Auto battery or deep cycle?

[Coyote machine]

Keep in mind 20% thing only applies it lead acid. Li-ion/lifepo likes to stay between 10% to 90% and hates high/low temp. NiCad resets it's memory with full discharge cycle so it's important to understand this stuff if you're using one of the non standard chemistries.

I agree to the extent of lead acid, but the OP asked about deep cycle or auto battery, which I addressed.
I'm not convinced any battery has a 'memory', especially one that can reset. How exactly would that work in the real world?

 

[jaxs]

Any battery suffer's from deep discharge then recharge. The amount of harm is directly related to how rapid it's discharged,how much it's discharged,how long it remains' discharged and how rapidly it's recharged. Deep cycles are constructed to better withstand discharge-recharge cycles. A quality charger/maintainer will measurably extend life of seldom used batteries. There are many chargers on the market that claim to be "smart"but all are not equal. The one I've found to be everything it claim's to be is Deltran brand. Many Chinese manufactures label theirs as "Tender"but they don't come close to Deltran Tenders. I rotate a Deltran Battery Tender Plus to keep seldom used batteries at peak. If one doesn't want to buy another charger,there's devices that go between charger and battery that prevent gross overcharge.

 

[TractorGuy]

Been using Walmart batteries for years with good results except for the Value Power brand. Put a pair of those in my diesel generator. First set failed 1week before the 1 year warranty expired. Second set failed at 7 months. I replaced those with the regular lawn tractor batteries. Been using those for several different uses and they have all lasted 5+ years.

 

[WranglerX]

JUst a little rant..... I had a EXIDE 78-80 (78 type 80 month) in my Chevy PU and I got 79 months and 27 day out of it before catastrophic failure... But that is not the issue... Went looking or same battery locally (originally purchases at TSC) and could not find it.... All I could get was expensive junk battery with 36 month guarantee made in Mexico with "house" brand names on it at TSC and O'Rilley AP.. Sad part about all this I was stranded in a parking lot with totally useless battery in truck that would not start.....

Lot of people recommend the OPTIMA battery, but as a few years ago when they moved production to Mexico quality when down.... Go Figure... I would view Optima with caution...

Right now I have a ODYSSEY battery in my Jeep, been there for 4 years now and I have biggest one that will fit in battery holder because I do some winching with 10,000 LB pull electric winch... Of the 5 vehicles on my property, the Jeep with the ODYSSEY is only one I would trust in a pinch.... And it's the only battery I have seen that comes with "owners manual"...

Only "ouch" here is the Odyssey battery(for my application) retails for about $320...Then again when you are 20 miles in the back country and no cell phone service.....

ODYSSEY Battery - Official Manufacturer's Site

Dale

 

[WranglerX]

Also interesting read before you make decision....

Car and Deep Cycle Battery FAQ, Battery Manufacturers and Brand Names List, and

Dale

 

[vvanders]

I agree to the extent of lead acid, but the OP asked about deep cycle or auto battery, which I addressed.
I'm not convinced any battery has a 'memory', especially one that can reset. How exactly would that work in the real world?

Take a read if you want to know some of the gory details Memory: Myth or Fact? – Battery University

Basically all NiCad/NiMH should be excercised for best life. Lead has a different behavior and likes to stay above 80%. LiIon doesn't care as long as you keep it outside temp extremes.

Hence why you have a different makeup for deep cycle and some of the new LiIon replacement 12v batteries on the market.

Heck you can get LiIon packs now only a bit larger than two packs of cards with enough umph to turn over most passenger vehicles.

 

[Beltzington]

Batteries and Motor Oil Everyone has an opinion so here is mine.

I have bought many box store batteries and expensive premium batteries over the years and except for the blue top Optima marine I have not seen any of them outperform the the box store brands. For less than $100 dollars you can buy a battery with 3-year replacement warranty. Why spend more? Hope it fails in three years and you will get a brand new one. Where is the downside to that? If you are in a boat where starting the engine could literally save life and limb I can see the concern but you are looking for one for your tractor. My tractor which sits for several weeks has a 4-year old wally-world, that has worked every time I turn the key.

 

[Jstpssng]

I was asking myself the same question, as the battery in my pickup failed Thursday and I pulled the battery out of my 'Bota to get me through the week. I could get a deep cycle with enough CCAs but opted for a regular battery because the warrantee is much longer. I picked up an Exide at the local parts store for just over $100, which will go in the tractor as I don't use the pickup much in winter.

 

[anewuser]

Just to follow up...I called the Kubota dealer for a quote on the battery. While their price was better than I expected (~$105), the cold cranking amp rating was only equal to the tractor's required CCA. I wound up buying an Interstate battery with more CCA. It cost a bit more, but was worth the peace of mind in my book.

As an aside, the Interstate model I purchased was the MT. It is recommended for high temperature locations. With several days of 100+ temps, it was the way to go. The same group number in the MTP had a higher CCA rating, but was recommended more for colder climates. The difference was more than a little. The MT was 600, the MTP 750. That's 25% higher. It's a shame their products for hotter climes isn't closer in performance.

 

[TheFarmerInAdell]

As an aside, the Interstate model I purchased was the MT. It is recommended for high temperature locations. With several days of 100+ temps, it was the way to go. The same group number in the MTP had a higher CCA rating, but was recommended more for colder climates. The difference was more than a little. The MT was 600, the MTP 750. That's 25% higher. It's a shame their products for hotter climes isn't closer in performance.

This is because you don't need as many amps at higher temps. Cold temps make batteries put out less amps. If you look at a battery it will usually have "cranking amps" and "cold cranking amps" (CCA). The cranking amps are at 32 degrees and the CCA are at 0 degrees, and the numbers differ significantly. Also, at colder temps the engine has a harder time turning because of thermal expansion/contraction (not significant, but sometimes plays a part, especially in diesels). I usually try to plug in my diesels if the temp will be below 20 to make it easier to start. If it's single digits nothing will start without being plugged in (at least for me).