WHICH are the best batteries??

Pb(s) + PbO[SUB]2[/SUB](s) + 2H[SUB]2[/SUB]SO[SUB]4[/SUB](aq) → 2PbSO[SUB]4[/SUB](s) + 2H[SUB]2[/SUB]O(l) That should explain it! You want more?
The lead/acid battery has been around for about 150 years. We should come up with something better...
CCA=cold cranking amps. I a Minnesota winter, you need them all.You want a starting battery! Starting batteries have fewer, and heavier plates. This allows the shock of sudden output for starting your high compression diesel. (also been around for over a 100 years)
Upside of the large plated starting battery is CCA. Downside is the lower amount of storage, and the fact that if drained completely and recharged... About a dozen times and it is junk.
Deep cycle batteries have many more plates, hold more of a charge, will cycle from drained to fully charged many more times. They just lack those CCAs needed on that cold November morning.
Many battery companies make combination batteries that make a sacrifice here, to accommodate a compromise there.
In a perfect world, you would have starting batteries for the truck, and a deep cycle for the house, and an isolator to separate them, and keep them properly charged.

 

i have never heard of "disconnect them and charge them independently with a regulated charger, they will last 5 years."

care to elaborate? can we do this at our home garage?

 

I don't know about the disconnect and recharge theory either, but he is dead on about the CCA rating. 4 760CCA batteries will give you better performance and out live 4 1000CCA batteries. Batteries are sold in 1000 CCA, or even 1100 because most truckers, ( no offense) think bigger numbers mean better products! This is a myth.

 

The only reason to separate batteries would be to do an individual load test.

 

Batteries calcify over time and charging them at a controlled/monitored higher rate to prevent cooking them to death will remove the calcium from the plates and restore lost performance. This is done at 16 volts.

When you mix starting and deep cycle batteries together being charged by a single alternator, you are inviting problems with batteries and alternator.

 

Individual batteries will require different charge rate/time. Separating them when charging will bring each battery to its full potential charge without other batteries in the group having any effect.

 

so i should take one battery out at a time and just plug it to a low-rate charger?

 

A low rate charger is the ultimate for bringing the battery up to full charge, but won't help you in decalcifying the plates and restoring performance. Before you charge, check liquid levels in batts.

 

once a year?

 

I will quote myself;
"In a perfect world, you would have starting batteries for the truck, and a deep cycle for the house, and an isolator to separate them, and keep them properly charged."

Voltage = pressure Amperage = flow Ohms = resistance
Your voltmeter reads 12 when the key is on, and 13.5 when the engine is running because the voltage (pressure) needs to be higher in the alternator in order to overcome the pressure in the battery. The rate of charge will be different even in new batteries. (Although slight)
An isolator will allow you to run down the deep cycle "house" battery, without draining the starting units. They will also recharge at the rate necessary for them.
High CCA batteries have shorter lives because of the reasons stated in an earlier post. That live can be extended if you keep them fully charged, and just use them for starting.