EFB Batteries

[IlliniDoc]

Anybody have experience with Enhanced Flooded, Deep Cycle/Starting batteries. I am especially interested in Interstate batteries. I have a Ranger RT178c and I don’t tournament fish just want something to run my Hummingbird Solix 10, Lowrance 7 Hook, livewell (on a timer) and start my 60hp Mercury that will last more than 6hrs. I also like the idea of not having to replace my current on board charger, but EFB is totally new technology to me. I do fish quite a bit and also am concerned with the drain and recharging of my current starting battery . It is my understanding this is very hard on conventional starting batteries, I have first hand experience using jumper cable on the water, not a fan. Any experience good or bad you my have with this technology would be appreciated.
Thanks in advance for any feedback.

 

[Scott Danforth]

you have a capacity issue

you are running out of battery capacity (regardless of battery technology)

you have only one battery now? either get a much much larger battery like an 8D or get two group 31's if you want to be on the water for 6 hours

BTW, an on-board charger is about 1/3 the cost of a good battery.

My recommendation. put one starting battery and one house load battery.

keep them separated on the wiring. run your livewell, depth finders and the radios on the house battery. hook up your existing battery charger to the house battery

keep the motor and gauges on the starting battery. if you have the motor running for more than 10 minutes for every start , you will never need a charger for this battery.

 

[IlliniDoc]

you have a capacity issue

you are running out of battery capacity (regardless of battery technology)

you have only one battery now? either get a much much larger battery like an 8D or get two group 31's if you want to be on the water for 6 hours

BTW, an on-board charger is about 1/3 the cost of a good battery.

My recommendation. put one starting battery and one house load battery.

keep them separated on the wiring. run your livewell, depth finders and the radios on the house battery. hook up your existing battery charger to the house battery

keep the motor and gauges on the starting battery. if you have the motor running for more than 10 minutes for every start , you will never need a charger for this battery.

Thanks for the reply Scott. I would love to add another battery but this particular boat has a limited battery space. I currently have 2 group 31 batteries for the troller, and only room for a group 24 starting battery, which currently runs my electronics and starts the outboard. I have a Minn Kota 3015 3 bank on board charger. Was just looking for something that would give me a little more water time and stand up to the constant discharging and charging. Maybe I am chasing a unicorn but checking out options.

 

[dingbat]

Thanks for the reply Scott. I would love to add another battery but this particular boat has a limited battery space. I currently have 2 group 31 batteries for the troller, and only room for a group 24 starting battery, which currently runs my electronics and starts the outboard. Was just looking for something that would give me a little more water time and stand up to the constant discharging and charging. Maybe I am chasing a unicorn but checki

The Interstate 27M EFB battery appears to be a rebranded standard, 27M deep cycle (I run two) for use in cycled, hybrid automotive use. Same size, weight and AH rating

If it were me, I’d replace the grp. 24 with a standard 27M. Gives you the reserve AH the starting battery isn’t providing yet provides enough CA to start the motor. If the 27M starts my 200hp, it would surely start a 60hp

 

[IlliniDoc]

The Interstate 27M EFB battery appears to be a rebranded standard, 27M deep cycle (I run two) for use in cycled, hybrid automotive use. Same size, weight and AH rating

If it were me, I’d replace the grp. 24 with a standard 27M. Gives you the reserve AH the starting battery isn’t providing yet provides enough CA to start the motor. If the 27M starts my 200hp, it would surely start a 60hp

Thanks dingbat, but as I stated I only have room for a group 24 battery. The problem I am having is getting more battery time with my electronics running and charging and draining the battery. The EFB grp 24 battery seems to have some more ah. Maybe I would be ok with just a deep cycle battery. Would it have enough cranking amps to start the 60hp outboard after a day of fishing. The other thing I like about EFB tech is it is 100% maint. free and still is a flooded battery. Probably over thinking this but looking for better performance with my limited options.

 

[Scott Danforth]

Get a DC to DC converter and run your electronics off the trolling motor and upgrade the group 24 to a group 27

 

[IlliniDoc]

Thanks all for your suggestions.

 

[airshot]

You should have plenty of power from your trolling motor batteries to run your electronics and keep the group 24 just for starting and gages. I have two group 31 batteries for my trolling motor and can run it all day (8hrs) trolling with some capacity left. Certainly enough power for your electronics.

 

[dingbat]

Thanks dingbat, but as I stated I only have room for a group 24 battery. The problem I am having is getting more battery time with my electronics running and charging and draining the battery.

You really need to do the math. Options are limited in that size range. You need AH and starting batteries are not designed for AH use.

