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Lead-acid batteries – especially the golf cart batteries many of you use
– seem like the best value, but they’re not supposed to me mounted in
living spaces. I went with AGM’s so I could put the house bank under the
aft cabin berth, all the way aft, where they’re low and reasonably close
to the panel, etc; not in the bilge where they could get submerged in a
bad situation. I went with the West Marine line. Too soon would not hold
a full charge anymore. WM replaced all 7 batteries under warranty 2
years ago. They’re still OK now, but don’t hold a full charge very long.
Now that I’m back in the States, I’m planning to see if they’re
warranty-replaceable again.Next time I’d still want sealed batteries, but maybe gel would be a
better way to go. I had gel batteries in my last cruising boat and all
but one lasted 6 years and were still going strong when I sold the boat.
Haven’t researched gel cells since then.Tor
Silverheels, P-424 #17
http://www.silverheels.us
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I installed 3 AGM 4D batteries as a house bank and 2 AGM group 31 as the
‘starting’ bank 4 years ago. With the Mantra charger programmed for AGMs
they have stayed quite healthy. Having solar panel with a controller set to
AGM helps as well. When I add my second panel, I don’t expect to have to run
either my engine or generator to charge the batteries again.The most important thing to make batteries last is to be sure they are being
charged properly. A standard alternate will do flooded cell and AGM, but
needs special controlling for gel cells. Poor or improper charging will ruin
the held in a heartbeat.Flooded cell batteries are bullet proof, but have the disadvantages of
maintenance, off gassing, and poor recovery from total discharges. AGMs have
great total discharge recovery, but are a little panicky about charge cycle
and voltage. But they have the advantage of no maintenance, no out gassing.
They should be less than gels.Gel cells have all the advantages of AGMs, have, in general, a longer
lifetime, but are really, really easily damaged from improper charging. So
the cost of changing should include charging system upgrades.I chose AGMS because of their full discharge recovery. Supposedly, you can
do it 500 times. When all else fails, and I need power to the last drop, I
don’t want to have to replace $800 worth of battery.Bob
I’m not being terse. This is from my mobile.
On Apr 26, 2011 9:05 AM, “Silverheels” wrote:Quote:Lead-acid batteries – especially the golf cart batteries many of you use
– seem like the best value, but they’re not supposed to me mounted in
living spaces. I went with AGM’s so I could put the house bank under the
aft cabin berth, all the way aft, where they’re low and reasonably close
to the panel, etc; not in the bilge where they could get submerged in a
bad situation. I went with the West Marine line. Too soon would not hold
a full charge anymore. WM replaced all 7 batteries under warranty 2
years ago. They’re still OK now, but don’t hold a full charge very long.
Now that I’m back in the States, I’m planning to see if they’re
warranty-replaceable again.Next time I’d still want sealed batteries, but maybe gel would be a
better way to go. I had gel batteries in my last cruising boat and all
but one lasted 6 years and were still going strong when I sold the boat.
Haven’t researched gel cells since then.Tor
Silverheels, P-424 #17
http://www.silverheels.us
Quote:
Original Message
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Bob,
My boat came with a little 20-amp charger, grossly inadequate for the
new battery bank I installed. That’s probably what messed up the first
set of batteries, under-charging. When the replacement set showed signs
of doing the same thing, i.e., not holding their full charge, I sprung
for a new 60-amp charger. That seems to have made all the difference,
since I often charge up using a Honda generator. Still, some damage may
have been done. Perhaps the months I still used an undersized charger on
the new batteries messed them up, too. They’re not terrible, but not as
good as I think they should be. I’m going to see if the local WM will
loan me one of their testers (as another WM store did last time) – I’m
not about to remove 7 big batteries and schlep them over there for a
test.Tor
Silverheels, P-424 #17
http://www.silverheels.us
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Tor, a 20 amp charger is only inadequate if you draw more than you can
replace in a day, on average. I use about 60 to 100 amp hours a day on
anchor, being profligate with power usage. More like 40-60 ah/day.
Theoretically, I can go about 5 days without charging.The solar panel in summer or down south in the winter provides on average
35-50 ah/day. That means I only have to run the generator for hot water. I
love my showers.Adding the second panel ensures as much power as u can reasonablely use.
That’s my story and I’m sticking to it.
I’ve heard that AGM batteries should last about 5 years, but I think I’ll
get more out of them (i hope).Bob
I’m not being terse. This is from my mobile.
On Apr 26, 2011 11:05 AM, “Silverheels” wrote:Quote:Bob,My boat came with a little 20-amp charger, grossly inadequate for the
new battery bank I installed. That’s probably what messed up the first
set of batteries, under-charging. When the replacement set showed signs
of doing the same thing, i.e., not holding their full charge, I sprung
for a new 60-amp charger. That seems to have made all the difference,
since I often charge up using a Honda generator. Still, some damage may
have been done. Perhaps the months I still used an undersized charger on
the new batteries messed them up, too. They’re not terrible, but not as
good as I think they should be. I’m going to see if the local WM will
loan me one of their testers (as another WM store did last time) – I’m
not about to remove 7 big batteries and schlep them over there for a
test.Tor
Silverheels, P-424 #17
http://www.silverheels.us
Original Message
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And a Fine story it is, Bob. Solar panels are on my re-commissioning
list for next fall.Tor
Silverheels, P-424 #17
http://www.silverheels.us
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And a Fine story it is, Bob. Solar panels are on my re-commissioning
list for next fall.Tor
Silverheels, P-424 #17
http://www.silverheels.us
Original Message
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speaking of batteries…
I have lead-acid batteries.
