Everstart battery from Walmart did great today/ the one it replace -yuk!

[Spoonminnow]

I took a less-than-year-old Everstart deep cycle battery, under warrenty back to Walmart and as usual when they tested it the results were fine - for a starting battery. I told them that even with a full charge the battery quit after light use (Minn Kota setting #3 or less) after three hours. Finally I was given an exchange after threatening to go to the store manager - especially about the horrendously bad service in auto.

I used the new battery today with my newer Minn Kota 55lb thrust tm and it worked great! We must have traveled over five miles around the lake searching for the large crappie the lake is know for as well as five other species. When I put the battery on charge when I got home, the percentage discharge read 55 % with a polarity voltage of 11.9v . The old battery reading that low would have barely turned the prop, but this one displayed what seemed like full power to the prop until we docked.

*I said newer tm because the older 55 lb M K I own with longer shaft may have used more energy, even using lower settings, depleting the older battery much sooner. The battery for all I know may have been good! (though I'm not sorry since this particular Walmart's auto dept. has always stunk.)

Strange to say the least and afraid to try the old unit with this battery.

[Eagle 1]

FROZEN ?

[CatFan]

Running a battery down that low will severely shorten its life. You should stick with about 70% or around 12.3V as the bottom. You were at about 35% capacity remaining.

[wannabe fisherman]

another thing with a new battery, before you use it charge it, sitting around in a store or warehouse takes a toll on the charge and some of them don't have a full charge when they go out in the first place. At least that's what the guy that delivered batteries to the Wal-Mart I worked at told me.

[Cane Pole]

I don't know what the voltage ladder lights on the terrova/ulterra equate to with respect to voltage levels. I am usually done when 2 LEDs are still showing though. Never been to 1 LED and I am out all day sometimes. I lack the interest to meter the levels.

[Spoonminnow]

I used it again today with the newer Minn Kota and it went down to 75 % or 12.4v down from 13.4v/ 100% charge.
Not bad in normal use - so far. Fingers crossed. Still wonder if I should leave it on trickle charge if the fully charged battery won't be used for a few days.

[Cane Pole]

I love wal mart. I know exactly where the tums and ex-lax racks are.

["G"]

I used it again today with the newer Minn Kota and it went down to 75 % or 12.4v down from 13.4v/ 100% charge.
Not bad in normal use - so far. Fingers crossed. Still wonder if I should leave it on trickle charge if the fully charged battery won't be used for a few days.

You really need to get a five or ten amp charger that is designed to charge deep cycle marine batteries and it needs to be a good one that moniters the battery and comes on and shuts off when needed....this kind you can plug it in when you get home from fishing and leave it on until you get ready to go again....Your battery will last a whole lot longer.

[huntinslabs]

I am sooo thankful I am not in retail anymore. I would have called the store manager for you as well as corporate customer service. Battery tested good and he gave you horrible service by telling you that? And now you admit your TM was suspect. And also questioning your own maintenance procedure? No pity here except for the employee that was the brunt of your demands.

[Spoonminnow]

I don't know for certain the battery was good at least until I try the new one on the old motor.

maintenance procedure?

what are you talking about? I keep all my boat batteries charged through the winter and make sure of cell fluid levels. In fact, as I stated, the Sears Platinum battery which is over 10 years old, did as well as the Everstart which is less than a year. Starting batteries are different than deep cycle in the type of discharge - one being fast and powerful, the other being a slow discharge over a long period of use. I'm not sure of the test for deep cycles batteries.

As far as service goes, waiting an hour for an answer, allowing other customers to be waited on while I'm standing there, is crap service by anyone's standards. Store manager not calling back after the message I left is just icing on the cake.