Any bad luck with Autocraft Deep Cycles?

[BentRod]

According to my research, Autocraft Group 29 Pros from Advanced Auto are the same battery as AC Delco, Interstate, and Everstart Maxx; all made by Johnson Controls. I can pick up Autocraft Group 29 Pros for $90 each right now before tax, which is the best price I can find on 29s. Is there any reason I shouldn't jump at that?

[johnr]

I think if you take care of your batteries, they'll be fine. There are only a few manufacturers and many brands. You've done the math on that fact already.

I've had the same results out of all my batteries over the last 10 years. I get a good 3 -4 years then they need babied and limped along until they are dead, usually a year later.

Edit to add: my experiment with taking care of my batteries with a cheap charger has resulted in a shorter battery life. I think the digital automatic chargers are essential to good battery health as well as keeping them charged.

[Pete D.]

I get mine from batteries plus. A group 31 Duracell (deka) is $99. If you order them from their website they give you 10% off AND a $10 mail in rebate which gets it down to $80. Just gotta order online and pickup from the store. They stand behind their products and also top their batteries off every month if they aren't turning. I also really like the 6 separate refill caps on them as they don't collect crap under them.

They last about 4-5 years with heavy usage and onboard charging, in my experience. I have had some autocrafts do well and some die in 2 years. Seems like it's a crap shoot in my experience.

[BentRod]

Mar 1, 2017 10:15:19 GMT -5 Pete D. said:

I get mine from batteries plus. A group 31 Duracell (deka) is $99. If you order them from their website they give you 10% off AND a $10 mail in rebate which gets it down to $80. Just gotta order online and pickup from the store. They stand behind their products and also top their batteries off every month if they aren't turning. I also really like the 6 separate refill caps on them as they don't collect crap under them.

They last about 4-5 years with heavy usage and onboard charging, in my experience. I have had some autocrafts do well and some die in 2 years. Seems like it's a crap shoot in my experience.

Looked at that a couple days ago but they're $119 now - not $99. Would be $99ish after rebates. Sams club is actually cheaper straight up - $95 for them.

I have Duracells now and they were decent for 2yrs and then I milked them/didn't fish much for the next 3yrs. I would buy them again. The specs on the Johnson Control 29s are actually slightly better though and they're also a few lbs heavier if that means anything.

[Pete D.]

That makes sense because I have heard that the JC's are rated differently than the DEKA's. (DEKA 31 is a JC 29)

And that's odd, when I go online the grp. 31 DC is $99.99 on the site. Maybe you are talking about a MS starting battery?

[BentRod]

[Live Bait JunkEE]

I have 27 series from Batteries plus and could not be happier with them - $79 -- 1 year full warranty is nice too --

[BentRod]

Price going up as we speak!

[steviejayvaughan]

I picked up a couple Exide Nautilus 31's from Home Depot for $99, not sure if that deal is still going on though. I'm not sure if these are JC, or Deka. You may want to compare the reserve capacity and if they are similar go with the autocraft's.

[bushwacker]

Did you order the batteries yet? Costco has Interstate Group 27 deep cycle marine for $79.79 27DC

[mwardncsu]

Mar 2, 2017 13:24:02 GMT -5 bushwacker said:

Did you order the batteries yet? Costco has Interstate Group 27 deep cycle marine for $79.79 27DC

big difference in capacity in a 27 and a 29/31.....

[BentRod]

I think I run 27s down too far and that kills the battery much quicker than it should. Back when I was fishing hard, I was going through a set of 27s every year - 2yrs absolute tops. I think 29s will give me some extra run time and therefore the battery won't be as deeply discharged after each use either, so they should last longer - least that's what I'm going with in my head anyways.

[31Airborne]

I've used the Evertsart Maxx batts in the past w/o issue. Got 2+ years out of them. Had to replace one under warranty - no issues doing that. My go-to batts have been Walmart deep cycles. Last time I bought one (early 2016) it was $78 for a grp 29. One year warranty, Walmart has been very good about honoring it. Best part is there are Walmarts everywhere so help is always close by if you need to replace one.

+1 on going to 29s vc 27s. Waaaaaay more run time.

[bushwacker]

Mar 2, 2017 13:41:50 GMT -5 mwardncsu said:

Mar 2, 2017 13:24:02 GMT -5 bushwacker said:

Did you order the batteries yet? Costco has Interstate Group 27 deep cycle marine for $79.79 27DC

big difference in capacity in a 27 and a 29/31.....

I dropped in there today at lunch to check them out. I was thinking they had 29's but all they have are 24's and 27's. 

[Deleted]

  Tyler, before I retired and closed my business, I was a distributor for Deka and Interstate batteries. Also got 30% off anything I bought from Advance Auto. Not sure I can still get the deal I was before, but still have a lot of friends there. I'm in Florida at the moment, I'll make a few calls the beginning of next week and check.

  Also, if any of you guys are looking any specialty batteries... jet ski, ATV, kids toys etc., go to batterysharks.com... new batteries, not refurbished.  They will sell anyone a new ATV battery for 35 bucks, cheaper if you are a distributor.... heck, gator, I was buying electric fence batteries for 11 bucks.

  Oh, and before I get bombarded with battery orders.... I'm retired guys and have no interest in going back to work selling batteries....