Deep cycle battery

David Page · Apr 20, 2019

What are the pros or cons to using a deep cycle battery in an old tractor that isn't used often or for long at a time?

Jim L. · Apr 20, 2019

Basically the only thing the battery is doing is starting the engine. That's what you need, a starting battery.

To keep the battery from going bad, it needs to be recharged at least once a month. And the battery can be removed to hook it to a trickle charger.

Dunbar · Apr 20, 2019

I use AGM, Advanced Glass Matt, batteries in all my vehicles. They have no corrosion, are starting batteries with deep cycle qualities. They hold a charge for a long time, can be drained and recharged with much less negative effect than normal lead acid batteries. They can be mounted at any angle or upside down. They last longer than lead acid batteries. I have refrigerators in two of my trucks and run dual batteries. For a tractor the benefit is no corrosion, longer lasting charge and longer lasting battery. They are more expensive but are widely available.

dlundblad · Apr 20, 2019

I would look into getting the $20 Harbor Freight battery maintainer.

Bulldog · Apr 20, 2019

I put a blue top Optima in my M9000 not so much for the deep cycle but it had acc post and it was easier to hook power wires up for my monitors and such.

It doesn't get used much in the winter and it cranks as good now as it did then.
Another plus I see if it does go dead most likely it can be charged back up good as new where a standard battery may not.

I also put a deep cycle on my trailer to power a winch. I got 7 years out of the first one and had really good service from it.

Blondie70 · Apr 20, 2019

I had a bran new AGM battery for my riding mower. It worked great....but.....I left the key on for a number of days, running it completely down. I found out that once an AGM battery is completely down, it cannot be charged...it is finished.
I tried for weeks to get this thing to take a charge....it was finished and I wasted some good $$$$.
Talked to other people about it and found that this is how they are.

SRG · Apr 20, 2019

Dunbar said:
I use AGM, Advanced Glass Matt, batteries in all my vehicles. They have no corrosion, are starting batteries with deep cycle qualities. They hold a charge for a long time, can be drained and recharged with much less negative effect than normal lead acid batteries. They can be mounted at any angle or upside down. They last longer than lead acid batteries. I have refrigerators in two of my trucks and run dual batteries. For a tractor the benefit is no corrosion, longer lasting charge and longer lasting battery. They are more expensive but are widely available.

AGM's are nice and not too expensive in comparison, at some places. My local Farm & Fleet has their house brand AGM's, that are very competitively priced, if not priced better, than comparable lead acid batteries from say Autozones Duralast Gold batteries.
AGM's do require a special type of battery maintainer/tender compared to normal lead acid batteries. At least that is my understanding from the research I'd done on them. Keep that in mind when shopping for one.
I don't see the need for a deep cycle battery on a tractor.

https://www.farmandfleet.com/products/g--4411-duration-agm-red-starting-automotive-battery.html

endoscott · Apr 20, 2019

So I can't find much on the internet about whether the AGM batteries need a special battery tender or not. Does anyone know specifically if they need something different and why or why not? I have been using the cheap Harbor Freight battery maintainers for years on a bunch of different batteries and they always seem OK but I hate to use one on an expensive AGM battery if it's not really a correct application.

SRG · Apr 20, 2019

https://www.google.com/amp/s/batteryasking.com/best-agm-battery-charger/amp/
Some battery tenders can cook batteries. There are specific tenders and maintainers for AGMs.

Gillie Dog · Apr 20, 2019

endoscott said:
So I can't find much on the internet about whether the AGM batteries need a special battery tender or not. Does anyone know specifically if they need something different and why or why not? I have been using the cheap Harbor Freight battery maintainers for years on a bunch of different batteries and they always seem OK but I hate to use one on an expensive AGM battery if it's not really a correct application.

What you will find when researching most manufacturers specifications/requirements for maintainers for AGM batteries is they like 14.7 volt top end of charge and then most will maintain at 13.6 volts. "Smart" maintainers are needed, not trickle chargers.

Also AGM will usually come back from "dead" if a high enough amperage charger is used. Like a 6 amp charger for a little 16 amp hour battery and 20 amp for over 16 AH.

