #2
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Yes. Generally, all else being equal, the higher lead weight makes it a better battery.
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Old 12-28-2017, 11:30 PM   #3
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Yes **if same AH** at 20-hr discharge rate.

​Best battery value by far is Duracell (actually Deka/East Penn) FLA deep cycle, less than $180 per 200+AH pair from BatteriesPlus or Sam's Club.

Trojan T-105s a bit dearer, RE version a big step up.
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Old 12-29-2017, 04:59 AM   #4
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I am in NJ not too far from the East Penn plant.

They may be a bargain, but have never seen one. Between Golf Courses and Golf Cart Stores selling batteries, Trojans and US Battery seem to be by far the most prolific where I am.

I have bought both Trojans and US Battery 6Vs for under $175 per battery over the last couple years. Shop around, even then I found a spot that was $40 per battery cheaper down close to $135 per Trojan.
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Old 12-29-2017, 09:01 AM   #5
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Up here price are a bit higher. Lowest price you can get for a gc2 is 189$, most of the are around 240$ whatever the brand is. Looking at different ones I noticed quite some difference in weight so my question. While the casing can make a difference I guessed that the main reason is the plate thickness.
I looked and the gc2 are quite cheap at Sam's and there is one Sam's shop on the other side of the border not so far from here what can be an option. However I was wondering if a Canadian can buy from Sam's as it appears to require a membership to buy there?

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Old 12-29-2017, 09:05 AM   #6
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I am in NJ not too far from the East Penn plant.

They may be a bargain, but have never seen one. Between Golf Courses and Golf Cart Stores selling batteries, Trojans and US Battery seem to be by far the most prolific where I am.

I have bought both Trojans and US Battery 6Vs for under $175 per battery over the last couple years. Shop around, even then I found a spot that was $40 per battery cheaper down close to $135 per Trojan.
I agree, I just replaced the US Batteries in my boat this year and they were 7 years old and replaced my golf cart batteries with T-105s. The T-105s were $650 taxes included for 6 of them in Florida.
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Old 12-29-2017, 10:03 AM   #7
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That's crazy cheap for Trojan. US Batt is at least as good.

Don't just buy on weight, maker is important.

Inquire about Sam's gift cards, may be able to redeem without joining.

They may have a "day pass" option?

Obviously you can go as a member's guest long as they're with you when they check out.
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Old 12-29-2017, 10:32 AM   #8
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My Trojan T105s were under $100 each and no sales tax in Delaware.

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Old 12-29-2017, 10:33 AM   #9
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My Trojan T105s were under $100 each and no sales tax in Delaware.

Ted
Unfortunately a bit far from me

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Old 12-29-2017, 01:06 PM   #10
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Unfortunately a bit far from me

L
Lou

I needed 8 FLA GC 6v in a hurry while leaving for the south last month. A quick few calls to RV Stores got me a 20% discount for 8, so $Cdn151 each. (=$120US)
These are Interstate, so a brand with a good reputation.

Shop around at RV stores.
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Old 12-29-2017, 01:30 PM   #11
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Interstate has a poor reputation for real deep cycling needs, certainly compared to the others so far discussed here. Made by Johnson Controls.

6V GCs won't be horrible, but better to stick to those mfg known for quality long lived true deep cycling.

Rolls/Surette at the top
Crown, Superior
then Trojan, U.S. Battery and Deka/East Penn

who makes Duracells
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Old 12-29-2017, 02:55 PM   #12
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I should also mention that the GCs sold at Cosco are also known to be made by Johnson Controls.

So not as good as the Sam's / B+ Deka.

But likely just as good as Interstate, at I think around $180 the pair.

And note **everything** discussed here far surpasses anything 12V you can buy at any big box or an automotive chain, for true deep cycling usage, no matter what the label says.

http://www.pbase.com/mainecruising/deep_cycle_battery
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Old 12-30-2017, 12:11 AM   #13
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I should also mention that the GCs sold at Cosco are also known to be made by Johnson Controls.

So not as good as the Sam's / B+ Deka.

But likely just as good as Interstate, at I think around $180 the pair.

And note **everything** discussed here far surpasses anything 12V you can buy at any big box or an automotive chain, for true deep cycling usage, no matter what the label says.

What Is A "Deep Cycle" Battery? Photo Gallery by Compass Marine How To at pbase.com
I would be very interested in seeing your supporting data on Interstate vs. Deka vs. JC. What is your source or what are the conditions of your testing?
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Old 12-30-2017, 12:18 AM   #14
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That's crazy cheap for Trojan. US Batt is at least as good.

Don't just buy on weight, maker is important. ...
Got to watch those battery mfrs. Some might slip some extra lead into the plates. Making it heavier, so you are deceived into thinking it has thicker lead plates.
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Old 12-30-2017, 03:38 AM   #15
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It sounds like you may think lead qty is the only factor behind quality and longevity? It's not.
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Old 12-30-2017, 05:47 AM   #16
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I would be very interested in seeing your supporting data on Interstate vs. Deka vs. JC. What is your source or what are the conditions of your testing?
So far it sounds like the Mainecruising site and its new location.....

And a few other random internet sites that I have seen that provide similar info.

But info in a vacuum, there is an Interstate deep cycle battery that gets great reviews as a trollong motor battery. So brand selection is more than a name. And sure there are battery companies out there like Rolls, just like car companies with the same name I will never buy from nor would the vast majority of TFers.
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Old 12-30-2017, 05:59 AM   #17
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Most folks are still learning when starting to cruise , life away from the dock is totally different living on a batt set than a power cord.

Many items in the boat have to be changed or at least their use has to be monitored .

For most refrigeration is the hardest learning experience.

DEAD batts are more common while learning , so Interstate or Sears batts are probably the easiest to exchange underway as there are so many shops.

Bestitis for batts is expensive , those Roll$ should be the 3rd or 4th set you get , only worthwhile after the learning curve has peaked.

For my money a SOC meter is more important than any brand selection.
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Old 12-30-2017, 10:23 AM   #18
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Keep in mind that big buyers like Costco or Walmart can have batteries made to their specifications. Just because a well known manufacturer makes them doesn't mean they are the same quality as the ones they sell under their own name or some other name.

It's also possible that batteries sold under a certain brand name could be made by different companies depending on what part of the country they are being sold in. Shipping batteries is pretty expensive.

And to answer the OP's question, more weight indicates more lead. More lead generally indicates more capacity but there are other things that make a battery better or worse than a similar battery from a different company.
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Old 12-30-2017, 10:48 AM   #19
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At this point I have different options. The easiest is to get gc2 from the nearby canadian tire shop for 219$ each, battery brand would be shop own brand. Second would be to get them from battery expert shop nearby. They offer multi brand among which their own TransCanada, price would range from 189$ for the entry level model (220ah), to. 229$ for their higher model (235ah) to 275$ for trojan T105. I found some better prices in canada but at 5h of driving one way it is not so tempting. I still need to check in some RV specialized shop to compare.

About weight, heavier is canadian tire one with 29kg followed by trojan with 28kg, followed by the two Trans Canada at 27kg.

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Old 12-30-2017, 11:08 AM   #20
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Lou, don't overlook Krown Batteries. I have had great service from them over the years. Carquest often puts the GC on sale.
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