[C320-list] Battery Replacement Choices

[Bruce Heyman]

Another advantage of AGM's is they can accept a higher charge rate.  This is  
important if you've beefed up your altinator and you spend a lot of time on  
the hook.
There are lots of good books and articles on this subject ansd it often  
leeds to upgrading your altinator, adding an external regulator, upgradding  
the AC charger adding a starting battery along with and echo charger and  
ofcourse you just have to add a battery monitoring system.
We just replaced our batteries and while we considered the truck batteries  
because of cost we went with the NG4Ds due to there higher amp hour rating.   
When crusing we spend a lot of time away from the dock so the extra capacity  
reduces the amount of time we have to run the engine. 
Bruce
Somerset 671 SoCal

Bruce Heyman
(949) 289-8400
BruceHeyman at cox.net

-----Original message-----
From: Pat Ireland <cherie320 at gmail.com>
To: C320-List at catalina320.com
Sent: Sun, Jan 23, 2011 15:26:37 GMT+00:00
Subject: Re: [C320-list] Battery Replacement Choices

David

Try searching on the forum.  There are several conversations on battery
choice.

Folks that need lots of amp hours and have an extensive budget of boat bucks
seem to like the AGM technology.  Folks that are on a tight budget and have
more access to dockside power, find the flooded cells a vey good value.

If you go flooded, heavy duty truck batteries can be purchased for less
than $200 each.  We got ours for about $180.  Chris got his for evenlss.
Flooded cells from your friendly boating store will be significantly more,
but there are differences that may or may not be worth the price difference
to you for your type of sailing.  As an example, our truck cells have push
on caps.  The marine cells we replaced had screw on caps.  A small
difference, unless it's a deal breaker for you.

Your 6.5 years is good performance.  Ours went about 5 years.  The AGMs
should do better, but only if you match the charger to the cells and
maintain a good charging protocol.

Research is your friend in making the decision.

Good luck

Pat, 801



On Sat, Jan 22, 2011 at 11:33 AM, Paul Rickman  
<ilove2sail at verizon.net>wrote:

> AGM
>
> Pro - No maint
>
> Con - More expensive, you must have a battery charger that will charge an
> AGM --
> not all do.
>
>
>
>
> ________________________________
> From: David Detrick <dldetrick at live.com>
> To: c320-list at lists.catalina320.com
> Sent: Sat, January 22, 2011 2:26:23 PM
> Subject: [C320-list] Battery Replacement Choices
>
> Have had the original factory batteries in my boat for 6.5 years. What are
> the pros and cons of Flooded batteries over AGM batteries?
>
>
>
> Also, is 6.5 years of serviceable usage in a San Diego climate, below,
> above, or about the norm for flooded batteries?
>
>
>
> David Detrick
>
> Hull 1004
>
> San Diego
>