On a typical 100 Amp-hour Sealed AGM Deep Cycle Battery you can save $$$, and all with the full manufacturers warranty and our complete after-sales support and satisfaction guarantee. Please help us keep prices low by ordering online if possible, and if you want to pick up from a store please call before you travel just to check their stock availability and get it put behind the counter for you to collect.
We are often asked "Which is the Best deep cycle battery", and of course there is no simple answer to that one. We can however give you a very quick overview here of what we think, and also what is currently popular in the market. For a longer review please click on the links at the top left of this page.
Gel or AGM for your next Deep Cycle Battery?
If you want a sealed Maintenance Free battery then we would go AGM most times unless replacing a GEL battery. The AGM is more popular in the market now and tolerates normal charging from an Alternator or standard wet (flooded) battery charger in a way that GEL won't. The exception is when flattening the battery is likely to happen regularly, e.g. golf buggies with limited space, in which case look at a good quality GEL such as Sonnenschein and make sure your charger is on a GEL setting.
Note that GEL batteries should not "bubble out of the top" when charging, as one poor customer found out when he selected the GEL setting on the charger, but unfortunately at 24Volts on a 12 Volt battery.
Sealed versus Access (Flooded) Deep Cycle batteries?
If you have a battery space with limited access to "top up" the cells, or are fitting the battery inside a vehicle (e.g. under a seat) then Sealed is the way to go. Same applies if you won't check the levels.
However if ventilation and access is good, and if you are the type to remember to check the levels in the cells, then you can get excellent quality flooded lead acid batteries that will take a pounding and last well for much less than the price of a basic AGM sealed unit. Don't say we didn't tell you!
Also of course if its going under a vehicle bonnet read the advice in our installation section and don't buy any GEL or an AGM for that purpose without checking its suitable first (and most are not!). We have heard of some of our competitors (think large Franchise, always on the TV...) fitting standard AGM's or very expensive GEL's under 4WD bonnets, and much to the poor customers surprise they don't last long!
Are the Spiral Cell Optima Batteries worth the money?
It depends on your application, but generally speaking yes. They offer unbeatable vibration resistance given by the spiral-wound plate design, are very powerful and very fast to recharge from flat. They hold a charge very well too, and the only potential weak point is a lower Amp-Hour rating for the battery size than some other AGM types with the same footprint. The largest D31 size only gives 75Ah.
OK - but what is the BEST Deep Cycle Battery?
Did we mention it depends on your application, budget etc? We have seen and tested all sorts - from car batteries with a "Deep Cycle" sticker on them which failed inside 6 months, to "football shaped" over-charged AGMs and badly sulphated (and very stuffed) flooded batteries. We have also tested and fitted examples of some of the best and hardest-used deep cycle batteries in Australia with very happy owners.
As a general rule, both Trojan and Century are very hard to beat in the traditional access-battery (i.e flooded Lead Acid) category. We like the fact that Century still make batteries in Australia, and that the Trojan range really can take a pounding if (AND WE REPEAT if) you look after them (top them up and charge them well, and avoid regularly flattening them). Great value for money in both ranges, good dealer network and also good warranty support via our stores and other dealers.
For Gel batteries we'd go for Sonnenschien or GEL-TECH if it was our money. Avoid cheap Chinese gel-cells unless you like to gamble, although you might be lucky. Also note that "GEL-cell" battery is a term often given to any old valve regulated sealed lead acid battery, so buyer-beware, you get what you pay for!
For AGM Deep Cycle batteries it is much harder to choose because of the multitude of price points, and many are a bit of a compromise and will struggle if asked to do hard deep cycling service or are abused. Exceptions to this in AGM would be the Optima's (if you can live with their lower amp-hours) and the LifeLine range (if you can't). If the wallet allows then take a look at the Lifeline's, and if you can stretch to them then you will not regret it.
Further down the price range in AGM, but still very good quality, we also stock the Century, Ultimate (Hayes), Ritar and other fully sealed deep cycle AGM batteries so take a look and read our comments and then compare their price and size with your needs. Of course there can often be a bit more to it than that (restricted size etc.), if so then just give us a call, drop in or email with details of your requirements and we will do our best to tailor our advice to suit your needs and budget.
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