Sears Die Hard Gold AGM
- Thread starter anm
- Start date
Help Support Van Living Forum:
SternWake
Well-known member
- Joined
- Nov 30, 2013
- Messages
- 3,874
- Reaction score
- 2
S,DHG AGM are rebranded Deka intimidator series batteries:
I had one experience with a Flooded Deka battery way beck when before I understood much about battery charging. Needless to say that battery was abused, over discharged and chronically undercharged, and still lasted a good long time. Way longer than the wally world batteries I replaced it with, in the same usage.
The intimidator specs as to CCA or self discharge as not as impressive as some other higher $$ AGM, but these high $ AGM can require huge recharging currents well in excess of what a resonable solar array can provide.
Though I can no longer find it, i did see that the Intimidator series listed a maximum bulk rate of 30% or 30 amps for a 100 amp hour battery, where as a top dollar AGm like Odyssey/ Sears Diehard platinum require 40 amps minimum of a deeply cycled 100 amp hour battery.
So it could be that the Intimidator battery makes for a better 'Solar' battery. I have no proof of this, i just suspect it.
I can say definitively that my NorthStar AGM, which makes many similar claims as Odyssey yet does not state a 40% minimum buolk rate, performs noticeably better the more charging current I can provide to it from a 50% or more discharge.
Bring your voltmeter to Sears and pick the gold AGM win the size you want which has the highest voltage. I think the Deka intimidator will be a good van dweller battery, even if it cannot be compared to the top dogs in the AGM world like odyssey,lifeline, and northstar.
I disincluded Optima on purpose. They do not impress me with their reduced capacity per footprint and many reports of early failure, even though many of those I am sure are user induced. Capacity is more important than a Six pack design which really only benefits extreme vibration environments where physical case strength is a requirement too. Go rectangular for the extra capacity and leave the marketing mumbo jumbo for those with less of a clue.
http://www.dekabatteries.com/assets/base/1740Intimidatordeepcycle.pdf
I had one experience with a Flooded Deka battery way beck when before I understood much about battery charging. Needless to say that battery was abused, over discharged and chronically undercharged, and still lasted a good long time. Way longer than the wally world batteries I replaced it with, in the same usage.
The intimidator specs as to CCA or self discharge as not as impressive as some other higher $$ AGM, but these high $ AGM can require huge recharging currents well in excess of what a resonable solar array can provide.
Though I can no longer find it, i did see that the Intimidator series listed a maximum bulk rate of 30% or 30 amps for a 100 amp hour battery, where as a top dollar AGm like Odyssey/ Sears Diehard platinum require 40 amps minimum of a deeply cycled 100 amp hour battery.
So it could be that the Intimidator battery makes for a better 'Solar' battery. I have no proof of this, i just suspect it.
I can say definitively that my NorthStar AGM, which makes many similar claims as Odyssey yet does not state a 40% minimum buolk rate, performs noticeably better the more charging current I can provide to it from a 50% or more discharge.
Bring your voltmeter to Sears and pick the gold AGM win the size you want which has the highest voltage. I think the Deka intimidator will be a good van dweller battery, even if it cannot be compared to the top dogs in the AGM world like odyssey,lifeline, and northstar.
I disincluded Optima on purpose. They do not impress me with their reduced capacity per footprint and many reports of early failure, even though many of those I am sure are user induced. Capacity is more important than a Six pack design which really only benefits extreme vibration environments where physical case strength is a requirement too. Go rectangular for the extra capacity and leave the marketing mumbo jumbo for those with less of a clue.
http://www.dekabatteries.com/assets/base/1740Intimidatordeepcycle.pdf
