[update] New battery test: Interstate 24M-EFB

[anmut]

Well the cheap dealer house battery has finally started to show signs of wear and discharging faster than normal. In anticipation of a big weekend I decided to hit the local Fleet Farm and pick up a new deep cycle. Was looking at an Interstate Group 24 Deep Cycle for $109, then came across an Interstate Group 24 24M-EFB Deep Cycle, or “enhanced flooded battery.”

77AH in a group 24 size, and two year warranty, $169. EFB batteries are new to me, but they seem to be middle ground between standard lead acid and AGM.

Considering an Optima Bluetop D31 is $359 and has 75AH, might not be a bad alternative.

So I picked one up for my and installed it tonight and put it on the NOCO charger. I’ll update this thread on the wear over the summer and into next year.

EFB Deep-Cycle Marine and RV Batteries

Designed with extensive research, the batteries will have two times more cycle-life and fill gap in marine and RV market

www.interstatebatteries.com

 

[FSH 210 Sport]

Well the cheap dealer house battery has finally started to show signs of wear and discharging faster than normal. In anticipation of a big weekend I decided to hit the local Fleet Farm and pick up a new deep cycle. Was looking at an Interstate Group 24 Deep Cycle for $109, then came across an Interstate Group 24 24M-EFB Deep Cycle, or “enhanced flooded battery.”

77AH in a group 24 size, and two year warranty, $169. EFB batteries are new to me, but they seem to be middle ground between standard lead acid and AGM.

Considering an Optima Bluetop D31 is $359 and has 75AH, might not be a bad alternative.

So I picked one up for my and installed it tonight and put it on the NOCO charger. I’ll update this thread on the wear over the summer and into next year.

EFB Deep-Cycle Marine and RV Batteries

Designed with extensive research, the batteries will have two times more cycle-life and fill gap in marine and RV market

www.interstatebatteries.com

I was looking at the Interstate EFB batteries today as well for my trolling motor bank… I called another place looking for Trojans and ended up getting three Deka (American company out of PA and family owned-private) brand batteries.

I was starting to see the dealer branded trolling motor batteries take longer to charge and quicker to discharge, also the electrolyte in one of the batteries, maybe all three, had turned black-never seen that before.

The new batts have been on a charger for roughly 5 hours and are still charging.

If the new batts work out great I may be going your route and putting in a new house battery to replace the dealer branded battery.

Looking forward to your results with the new battery!

 

[anmut]

I was looking at the Interstate EFB batteries today as well for my trolling motor bank… I called another place looking for Trojans and ended up getting three Deka (American company out of PA and family owned-private) brand batteries.

I was starting to see the dealer branded trolling motor batteries take longer to charge and quicker to discharge, also the electrolyte in one of the batteries, maybe all three, had turned black-never seen that before.

The new batts have been on a charger for roughly 5 hours and are still charging.

If the new batts work out great I may be going your route and putting in a new house battery to replace the dealer branded battery.

Looking forward to your results with the new battery!

I’ll let you know. I nearly bought a Duracell group 24 DC but the dipstick at Batteries Plus told me they only make the hybrid starting/deep cycle anymore. AH on that was at 65 - pass.

 

[anmut]

Update on this battery after the 4th of July weekend. We did 24 hours on the water in 48 hours of time. 11am - 11pm Saturday and Sunday. Boat did about 20% water sports, 20% running up and down the river, and 60% floating with the stereo on. Battery was on a NOCO charger each night.

I recorded a low of 12.3v, which is about 70% charge, on our longest period at the sandbar on Sunday. Stereo was on, about 1/4 of the way up, but not loud. Both zones, 11 speakers, were on.

Side note: We were by ourselves on Thursday night at the sandbar so I could REALLY max the stereo out. Cranking all 1500w of sound out of the 11 JL speakers for about 30min took the battery down to 12.1 (per the Connext) while the system was on and bumping. However as soon as I turned it down, battery voltage went back up to 12.3.

Pretty happy with the battery so far!

 

[Weeb]

Update on this battery after the 4th of July weekend. We did 24 hours on the water in 48 hours of time. 11am - 11pm Saturday and Sunday. Boat did about 20% water sports, 20% running up and down the river, and 60% floating with the stereo on. Battery was on a NOCO charger each night.

I recorded a low of 12.3v, which is about 70% charge, on our longest period at the sandbar on Sunday. Stereo was on, about 1/4 of the way up, but not loud. Both zones, 11 speakers, were on.

Side note: We were by ourselves on Thursday night at the sandbar so I could REALLY max the stereo out. Cranking all 1500w of sound out of the 11 JL speakers for about 30min took the battery down to 12.1 (per the Connext) while the system was on and bumping. However as soon as I turned it down, battery voltage went back up to 12.3.

Pretty happy with the battery so far!

Are you still happy with this battery? I’m looking into this battery instead of the srm-24. I’m just trying to figure out if it can be on my charger with a 24m-xhd.

 

[sunbyrned]

I have 242 Limited SE. Just bought two deep cycles with 550 CCA 690 MCA. Previous batteries were cranking batteries with 800 CCA 1000 CCA. Was going to just replace with the same batteries but salesman talked me into the deep cycles. Did I make a mistake? Seems to be a big difference. Thanks!

 

[sunbyrned]

I have 242 Limited SE. Just bought two deep cycles with 550 CCA 690 MCA. Previous batteries were cranking batteries with 800 CCA 1000 CCA. Was going to just replace with the same batteries but salesman talked me into the deep cycles. Did I make a mistake? Seems to be a big difference. Thanks!

Never mind… I just read the specs. Needs to be at least 675 amps. I hope they’ll take them back.

 

[RobbieO]

I was looking at the Interstate EFB batteries today as well for my trolling motor bank… I called another place looking for Trojans and ended up getting three Deka (American company out of PA and family owned-private) brand batteries.

I was starting to see the dealer branded trolling motor batteries take longer to charge and quicker to discharge, also the electrolyte in one of the batteries, maybe all three, had turned black-never seen that before.

The new batts have been on a charger for roughly 5 hours and are still charging.

If the new batts work out great I may be going your route and putting in a new house battery to replace the dealer branded battery.

Looking forward to your results with the new battery!

Deka is also know as East Penn. I have two of their batteries in my boat. They seem to be holding up well. Muni buses in San Francisco which are Cummins/Diesel Hybrids, use Deka batteries. We changed out the Dominator (Gel) batteries for Intimidators (AGM). Great batteries.

 

[212s]

Never mind… I just read the specs. Needs to be at least 675 amps. I hope they’ll take them back.

Shouldn't be an issue with the small Yamaha motors...I'm pretty sure a motorcycle battery can fire them up.

 

[sunbyrned]

Shouldn't be an issue with the small Yamaha motors...I'm pretty sure a motorcycle battery can fire them up.

I get that. Thanks! I wonder why the specs say 675? I saw the incredibly small ski batteries too. Big difference. ?‍

 

[212s]

I get that. Thanks! I wonder why the specs say 675? I saw the incredibly small ski batteries too. Big difference. ?‍

It might be for safety margin when people start both engines at the same time? I don't do that and start port, then stbd in order and shut down in the same order to keep hours the same.