Deka East Penn batteries - any good?

[Slider]

Guys,

I am looking to buy batteries for my system....need around 225Ah on a 24 volt system. I was looking at the 6v Trojans T105's for $170 each - need 4 of them for $680.

My brother can get Deka 6v 232Ah batteries at cost - $136 each - need 4 for $544.

My question is which is better? Are the Trojans worth the extra money?

What would you guys recommend and why?

Thanks...Kent

[Sunking]

Kent I can help you but need more information. What model number is the DEKA battery. They make a lot of different models for different applications.

[Slider]

Kent I can help you but need more information. What model number is the DEKA battery. They make a lot of different models for different applications.

Thanks Sunking. The model is a PS2200, hope that helps.

[Sunking]

From a warranty and AH rating POV they are equal at 2 years. I think the Trojan is a bit better quality but 1 thing bothers me about the pricing you mentioned. I have never seen a T-105 sale for that high of a price ($170) which makes me think they might be T-105 RE which is superior and made for RE. Normally a T=105 sales for $115 to $140.

[thastinger]

This is just a thought but I paid 89 each for my T-605s, they are 210Ah vs the T-105s 225Ah but most folks say you murder your first set of batteries anyways so they fit what I was looking for.

[Slider]

From a warranty and AH rating POV they are equal at 2 years. I think the Trojan is a bit better quality but 1 thing bothers me about the pricing you mentioned. I have never seen a T-105 sale for that high of a price ($170) which makes me think they might be T-105 RE which is superior and made for RE. Normally a T=105 sales for $115 to $140.

This must be the difference in Canadian dollars, even though the dollars are about the same... I got a price of $190 for the 105RE model, and was not sure of the difference between the 2 except for the increase to 250Ah.

Now, the warranty is 2 years, so, knowing that I have sized my load correctly with the info on this site, how long can expect these Deka's to last if I take proper care of them? I could go with Rolls batteries for over 3 times the cost with a 10 year warranty but feel the Deka's are the way to go to start out with and see how they do.

What do you guys think? Does 3 times the cost actually pay back over the long haul?

[Naptown]

If this is your first set go cheap until you learn what it takes to care for them. Save the big money till you are confidant that you canaimtain them properly.

[Sunking]

Now, the warranty is 2 years, so, knowing that I have sized my load correctly with the info on this site, how long can expect these Deka's to last if I take proper care of them?

According to the SPECS on pg 2 around 1000 cycles at 20% DOD. But keep in mind the manufactures tend to stretch the numbers beyond real life application.

[inetdog]

I got a price of $190 for the 105RE model, and was not sure of the difference between the 2 except for the increase to 250Ah.

The big difference in the RE is thicker plates and just more lead to allow for a longer useful life through charge/discharge cycles. Look at the weight of the different models.

[Slider]

Thanks guys, I bought the Deka batteries. I am only using them 4 months of the year, the rest of the time they will just sit on float. They could last 8 years with that usage - 1000 cycles at 20% DOD....I will cross my fingers...

My next question is 'how do I determine how much my batteries are being depleted everyday'? I have a CC with a digital display that tells me whether is on bulk charging or float, and how many volts and amps to the batteries etc. Is there a meter device that can be added? What is the best way to guage this?

Also, what should my 'bulk' and 'float' voltage be set to for these batteries? Maybe there is some documentation that comes with them etc.

Thanks...Kent

[PNjunction]

For the PS2200 mentioned specifically, check this "Solar Flooded Batteries" pdf file here:

http://eastpenncanada.com/solar.php

Looks like they want 2.40 to 2.45v per cell for cyclic duty, and 2.30 to 2.35v for float. Since they contain antimony, the self discharge is about 1% a week, so don't let them sit around doing nothing for too long especially in a hot environment.

[Slider]

For the PS2200 mentioned specifically, check this "Solar Flooded Batteries" pdf file here:

http://eastpenncanada.com/solar.php

Looks like they want 2.40 to 2.45v per cell for cyclic duty, and 2.30 to 2.35v for float. Since they contain antimony, the self discharge is about 1% a week, so don't let them sit around doing nothing for too long especially in a hot environment.

Thanks for the info, just what I was looking for. You when you say 'sit around'....you mean sitting not hooked up to the solar system...correct?

[inetdog]

Thanks for the info, just what I was looking for. You when you say 'sit around'....you mean sitting not hooked up to the solar system...correct?

He means do not leave them for a long period of time without any charging source even if you are not drawing any power from them. Does not have to be solar if you have a line-powered battery maintainer or float charger.
Just connecting a regular dumb charger every week or two and leaving it on only as long as needed to bring the voltage up is fine too.

Battery retailers will either float them all or regularly rotate a charger around among their stock.
When you get a battery from a non-standard source, you have no idea how it has been treated, or for how long.

[PNjunction]

..When you get a battery from a non-standard source, you have no idea how it has been treated, or for how long.

I'm encountering this all the time, even from supposed standard sources. When asked, nearly none of the sources admit to applying top-off charges to their aging stock and the only reassurance offered is relying on the warranty.

I try to pick up the freshest according to date-codes, but even then there's no assurance that these batteries have been sitting in a hot warehouse for months on end, and in the case of agm's, SOC voltages don't always tell the true story.

What kills me is seeing guys doing hot-swaps in a parking lot with stale Odyssey or Optimas, and then short-cycling it with small trips never allowing the battery to receive at least one full charge in it's lifetime. Then you see bad reviews typically with ALL CAPS on.

Due to the lack of dealer maintenance, I always recommend using a good quality charger no matter what the application is when bringing a battery home to help assure you are getting off to the right start. Unfortunately, some choose auto-parts speed-chargers that will go into an EQ voltage on their own and hurt the battery from the get-go.

[marmelada]

What stops you from using 12 month of the year?

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