I have just started a search for new 8D house batteries and I ran across a review, Who Makes Super Start Batteries? « Batteries | Compare Reviews and Trusted (http://bestbatterytips.com/brand-name/who-makes-super-start-batteries/), that said O'rielly's Super Start 8D's are made by East Penn. My impression is that if its made by East Penn it should be pretty good and the price looks very good, . http://www.oreillyauto.com/site/c/detail/SSBL/AGM8D/N2493.oap?ck=Search_N2493_-1_-1&pt=N2493&ppt=C2389s (http://www.oreillyauto.com/site/c/detail/SSBL/AGM8D/N2493.oap?ck=Search_N2493_-1_-1&pt=N2493&ppt=C2389s) anyone have specific knowledge of the O'rielly batteries?
Kent, Bad experience with Oreilly but....
I ordered two 8D's and took three weeks to get them. When Oreilly called me I went and found that they only ordered one. I went elsewhere.
They do buy these AGM's from East Penn and as far as I know they are the same that are built for every one else. Price they are quoting you is actually 50 bucks lower than they quoted me. I would go for it but be aware that Oreilly employs few folks that have any experience.
Gary B
Thanx Kent - Nice option.
@Kent are these deep cycle batteries? They are called Super Start Batteries. My quick read thru the page I didn't see deep cycle anywhere.
I've been running 3 wet cell Deka's for about 3 years and haven't had a problem with them but I don't dry camp much.
see ya
ken
Ken, that's a really good question. They list CCA of 1450 so they may be starting batteries but it was my understanding that the 8D's were all deep cycle but could be used for starting as well. I will try to find out for sure. May call East Penn.
Additional info: I just spoke to East Penn and they only make one style of AGM 8D. It is 1450 CCA and 245 Ah as well. They don't make a "starting battery" only.
Pricing is excellent if they are good batteries. Best Amazon can do (with Prime membership) for a 250ah would be about $150 more for what looks like an equivalent battery but made in China (UPG).
I would like to go to sealed batteries myself. I am pretty sure my existing batteries are failing but it's too cold to go out and do a load test on them. :P
Craig
I just bought a pair of East Penn 8D batteries at Parts Plus for $144.10 each, plus sales tax. This is including a $64 core charge per battery, which is more than the $45 the local salvage yard would have given me for each of my old batteries. If you aren't trading in your old battery be aware of this core charge and ask them about it because it will affect your total price. If anyone is interested in the performance of these Parts Plus batteries let me know and I'll report back in a while. I'm using them as coach batteries, not for cranking. They're ordinary lead acid batteries, not AGM. My thinking is that I can easily buy two or three pairs of ordinary lead acid batteries for the price of one pair of AGM batteries, and the lead acid batteries provide more than half the reserve capacity of AGM batteries... so unless I'm missing something, I'll take the bargain priced batteries.
I did a little more internet research on 8D batteries and deep cycle batteries today and learned that the battery dude is probably correct when he says all 8D batteries have thicker plates and are considered deep cycle. There's a huge difference between a cranking battery and a deep cycle battery in automotive sizes though. Almost everything I found on the internet about deep cycle batteries was discussing the automotive size batteries. When I ignore the stuff about automotive sizes and focus only on the 8D batteries it's obvious that the 8D plates are much thicker, even thicker than some automotive deep cycle batteries. The typical automotive cranking battery has lead plates that are .040" thick, deep cycle batteries usually have lead plates that are about .090" or thicker, golf cart batteries have lead plates that are .070-.110", and 8D batteries have lead plates that are .080-.125" thick. There's not much difference between a cranking 8D and a deep cycle 8D in the performance figures as near as I can tell. Certainly not enough to justify the huge difference in price. One manufacturer even revealed this by listing both types of 8D side by side, including the thickness of the lead plates in each. The thickness of the lead plates isn't the only factor that makes a battery deep cycle, but it's the most important factor. The 8D batteries are a lot different than the automotive sizes that almost all RV people state figures for, so if you're using 8D batteries forget all that stuff and start over with an open mind. Go ahead and do some research for yourself, especially if you're buying new 8D batteries soon.
I found this interesting statement on a battery website:
"To enable deep discharges, the plates must be made thicker and the insulating separators made from more expensive materials than the paper used in starting batteries. Thicker, but fewer plates means that the battery won't sustain as high a rate of current, but will permit deeper discharges without imminent failure. Golf cart batteries and heavy duty 8D units are thus designed with the purpose of supplying moderate currents for sustained periods. They aren't a true deep cycle battery, however, and should be charged soon after any extensive discharge."
This battery manufacturer even revealed the plate thickness and performance figures of their cranking 8D and deep cycle 8D side by side for comparison:
http://www.dynobattery.com/Spec8D.pdf (http://www.dynobattery.com/Spec8D.pdf)
I think East Penn makes the same exact GELL 8D8G battery that is labeled with their MK name for many parts houses.
We have replaced our MK brand 8D8G GELL batteries with NAPA labels and CARQUEST labels and in every case new batteries were exactly the same in color shape, etc as our MK brand. They usually come from store's warehouse and have the store brand label, but one time because they were ordered from East Penn, it had East Penn label.
Warranty is always with selling store and is usually different from one another. Warranty differences are one of the reason price is lower or higher. My experience in the past found MK label to have the longest warranty and highest price, so we were probably pre-paying for better warranty.
BTW, we find some O'rielly's to have the best technical counter guys and widest selection of truck parts as compared to Autozone, etc. NAPA is usually the best for choice, but have different prices for everyone.