11-29-2018, 08:15 PM
I recently purchased a toon and I need a good quality deep cycle battery to drive my Minn Kota electric motor. I spent quite a bit of time researching batteries, and thought I would share with you the information and my conclusions. My current purchase choice is the Mighty Max ML100-12 at $175. My second choice is the AJC D100S at $188. If you want to know why, read on.
First off, I am after a true deep cycle battery (not a “dual-use”). Because I only have an electric motor and I do not need to provide Cold Cranking Amps (CCA) to start a gas motor. CCA has no value to me. What I want is a battery that stores enough energy and “efficiently” delivers that energy over time to the electric motor.
The best type of battery for my need is a Sealed Lead Acid (SLA) battery that is also made as an Absorbed Glass Mat (AGM) design. These come in size 27 and size 24. The size 27 runs about 65 pounds and stores about 100AH (Amp-hours) of energy. The size 24 runs about 40 pounds and stores about 55 Amp-hours of energy. Since I want to run about 4 hours a trip and only discharge to 50% (to extend the life of my battery); I desire a size 27, 100AH battery. As you can see you also get more energy stored per weight for the size 27 over the size 24.
Now the comparison began for Size 27 SLA-AGM batteries. The data I found is shown in the attached files. Since they all claim to store 100AH of energy at the same temperature, the real comparison is to see how efficiently they can discharge that energy to the motor over time. This is revealed in the “Constant Current Discharge” values table. The higher the number of constant amps the more efficient the battery. Most were reasonably close, except the UPG battery was significantly less efficient than the others. I will steer clear of UPG.
Interestingly the most efficient battery was also the least expensive. No brainer for me, I will choose the Mighty Max ML100-12 at $175.
P.S. I tried hard to get the true discharge charachteristics for the Cabela's battery but they could not produce data for the 5hr discharge. It is a 90AH battery rather than a 100AH.
See attached data files.
[signature]
First off, I am after a true deep cycle battery (not a “dual-use”). Because I only have an electric motor and I do not need to provide Cold Cranking Amps (CCA) to start a gas motor. CCA has no value to me. What I want is a battery that stores enough energy and “efficiently” delivers that energy over time to the electric motor.
The best type of battery for my need is a Sealed Lead Acid (SLA) battery that is also made as an Absorbed Glass Mat (AGM) design. These come in size 27 and size 24. The size 27 runs about 65 pounds and stores about 100AH (Amp-hours) of energy. The size 24 runs about 40 pounds and stores about 55 Amp-hours of energy. Since I want to run about 4 hours a trip and only discharge to 50% (to extend the life of my battery); I desire a size 27, 100AH battery. As you can see you also get more energy stored per weight for the size 27 over the size 24.
Now the comparison began for Size 27 SLA-AGM batteries. The data I found is shown in the attached files. Since they all claim to store 100AH of energy at the same temperature, the real comparison is to see how efficiently they can discharge that energy to the motor over time. This is revealed in the “Constant Current Discharge” values table. The higher the number of constant amps the more efficient the battery. Most were reasonably close, except the UPG battery was significantly less efficient than the others. I will steer clear of UPG.
Interestingly the most efficient battery was also the least expensive. No brainer for me, I will choose the Mighty Max ML100-12 at $175.
P.S. I tried hard to get the true discharge charachteristics for the Cabela's battery but they could not produce data for the 5hr discharge. It is a 90AH battery rather than a 100AH.
See attached data files.
[signature]