I’ve never equalized them… they’re 4 seasons old.
Anyone have any words of wisdom regarding this process?Rick
EclipseOn Tue, Apr 26, 2011 at 12:05 PM, Silverheels wrote:
Quote:And a Fine story it is, Bob. Solar panels are on my re-commissioning
list for next fall.Tor
Silverheels, P-424 #17
http://www.silverheels.us
Original Message
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I have six 6 volt flooded cell batteries as my house bank. I installed them
five years ago and have been living aboard for that time, mostly plugged
into the dock. Fridge and all lighting run off of the bank and the charger
is always on. I’m going to replace them this year only because we are
heading south next year. They seem to be fine, but five years is long
enough, they don’t owe me anything.Jack
Xanadu IVOn Tue, Apr 26, 2011 at 12:20 PM, Rick Dugger wrote:
Quote:speaking of batteries…
I have lead-acid batteries.
I’ve never equalized them… they’re 4 seasons old.
Anyone have any words of wisdom regarding this process?Rick
EclipseOn Tue, Apr 26, 2011 at 12:05 PM, Silverheels
wrote:Quote:And a Fine story it is, Bob. Solar panels are on my re-commissioning
list for next fall.Tor
Silverheels, P-424 #17
http://www.silverheels.us
Original Message
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By all means equalize. I use to do it once a month or so when we were living aboard during the summers cruising down the St. Lawrence Seaway on Easy Reach. The last time was October 2010, the week before I delivered her to her new owner. I had replaced the very old and useless windlass battery and found one of the “bunny” gcs was way low in sp. g. I ran an equalizing charge on it and brought it up as close to sunff as could be expected for a battery that had seen two seasons of heavy use and one sitting in the yard. These much disparaged batteries, bought cheap at Sam’s club, worked well for us, being charged by the dedicated 150 alternator when anchoring and weighing. One whole summer in Maine and down to New Jersey and one in Long Island Sound and one in the yard.
Before you start to equalize, learn how to use a good hydrometer, one marked in .0005 increments, to measure sp. g., study up on the procedure and make sure to use a charger that provides this option. Skip the color-coded ones used to test auto batteries. You will need to go on the Internet to find one. I’ve forgetten who made mine, but Allan Tereshko, who now owns hull #206, aquired it with the sale and maybe he will post the manufacturer’s name for all to see.Post generated from Pearson424 Forum using Mail2Forum
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Can you elaborate on Good Hydrometer… any recommendations ?
Thanks,
-p
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s/v Deep Playa | Pearson 424 Hull #152 | http://www.DeepPlaya.com | @DeepPlayaOn Tue, Apr 26, 2011 at 2:26 PM, norris larson wrote:
Quote:By all means equalize. I use to do it once a month or so when we were
living aboard during the summers cruising down the St. Lawrence Seaway on
Easy Reach. The last time was October 2010, the week before I delivered her
to her new owner. I had replaced the very old and useless windlass battery
and found one of the “bunny” gcs was way low in sp. g. I ran an equalizing
charge on it and brought it up as close to sunff as could be expected for a
battery that had seen two seasons of heavy use and one sitting in the yard.
These much disparaged batteries, bought cheap at Sam’s club, worked well for
us, being charged by the dedicated 150 alternator when anchoring and
weighing. One whole summer in Maine and down to New Jersey and one in Long
Island Sound and one in the yard.Before you start to equalize, learn how to use a good hydrometer, one
marked in .0005 increments, to measure sp. g., study up on the procedure and
make sure to use a charger that provides this option. Skip the color-coded
ones used to test auto batteries. You will need to go on the Internet to
find one. I’ve forgetten who made mine, but Allan Tereshko, who now owns
hull #206, aquired it with the sale and maybe he will post the
manufacturer’s name for all to see.Post generated from Pearson424 Forum using Mail2Forum
Owners no more...
Thanks Dawn and Patrick! -
Patrick,
I googled “glass battery hydrometer” and retrieved the name of the one that served me well for over ten years: Freas Glass, #1, http://www.freasglass.com, Freas Glass manufactures more finely calibrated models, some with thermometers,and 18-24 inches long, but I found the 12 inch #1 quite adequeate for monitoring wet cell batteries. I should note that equalization can only be done on wet cell units. Equalizing will ruin a gel or AGM.
Norris Larson
— On Tue, 4/26/11, Patrick “Peaboy” Walters wrote:Post generated from Pearson424 Forum using Mail2Forum
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