Suggest alternate options for these batteries ?

[Bbasso]

I'm soon to pull out the cash and buy some batteries and would like to get as many opinions before I reach in my pocket.

I've got a local shop I've talked with before and I think they might help on pricing.

I believe two Trojan 31 AGM might serve me well, I'd like to have a minimum of 200ah. The lowest price I've found (w/o shipping) is $309 each. Total $618.

So here is my question.
Is there a better option to that kind of money?
(Size & weight are not a problem.)

Fyi.
My solar system is two Renogy 100 watt panels and a Sunforce 30 amp solar charge controller. If it matters for the decision.

Thanks for your input!

 

[Ducky's Dad]

Not a huge savings, but I just got a Northstar 31M locally for $275. There is a guy on eBay selling new Optima 31M Dual Purpose for about $218 each with free shipping; he has a bunch of them, so seems legit. Sears is transitioning their Platinum AGM line from Odyssey to Northstar private label, so you might be able to find Odyssey Platinums on a closeout.

 

[Bbasso]

Thanks but that Northstar appears to be a marine battery, I'm looking for a true deep cycle with thick plates inside and no CCA rating.
Thanks

 

[mobiledynamics]

Will Sears even be around in the next X years ?

 

[Ducky's Dad]

Odyssey and Northstar both claim that all their batteries are suitable for true deep cycle applications, as does Optima for their Yellows and their Blue marine dual purpose units (but not for their Reds or their Blue marine starting batteries with the dark case). I'd like to completely believe them, but gotta take it with a grain of salt. One of the guys on the Power Wagon forum is running a pair of Odysseys as house batteries on his camping trailer, and he is very happy with them.

 

[jeffjeeptj]

Lifeline? I've only used Odyssey and the Sears Platinum version. But a quick search turned up this 100AH Lifeline for $309 shipped:

http://www.powerstridebattery.com/lifeline-agm-batteries/lifeline-gpl-31t-deep-cycle-agm-battery


They ALSO have the 31XT (125AH) for $367. Seems there are a number recent posts liking this brand, but Trojan has had a good reputation for years.

 

[redneck44]

Rolls Surrette, end of story as far as Lead acid batteries go.
Of course the new batteries LiPo etc are giving some very interesting lighter weight options, but I have no direct experience with these.

 

[Bbasso]

Looks like we got off topic a little...
Is there a better option to that kind of money? 200ah for $600?

 

[Bbasso]

Think that would be a good use of $467.95 ?
Seems to be a house brand...

I'm not looking to save money but to get the best bang for the buck in the $500-$600 range. HOPEFULLY with shipping?

 

[LeishaShannon]

Lithium could be more cost effective for higher loads, what sort of loads are you running? eg. 100Ah Lithium has similar usable capacity to 200Ah AGM, but once you start drawing loads higher than C/10 (i.e. 20A on 200Ah AGM) Lithium provides more usable power.
Lithium is also more suited to solar charging as there is no long drawn out absorption stage, the little buggers accept whatever the panels are putting out until the battery is full.

You do need to add the cost of a decent battery monitor like the Victron BMV-702, but with 2000 cycles vs a few hundred with AGM the cost per cycle is significantly lower with Lithium.

I'm not sure what local US pricing is like but 100Ah Lithium runs about $500usd from http://ev-power.com.au/webstore/ind...es-1/12v-4-cell-100ah-lfp-battery-module.html in Australia.

You said weight wasn't an issue, but 12.5Kg is a lot easier to move than 62Kg

 

[Bbasso]

I like technology and gadgets and all that stuff but the lithium ion batteries are too new for me.
With the AGM batteries I'm looking for they will hopefully provide me with years and years of reliable service and minimum headache.
Don't get me wrong I really appreciate the suggestion and even considered it myself but I definitely don't know enough about batteries as is, so exploring something new and unique would probably be unwise.
I guess I'm semi - old fashioned and stick with semi-old fashioned proven technology lol