My truck parts vendor has priced a Deca 8 D gell battery for $478.00.. 1400 cranking amps but don't know about the reserve minutes.. Would like some opinions before I pull the trigger. Have a bit of a problem finding a vendor for them in my neighborhood and the shipping on 2 of them would be considerable because of the weight. This vendor delivers to my shop twice a week and shows no charge for delivery although I'm sure that is factored in the parts we buy.
That seems like a good price on either AGM or gel delivered to your door. Make sure you charger is set for the proper battery type.
A lot of us have gone with the O'Reilly Auto 8D AGMs. They list them for $500 but I and others got them for $400 apiece. If you are close by they'll often lift the old ones out and slide in the new ones.
jor
Purchased 3 Deka 8D gells in nov2017 and paid $535.00 each.
Replace both house batteries with Deka gels. Double the cycle life of their AGM's.
Least expensive batteries per cycle. Do not need equalization.
O'Reilly AGM's can need equalization and cannot be equalized as far as I know?
Lifeline AGM's can be equalized BTW.
Just got back from my local O'Reiely where I have a business act and was quoted $435.00 on agm.. Considering input so far I will probably pay the $40.00 difference and go with Deca gel.
Alternator output needs to be correctly regulated for Gel as well, right? I know my FT came with the original Gel house batteries, and they lasted 12 years, with AGM starting batteries, and everything worked together just fine but the Gels can be ruined quickly with the wrong charging setup. I feel more comfortable now with all AGM.
The supplier deal is probably the most convenient for you, however, I just offered O'Reilly's $800f or both. The guy checked with his boss and said OK. Either solution sounds good. Those new batteries will put a smile on your face.
jor
Don't concern yourself with reserve amp hours. ALL 8d batteries are deep cycle.
Actually quite a number are truck/larger boat starting batteries.
http://www.oreillyauto.com/shop/b/battery-accessories-16452/batteries---commercial-17660/f78a23ef17b7?prodAttr_14418=8D
Only mention reserve amp hours in case someone asked.. We stay on shore power or gen power 95% of the time. My main concern was paying a reasonable price. A decent deal is a feel better thing.
Dub, I agree with you. A better deal always makes me feel better. I also went to O'reillys and bought my batteries. I drove the coach there. They removed the old ones installed the new ones. So far I have had no issues. Since I repaired my inverter/charger. The voltage is right on. Hope they last many years.
All Unicoaches came with gels new. Do not require equalization.
O'Reiley branded batteries are likely identical to Decca labeled as they are likely the same with different paper labels.
Both batteries are made by East Penn. Only the sticker is different. I called East Penn and O'Reillys a couple of years ago. Only difference was price, sticker and warranty.
I'm curious about batteries, and have heard that statement many times. But I wonder if different brands of batteries are built to a different standard, differing capacities, plate thicknesses, etc. Probably not much difference but could be.
Ten years ago we bought a new 8D wet cell battery from Northern Batteries here in town for $180. I told the manager that the batteries are wired together so if one goes bad it will drag the other one down (even tho they had just put that other battery in a week earlier when the coach had a different owner)
First thing he said to his workers was "Get another battery out here and replace that one too!"
So we got two 8D wet cell batteries for $180 plus tax.
One battery quit about four years ago. I moved the engine start battery over to the coach battery position and installed a 1000CCA truck start battery in the engine start position.
Today the 8D battery (coach) is still holding a charge---I think, but we shall see, I have it hooked up to 100A solar panels but salesman switch off, engine battery positive cable off and boos/charge switch on dash off. Also disconnected my 30A cable to the house.
Checked with Norther Batteries two months ago an a new deep cycle battery will cost me $250 + tax & exchange.
Funny thing was that the manager said the battery we are using for deep cycle is actually an engine start battery. Not bad for ten years old. Guess we treated it right.
Oh well ain't going to be doing much until this debilitating chemotherapy treatments stop.
By verifying specs and manufacture location you can determine if they are like kind.
A number of years ago we needed to purchase an 8d for our 36'- starting battery. At that time there was some communication here about batteries, go figure, and I decided to purchase the Deka brand instead of the O'Reilly's. After I purchased the Deka I was directed to go to a local warehouse to pick up the battery. I went to the battery warehouse located in Tacoma to Pick Up my new battery, and walked into a large building with hundreds of batteries in floor to ceiling racks and on pallets. The clerk got my battery order to the warehouseman to pull and it was moved down a roller conveyor. At the end of the conveyor were hundreds of self adhesive stickers on rolls. As my battery got to this area the clerk told the man at the conveyor sticker location to make sure the he put the "Deka Intimidator" sticker on mine. The clerk acknowledged that they put different stickers on that 8d battery. I asked about the O'Reilly brand and he said that they come often to pick up this same battery that was being sent to O'Reilly's stores.
When I needed to replace our house batteries a number of months later I went to O'Reillys. The warranty is not as long but the cost difference moved me to purchase the O'Reily's brand.
When required to replace our house bank in our 42, I opted for Lifelines. Lots of Pros and Cons there.