Deep cycle? Compared to what? This is what needs to be asked. They are not "deep cycle" when compared to the GC2 or other true deep cycle batteries. However they are only really deep cycle when compared to the starting or dual purpose batteries which share the identical case. G-24, 27 & 31 batteries simply do not have the plate thickness a GC2 battery does because they are adapted battery case sizes from the 1950's automotive world.įor example in the Deka / Sea Volt / West Marine line you have starting, dual purpose and deep cycle G-24, 27 & 31 12V batteries which all share the same case. They are also pretty darn pricey compared to T 105's due to volume. There are 12V golf cart batteries such as the Trojan T1275, and they do have the same cycle life as a 6V, but they are also taller, like the 6V, and a built to use the same plates as a GC2 battery. Some will give more "cycles" than others in these group sizes but none compete directly with a true deep cycle battery such as a GC2 6V in terms of cycle life.īattery buyers should always understand they are are not just buying Ah capacity they are buying expected cycle life too. Most G-24, 27, 31, 4D & 8D 12V flooded batteries are all "imposters" including Trojan 12V G-24, G-27 & G-31. a Deka AGM rated at 300 cycles? Even if the GEL cost $50.00 more this is a steal. Half the rated cycles!! What's the better value, 200Ah's of Trojan 12V batteries or 200 Ah's or Trojan 6V batteries? What's the better value a Deka GEL battery rated at 1000 cycles vs. Trojan for example rates their entire 12V SCS line up at just half the rated cycles of their T105. When compared to their sister cases, in starting or dual purpose, they appear to be "deep cycle" but when compared to a true deep cycle battery, such as a GC2 6V or a GEL battery they are not at all deep cycle. Many of these batteries do get marketed as deep cycle but it is marketing mumbo jumbo not a real deep cycling battery.Īlso keep in mind that Group 24, 27 & 31 batteries are also not a true deep cycle battery in flooded designs. Dyno does claim to make a deep cycle version but they are a very small West Coast company. Most all flooded 4D & 8D batteries are all dual purpose or starting. My Forum - Musings With Maine Sail (LINK) In summary the term deep cycle has been bastardized in the industry and is basically a bunch of bovine dung when used to describe typical 4D, 8D, Group 24, 27 & 31 12V batteries. This a bank of three Group 31 Odyssey TPPL AGM batteries. Scenes like this on OTR trucks are becoming the norm and 4D and 8D's once the norm here are a dying breed. Even the big OTR truck manufacturers have moved to parallel group 31's and some battery makers, such as US Battery, have even stopped making them all together. Done wrong and for the wrong reasons they are a massive hole in your wallet.įor the life of me I do not understand why anyone would pay 2¢ for an 8D or 4D unless you were trying to start a massive diesel in a sport fishing yacht. Done right, and for the right reasons, they are good batteries. Beyond that AGM's are quite picky about proper use and charging. Lifeline does make a "deep cycle" 4D or 8D but Deka does not, unless you consider 300 cycles "deep cycle". *They rate their GEL batteries at 700 more cycles than AGM. *They rate their 6V DC wets at 400 - 700 more cycles than AGM *They rate their 12V DC wets at 50 more cycles than AGM. That is not my data but Deka's own data across their own batteries. *NOTE: These are not what you will see in the "real world" except for the possibility of GEL. AGM Cycled to 50% = *300 Cycles (includes 4D & 8D) 12V Deep Cycle Flooded Cycled to 50% = *350 Cycles 6V Flooded Golf Cart Batteries Cycled to 50% = *700-1000 Cycles We wind up using batteries that were never intended for partial state of charge operation in a PSOC environment which results in considerably less cycles than what the manufacturers "lab" data suggests could potentially happen. The sad reality is with sailboats this does not always happen. Why? Because all battery manufacturers assume & recommend that you recharge to 100% SOC after each deep discharge. Only in-house manufacturer testing across their own batteries can be compared for guidelines. Most all of them are fantasy level data when applied to real world marine use. Actually there is, but no one seems to want to use it. Cross brand cycle life data is useless because there is no industry standard for testing. NOTE: Only ratings within a brand /manufacturer are useful. I will let Deka's own data speak for itself. Here's the text of Maine Sail's reply (at the bottom of that link - photo didn't come through):
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