another battery question

[Tonskey]

I have a Everstart group 27 battery that I use for my cranking and all accessory(hds9,7and lmc5 and all my pumps and things. I have had it for about 3 years and I just added the voltage on my hds screen read out like 11.3 volts this is right after I got done charging the batteries overnight so I plugged the charger back in and the volts slowly climber back up to 12.4 how can I test the battery and tell if its going bad and if so what kind of battery would you guys suggest also I have notice my front fish finder shutting off on its own while I have been fishing lately

[crazyju]

11.3 is way too low, 3 years out of that battery is pretty good. Go up to the 31 size if you can with the replacement.

[Skeeterbait]

You will get longer life from a larger battery because you wont draw it down as low each time. Drawing a battery below 12.5 repeatedly shortens its life. 11.3 and max of 12.4 tells me your battery is already shot.

[Nightmare]

I'd rather see the voltage checked AT the battery than at his head unit to check battery health. God only knows how many substandard connections exist between the battery and the unit. Don't have an argument with anything else here. Just sayin....

[Tonskey]

I have checked directly at the battery with a volt meter and its with in.5 volts of what I show on the depth finder with that being said what are your guys suggestions for battery brand and type gel AGM or Acid ???

[Skeeterbait]

Big AGM dual purpose is the best but it will cost more. It will recharge in half the time.

[DrewFlu33]

I have checked directly at the battery with a volt meter and its with in.5 volts of what I show on the depth finder with that being said what are your guys suggestions for battery brand and type gel AGM or Acid ???

Depends on your motor. Some of the older motors with stator charging systems don't charge AGMs correctly. At best it dramatically shortens the life of a really expensive battery.

[Tonskey]

I have a merc 200 efi year 2000 if that helps

[DrewFlu33]

I have a merc 200 efi year 2000 if that helps

99% sure AGM is no go there. Don Weed on the Mercury forums has been recommending big commercial lead acid batteries for those applications. NAPA sells some under their brand name as well as several others. The Duracells at Sams I think are the most cost-effective. Something like 10XX CCA and 11XX ca for $100 with a 175 minute reserve. NAPA has one that's bigger, I think 11XX CCA and 13XX CA for something like $170.

[1bluemcm]

I thought the issue with the Merc EFI stators was that you could be at risk for burning up the voltage regulator or stator? I don't doubt that it could shorten battery life as well, based on what they've said over there on the Merc forum - I have no personal experience though. Oddly, a bunch of people with similar vintage Yammie EFIs and stator charging systems have had a good, long life out of AGMs, so something must be different.

[DrewFlu33]

Absolutely more danger than just shortening the life of the battery....that's why I was saying you end up with a shorter battery life "at best." Maybe I should've led with burning up the stator. Price one of those and you'll do all you can to make sure it lives a long, healthy life!

[1bluemcm]

Yeah, it makes me skeptical that there are less or no issues with AGMs on other brand motors that have a stator charger. I mean, how different can a Merc stator system be from a Yammie and so on? Maybe all stators are not created equal.... Maintenance free flooded may be the best of both worlds I guess, I really don't want to have to be checking water levels, it's just something I'll forget, plain and simple.

[idratherbeefishin]

Yeah, it makes me skeptical that there are less or no issues with AGMs on other brand motors that have a stator charger. I mean, how different can a Merc stator system be from a Yammie and so on? Maybe all stators are not created equal.... Maintenance free flooded may be the best of both worlds I guess, I really don't want to have to be checking water levels, it's just something I'll forget, plain and simple.

I agree there's no big change no big difference if that was the case then none of the lithium ions would be working 31 group a AGM's he'll be fine

[SoInbassman]

If you want the very best battery available, you must look at the NORTHSTAR AGM 31M, I've used almost every battery imaginable and there is no battery that compares in my opinion. Durable, long lasting, the most power and performance, simply put it's the best money can buy within reason, and the best value I've found. NORTHSTAR Builds batteries for other companies for private label, but in my opinion for my money the NORTHSTAR M31 is the best. I hope you find what you are looking for, and I will say this. The old saying goes, you get what you pay for, especially in this case.
P.S I'm not sponsored by, or compensated, just stating the facts from what I've seen, not all batteries are created equal, and everyone should look at the NORTHSTAR, if your seeking a great powerful long lasting battery, that has no equal.

[21XDC]

I'd rather see the voltage checked AT the battery than at his head unit to check battery health. God only knows how many substandard connections exist between the battery and the unit. Don't have an argument with anything else here. Just sayin....

For sure.....

I have checked directly at the battery with a volt meter and its with in.5 volts of what I show on the depth finder with that being said what are your guys suggestions for battery brand and type gel AGM or Acid ???

.5 volts is a huge difference.

[leckbass]

I take the digital readout of the overlay data with a grain of salt. Even on a my brand new fully charged Optima, the screen reads 11.8, but the battery reads 12.8

[greg88]

Trojan makes the best lead acid wet cell battery hands down and yes be very carefull what you get for a cranking battery only read voltage at battery and only load test after fully charged and if not a sealed battery check the specific gravity you want 1275 or better

[western angler]

I noticed something similar when I put my new depth finder in that read the voltage. It never read what the real voltage was. What I ended up doing was checking all the wiring connections going to the dash, plugs, start switch and power switch, connections to each gauge as they are daisy chained together. So when I traced the power leads and broke each connection and reattached I placed a little bit of grease on the connections. You can use special electrical grease, but not necessary. Anyway I found that all my gauges started reading a little different and the voltage on the gauge was reading very near the actual battery voltage. Good luck

[rao]

i have to agree with soinbassman on northstar , the performance of their commercial batteries for outside use in communications equipment with only a fan to cool them is absolutely unreal, the customer service is unmatched by anyone i know of, when i buy batteries for my boat, it will be northstar due to the track record i have seen.

[Tonskey]

so I'm confused can I use an AGM or am I risking burning up parts on my motor I feel I'm getting mixed answers ??