NAPA AGM battery on sale

M35A2

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A quick Google search revealed this:

"East Penn makes a lot of conventional, calcium AGM batteries. At Auto Zone, the DuraLast Platinum is a calcium AGM, while the DuraLast Gold is a flooded, maintenance-free battery. At NAPA, the Legend is a calcium AGM. At O’Reilly, the Super Start Platinum is a calcium AGM."

The article from which the text is quoted has a great discussion of the different types of AGM batteries and their application to police vehicle use. It also explains the differences between "thick plate calcium AGM batteries" such as the offerings by East Penn, and "thin plate pure lead AGM's" which include Northstar, Odyssey and Optima. The article concludes:

"Both the calcium AGM and the pure lead AGM crank longer and are more tolerant of deep cycle drains than OE maintenance-free batteries. That said, there is a performance difference among these two types of AGM battery. Since the thinner plates in the pure lead AGM have more surface area contact than the thicker plates in the calcium AGM, they are more efficient during both discharging and recharging. The calcium AGM is 'better' while the pure lead AGM is 'best.'"

See: http://www.hendonpub.com/law_and_order/articles/2015/04/agm_battery_technology

It appears from the article that in the hierarchy of AGM's the Napa Legend is better than a flooded lead acid battery but not in the same category as a pure lead AGM battery such as Northstar, Odyssey and Optima. It also explains the substantial price difference between the East Penn offerings and those of the other AGM manufacturers.
 
Thanks, Mr. Bills. For the $75 price difference between the Napa and an optima, I think I'll take my chances for now. If it craps out, it craps out!
 
Thanks! Been keeping an eye out for a battery for my future winch
 
Thanks, Mr. Bills. For the $75 price difference between the Napa and an optima, I think I'll take my chances for now. If it craps out, it craps out!

If it lasts longer for you than it did for @Alaska-HWY JK in his harsh conditions it will be a good buy. I've often said that not everyone needs an AGM battery, but now I think I will amend that to read not everyone needs a high end pure lead AGM battery.

There are many conventional flooded lead acid batteries that will stand up to heavy amperage use such as a winch. What the AGM offers that a flooded lead acid battery cannot is protection against nasty acid leaks in the event of a rollover, elimination of corrosion at the terminals, and to a certain extent better resistance to plate damage from rough terrain. The mid-grade calcium AGM batteries have all of these attributes with the possible exception of better resistance to plate damage. If the longevity is there, these could be a very attractive alternative to the $300 price tag for a Northstar or Odyssey.
 
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If it lasts longer for you than it did for @Alaska-HWY JK in his harsh conditions it will be a good buy. I've often said that not everyone needs an AGM battery, but now I think I will amend that to read not everyone needs a high end pure lead AGM battery.

There are many conventional flooded lead acid batteries that will stand up to heavy amperage use such as a winch. What the AGM offers that a flooded lead acid battery cannot is protection against nasty acid leaks in the event of a rollover, elimination of corrosion at the terminals, and to a certain extent better resistance to plate damage from rough terrain. The mid-grade calcium AGM batteries have all of these attributes with the possible exception of better resistance to plate damage. If the longevity is there, these could be a very attractive alternative to the $300 price tag for a Northstar or Odyssey.

I always have used AGM's since they have been new. Mostly because I can mount them any way I want, I don't really have to worry about venting, and the acid corrodes everything, so if you ever get over charged it eats away at your battery box and if it hits the floor it will eat at that too especially if you have an epoxy floor as I do. It is worth the 100 bucks more to me.

If I did have to buy a liquid filled, I would most certainly buy an interstate. I used those long before I used AGM's, but ever since I bought my first AGM that is all I have ever bought before. I also usually run two AGM's in my vehicles. Both my TJ and my GMC are running dual Optima's. My aux on my Jeep is running the winch and accessories, and the spare in my GMC is running my camper when it is hooked up. I am a fan.
 
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From the specifications, it appears to be the same battery as the NAPA Legend Premium AGM
I figured for $120 it wasn’t the pure lead type. Time will tell how it holds up.

My family has the worst luck with vehicles (it’s so bad our friends call it the “Cunningham Curse”) and I have jumped more vehicles in the past year than I can count. But between all of that, winching, lights, upgraded amps/stereo, bouncing all over dirt roads and trails, this battery hasn’t let me down once.

Just my personal testament 🙂
 
Nice find! I always forget about Sam's club.
The only down side to that one that I can see is potentially finding a location to honor the warranty, if necessary.
Yeah after shuttering a lot of their stores it’s definitely harder to find one. We had three within an hour of where I live. Now there’s only one, and that’s because there’s no Costco there to compete with.
 
Looks like its $140 now plus core charge I assume. Still looks like a better price than the NAPA one. Without having to do a rebate too.
You’re right. I just threw it in the cart for fun and it came out to $160 including tax and the core charge of $12.

IIRC when I purchased last December it was $140 with the core charge and I got $20 back for my old battery.

So yes it’s still a good price, but a bummer it went up.