[C320-list] battery replacement

[Robert Seastream]

We were gonna go for the AGM's but went with wet cells.  We'll save  
buying the AGM's for the 'last boat we'll ever buy'.

Bob

On Apr 5, 2010, at 1:38 PM, Jeff Hare wrote:

> That sure beats the $875.00 I spent on a pair of Lifeline AGMs last  
> year.   :)
>
> After sitting unplugged since last October, they're still at 12.88  
> volts as of yesterday.  That's clearly too long for any sailboat to  
> sit on land.  :)  gotta find warmer climate.
>
> -Jeff
>
>
> -----Original Message-----
> From: Chris Burti <clburti at gmail.com>
> Date: Mon, 5 Apr 2010 13:28:44
> To: <C320-List at catalina320.com>
> Subject: Re: [C320-list] battery replacement
>
> I purchased them from one of our local small town auto parts stores.  
> They
> were ordered for us and received the next day. I paid $125 ea. when  
> I bought
> ours.  I was able to do the core exchange a few days later as a  
> courtesy.
>
> Manufacturers rarely share all of the specs, but what I was able to  
> find out
> is that the  Exide commercial batteries have heavier plates and  
> glass mat
> anti-vibration matting like the deep cycle marine batteries. While  
> it is
> probable that they are not as heavy as the deep cycle plates, I  
> doubt that
> Exide would want you to buy a truck battery when they can sell you a  
> marine
> battery for twice as much if they are at all close in  
> specifications. They
> have auto terminal posts rather than marine posts, so first time you
> buy, you have to spend a couple of bucks for those.
>
> Ours are over 4 years old and, knock on wood, working great.
>
> Buying a Xantrex charger and replacing the promariner virtually  
> eliminated
> maintenance issues.
> We do not make extended stays (beyond a week) away from the dock. We  
> are old
> school cruisers that hoard our amp hours like watt misers harking  
> back to a
> time when a single group 27 had to cover all bases and start the  
> engine too.
> We run the engine in gear in reverse for about a half an hour  
> morning and
> evening to heat water and add some AH back to the batteries. We  
> rotate usage
> on odd/even dates for the odd/even battery. We use block ice, a medium
> thermostat setting a and low watt fan in the reefer to increase
> efficiency. I have had power outages cause the reefer to draw them  
> down, but
> the fail-safe cut-off has prevented any serious damage so far and I  
> check
> them often enough to bring them back up without too long a delay.
> This setup is not for everyone, but it works very well for us and at  
> the
> price we are paying, it suits us well. I have adding a starting  
> battery to
> my wish list, but is in the bottom half.
>
>
> On Mon, Apr 5, 2010 at 12:44 PM, <amshd2 at aol.com> wrote:
>
>>
>> Chris
>>
>> I want to do away with the wet cells on the boat.  My reasons are  
>> to stream
>> line matenance and get rid of dealing with acid.   I just relooked  
>> at my wet
>> cell number and it was 159 -180. But yours at at $135 is hard to  
>> beat.
>> Where did you get it.
>>
>> I also looked into the Exide truck 4Ds I was led to believe there  
>> is a
>> difference between the truck model and the marine model (heavier  
>> plates 7
>> deeper cycle) and as such I am leaning towards the marine deep  
>> cycle.   Did
>> you find a differance????
>>
>>
>> Tony
>>
>>
>>
>>
>>
>>
>>
>>
>> -----Original Message-----
>> From: Chris Burti <clburti at gmail.com>
>> To: C320-List at catalina320.com
>> Sent: Mon, Apr 5, 2010 11:41 am
>> Subject: Re: [C320-list] battery replacement
>>
>>
>> Exide Com-4D-P have 320 AH and retail for about $135 ea.
>> AGM are great if want to spend the money and have the need.
>> On Mon, Apr 5, 2010 at 10:56 AM, <amshd2 at aol.com> wrote:
>>>
>> Chris
>>
>> I am also looking at replacing my Batteries. I have been  
>> researching where
>> to buy and who carries what brands in the PA/  MD / VA AOR.  I  
>> found the
>> best place to buy was Battery Warehouse.    On Sat I went to the  
>> Battery
>> Warehouse Store in Annapolis MD I checked out what they had.
>> http://www.batterywarehouse.net/    They keep a large stock of  
>> Marine Wet
>> and AGM Batteries.  Their wet battery are made and sold under their  
>> own
>> label.  The AGM are made by Decca and Life Line.
>>
>> These are Marine  Deep cycle 27 Group and 4Ds.
>>
>> I did not spend a lot of time on the  wet cell because I have  
>> decided to
>> go
>> with AGMs. But they carried a full line line of Wet Cells .
>>
>> Wet Cell 4d were about $180
>>
>> AGM Decca 4D 190 AMP Hrs $370 2 Yr Warranty  (Same brand as West  
>> Marine
>> @599)
>>
>> AGMs Life Line 4 Ds $538 210 AMP Hrs  5 Yr Warranty
>>
>> AGM 27 Grp  Decca $200
>>
>> AGM 27 Grp Lifeline $287
>>
>> AGM 27 Gp Optima $179
>>
>> Hope this helps
>>
>> Tony
>> #30
>>
>>
>>
>>
>>
>>
>> -----Original Message-----
>> From: Chris Burti <clburti at gmail.com>
>> To: C320-List at catalina320.com
>> Sent: Mon, Apr 5, 2010 10:19 am
>> Subject: Re: [C320-list] battery replacement
>>
>>
>> You will find them listed under the heavy duty commercial truck  
>> section. I
>> urchased mine from a local auto parts store. they had to order  
>> them, but
>> hey were in next day.
>> I would replace both batteries if they are over three years old as  
>> the
>> older
>> attery will genrally tend to pull down the newer. it isn't mixing
>> anufacturers nearly so much as mixing the condition and charge
>> cceptance rates of the two.
>> On Mon, Apr 5, 2010 at 9:56 AM, <hcreech at comcast.net> wrote:
>>>
>> Chris, Seems this must be my day to be active on the list. I went to
>> Exide's site this morning found 4D-NG4D, but not COM-4D-P. I need to
>> replace
>> one battery , is there any problem mixing battery manufactures in  
>> the same
>> bank? I only have the original two batteries, no starting.
>>
>>
>> Thanks
>> Herb
>>
>>
>>
>> ----- Original Message -----
>> From: "Chris Burti" <clburti at gmail.com>
>> To: C320-List at catalina320.com
>> Sent: Sunday, April 4, 2010 11:48:21 PM GMT -05:00 US/Canada Eastern
>> Subject: Re: [C320-list] battery replacement
>>
>> * Exide COM-4D-P* unless you are on a mooring or cruise off the  
>> grid for
>> mor
>> than a week at a time you can't beat these for the money. $135 each  
>> and
>> more
>> AH than the the marine deep cycle Nautilus Gold.
>>
>> On Sun, Apr 4, 2010 at 9:28 PM, Sue Lockett <locketts at embarqmail.com>
>> wrote:
>>
>>> One of my two main batteries (made by Exide) is faulty and I need to
>>> replace it. Does anyone have a suggestion as to a good, reasonably
>> priced
>>> replacement battery and where it can be purchased?
>>> Thanks!
>>> Ed
>>>
>>
>>
>>
>> --
>> Chris Burti Farmville, NC
>>
>>
>> --
>> hris Burti Farmville, NC
>>
>>
>>
>> -
>> hris Burti Farmville, NC
>>
>>
>
>
> -- 
> Chris Burti Farmville, NC