[C320-list] 4D Battery Replacement Advice

[John Van Vessem]

Joseph,
   
  I would do some research on the AGM technology.  Their main advantage is that the cells can lay on their side without leaking electrolite, but their performance is below flodded cell batteries.
   
  John(Sojourn645)

Joseph A Tamucci <jtamucci at adelphia.net> wrote:
  Hello again to all my fellow 320 owners I met at the 2005 Regatta in
Newport. I was able to follow the trail to our new web site.

As some of you (esp. Jeff Hare) might remember, last spring I replaced my
stock alternator with a high output Balmar/ regulator, wired my 4D's
together as the house bank and installed a dedicated starter battery with
echo charger off the 4D's. About a week after returning from the Catalina
regatta my four year old 4D's started failing and wouldn't hold a charge.
The dedicated starter battery came to the rescue and allowed me to finish
out the year. I'm getting ready to purchase new batteries and based on my
research I'm thinking seriously about getting 4D AGM's. The main advantage
is that they are more rugged than the standard lead acids especially if you
leave them on the boat during the NE winter like I do. I started
researching the golf cart battery route but was turned off by the fact that
it would require additional cable hookups and battery installation mounting
brackets. The cost would probably be comparable to the AGM's. 

What I'm looking for is opinions on my decision to go the AGM route and
recommendations on the brand of AGM to get, and the best/cheapest place to
buy them. For those that have installed golf cart batteries, I would
appreciate knowing what was involved in installing them and would you go
that route again?

Thanks in advance




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John Van Vessem
Sojourn 645
Vallejo Yacht Club