AGMs on maintainers over winter have lasted many years for me. YMMV

Good luck.

GD

motorhead · Apr 20, 2019

I have a 6 volt 1000ca Optima red top that I put in my 1955 VW in August, 2004. It starts a high compression 1700cc engine but it is finally getting weak. I'd say that's good service. I keep it on a Deltran Battery tender when it sits.
I'm selling the car this Summer and will replace it with another 6 volt Optima.
I run the Odyssey sealed AGM in my Dodge, Cummins powered. It takes two batteries. Cranks over like it is on 24 volts.

Newlyme · Apr 21, 2019

endoscott said:
So I can't find much on the internet about whether the AGM batteries need a special battery tender or not. Does anyone know specifically if they need something different and why or why not? I have been using the cheap Harbor Freight battery maintainers for years on a bunch of different batteries and they always seem OK but I hate to use one on an expensive AGM battery if it's not really a correct application.

Go to batteryuniversity.com and you will learn more about all batteries than you ever knew.
Type in AGM in the search bar and it will take you right to all of the courses with AGMs in them.
And it is free.

Orange1forme · Apr 21, 2019

Blondie70 said:
I had a bran new AGM battery for my riding mower. It worked great....but.....I left the key on for a number of days, running it completely down. I found out that once an AGM battery is completely down, it cannot be charged...it is finished.
I tried for weeks to get this thing to take a charge....it was finished and I wasted some good $$$$.
Talked to other people about it and found that this is how they are.

Along with special maintainer/charger for AGM, I believe to bring a dead AGM back there is a specific way to do so.

It has been some time since I read about it, but I think a standard battery is needed and possibly doing it in steps.

MilkyWay · Apr 21, 2019

Newlyme said:
Go to batteryuniversity.com and you will learn more about all batteries than you ever knew....

Thanks for posting this; I bookmarked it immediately. Hopefully a lot of answers to questions I might have. Like for example, I kept a (smart) tender on my AGM Harley last winter, as I always have done, then two weeks ago I went to start it and nothing. When I removed the batt and tried several chargers ranging from 2A to 50A charge rates I did not even get a spark across the terminals/posts. I am considering a lithium batt, but did not want to jump in with no advanced knowledge. The battery site you provided may help with my decision. But I can state one thing with confidence, the itch to ride is starting to overwhelm!

Bulldog · Apr 21, 2019

endoscott said:
So I can't find much on the internet about whether the AGM batteries need a special battery tender or not. Does anyone know specifically if they need something different and why or why not? I have been using the cheap Harbor Freight battery maintainers for years on a bunch of different batteries and they always seem OK but I hate to use one on an expensive AGM battery if it's not really a correct application.

I can tell you from experience a standard charger on a dead optima will make it swell up like a balloon and be as hot a baked potato.

To properly charge you need their charger or you hook 2 batteries together then charge. Hook a known good battery to the dead one with cables then hook up the charger and slow charge.

If you go to Optima site they have a lot of good info about use and care for their products.

Dunbar · Apr 21, 2019

Bulldog said:
I can tell you from experience a standard charger on a dead optima will make it swell up like a balloon and be as hot a baked potato.

To properly charge you need their charger or you hook 2 batteries together then charge. Hook a known good battery to the dead one with cables then hook up the charger and slow charge.

If you go to Optima site they have a lot of good info about use and care for their products.

Bulldog is correct. Youtube has several video's on how to properly revive a dead AGM battery.

motorhead · Apr 21, 2019

MilkyWay said:
Thanks for posting this; I bookmarked it immediately. Hopefully a lot of answers to questions I might have. Like for example, I kept a (smart) tender on my AGM Harley last winter, as I always have done, then two weeks ago I went to start it and nothing. When I removed the batt and tried several chargers ranging from 2A to 50A charge rates I did not even get a spark across the terminals/posts. I am considering a lithium batt, but did not want to jump in with no advanced knowledge. The battery site you provided may help with my decision. But I can state one thing with confidence, the itch to ride is starting to overwhelm!

I have a BMW R1200GS and I looked into a Lithium battery. They can be finicky. I went with a YUASA AGM and it starts well.

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Deep cycle battery

David Page

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