The EFB grp 24 battery seems to have some more ah. Maybe I would be ok with just a deep cycle battery.

By 5 or so AH. Not worth the $$$ over the standard 24M dead cycle.

Would it have enough cranking amps to start the 60hp outboard after a day of fishing.

That’s up to you to decided.

No getting around doing the math. How much power do you use/need over time?

Your finders consume 3.5 A per hour. Eight (8) hours of usage would consume 28 AH. This of course doesn’t include anything else using power. It adds up on a hurry

How big of a battery can you accommodate?

The other thing I like about EFB tech is it is 100% maint. free and still is a flooded battery.

So is the 24M.

Probably over thinking this but looking for better performance with my limited options.

It’s pretty simple….you want a deep cycle (for longevity) with the highest AH output you can find at a reasonable cost.

 

[airshot]

You really need to do the math. Options are limited in that size range. You need AH and starting batteries are not designed for AH use.


By 5 or so AH. Not worth the $$$ over the standard 24M dead cycle.

That’s up to you to decided.

No getting around doing the math. How much power do you use/need over time?

Your finders consume 3.5 A per hour. Eight (8) hours of usage would consume 28 AH. This of course doesn’t include anything else using power. It adds up on a hurry

How big of a battery can you accommodate?

So is the 24M.

It’s pretty simple….you want a deep cycle (for longevity) with the highest AH output you can find at a reasonable cost.

And will fit into the space he has availiable !!!

 

[IlliniDoc]

dingbat that is the info I needed. Do the math dummy, I will get the best deep cycle for the price, and get as close as I can to my power needs.
Thanks everyone for your input greatly appreciated.

 

[froggy1150]

Another thing that might be wise is get one of those high power little jump boxes. If you find yourself "dead in the water" you can pull it out
.......

 

[IlliniDoc]

Another thing that might be wise is get one of those high power little jump boxes. If you find yourself "dead in the water" you can pull it out
.......

That is not a bad idea froggy. Sooner or later will probably need it.
So here is the cenario
humminbird solix 10: 2.4 amps
lowrance hook 7: 1.1 amps
livewell pump: 2.8
_________
Total. 6.3 x 8hrs = 50.4
Livewell pump on intermittent, humminbird on standby when on the move, lowrance on standby when stopped (used mostly for nav) so a deep cycle starting battery with at least 60ah should get me through the day.
Look feasible? Looking at a much higher ah battery by the way but in theory.

Thanks again all for your help.

 

[alldodge]

Or get LiFePO4 Bat and be able to discharge to dead without damage, but this option is expensive

 

[IlliniDoc]

Or get LiFePO4 Bat and be able to discharge to dead without damage, but this option is expensive

Dang you guys like spending my money.
That my be an option down the road when I replace all the batteries. And my wife ups my allowance.

 

[Grub54891]

I've had no luck with interstate batteries. Anything else I use is fine. Interstate used to be good but not any more.

 

[dingbat]

That is not a bad idea froggy. Sooner or later will probably need it.
So here is the cenario
humminbird solix 10: 2.4 amps
lowrance hook 7: 1.1 amps
livewell pump: 2.8
_________
Total. 6.3 x 8hrs = 50.4

Typical grp. 24 deep cycle gets you 80+ AH

Livewell pump on intermittent, humminbird on standby when on the move, lowrance on standby when stopped (used mostly for nav)

so a deep cycle starting battery with at least 60ah should get me through the day.

No such thing as a “deep cycle” starting battery.

Battery switch to combine the starting and trolling batteries is cheaper and more reliable than a jump box, that needs to be charged a well.

 

[IlliniDoc]

Typical grp. 24 deep cycle gets you 80+ AH

Should be plenty of ah if I figured right.

No such thing as a “deep cycle” starting battery.

Point taken, deep cycle with enough ca to start my outboard ?

Battery switch to combine the starting and trolling batteries is cheaper and more reliable than a jump box, that needs to be charged a well.

Had no experience with a jump box, good point on the charging.
Probably a good set of jumper cables would be adequate. Hopefully won’t need very often.

 

[froggy1150]

Jump box would be emergency only and charged in house before trip
We just bought one of those lifepo batteries (24 volt) for a test at my work. If they last all day (14-16 hrs) running kiddo go cart we will be buying 14 more ..... at $900 a piece.....

 

[airshot]

No lithium batteries on my boat until they figure our how to keep them safer. I have used lithium batteries for 10 years in various applications but on my boat is not one of them....no place to run when something goes wrong!!
Lithium batts are great but you cant afford to make even a small mistake or error, if you do.....poof...all gone !!