[C320-list] Flooded batteries to AGM

[clburti at gmail.com]

I replaced our original 2001 Nauti Golds with the Exide truck batteries in 2007, they were about $150 each then…will do the same again when necessary, specs below.




CCA  CA    RC       L        W      H  Lbs  Price




COM-4D-P
4D100012032019.568.319.8895$208.99








Fair Winds
Chris Burti
Commitment
Catalina 320, #867





From: Tim Westhoven
Sent: ‎Saturday‎, ‎June‎ ‎28‎, ‎2014 ‎9‎:‎14‎ ‎AM
To: c320-list at lists.catalina320.com





After waiting a couple months for a minor fiberglass repair, I finally
launched Affinity this past Wednesday. As I attempted to start her up, we
realized the four year old batteries were toast. That started several days
of researching AGM batteries, chargers and all things electrical, but to no
definitive end. Half the people I spoke to told me to just reinstall the
wet battery type, even though I had thought I really didn't want the
hassles of leaky wet batteries that have to be fed distilled water every
month. The old batteries slopped battery acid all over the compartment
beneath the settee and I have been told that the gas they put off in the
cabin area isn't such a good thing, either. AGMs are supposed to last twice
as long and the Lifeline AGMs with 210 AH (amp hours) cost over twice as
much-- $599 each X two batteries-- $1,200. Other brands can be purchased at
$350 each-$700 total, with around 200 AH. When I ask distributors about the
differences, they talk about the construction of the cases that glass mats
are held in and imply that cheaper brands may allow shifting to the point
where panels touch and cause the elements inside to fail. I haven't had a
real clear discussion about that issue yet. At this point, I am inclined
toward spending $350 each for cheap AGM over $1,200 for the big name
brands, which I would consider still better than the flooded batteries
which so far are anywhere from $175 for the cheap ones and $275 for good
ones.

I have a Xantrex 20 charger that is switchable between flooded, gel or AGM
for charging. It is in the port lazarette on the forward wall-- down in
there a bit and a little hard to get to with the lazarette full of life
jackets, deck brushes with long handles and other junk. I suppose the
distances are just a few feet from the breaker panel for power to the
charger and quite a bit further for the serpentine route from charger to
batteries. I will double check the gauges of wiring today to see that they
are heavy enough not to lose charging power as 20 amp is about as small as
they recommend for these two batteries. (200 Amp Hours divided by 20 amps
is ten hours of charging for a fully 100 percent discharged battery, but I
doubt we would ever fully discharge that much battery in a day anyway.)

Catalina used the flooded type batteries from the factory and have
recommended the Exide Nauti Gold 4Ds, but another post I read somewhere
suggests that Exide bought out another company and consolidated their two
lines and it takes some looking to determine which of their batteries is
the stronger. And when I would be finished with that, I would still have a
flooded battery at about $287 each.

So my question is, has anyone had to face down this battery issue with
their 320? Cheaper end of the AGMs or expensive end of the flooded
batteries? Any wisdom you can impart would be greatly appreciated.







*Tim WesthovenAffinity Hull # 657Herl's Harbor2263 N.E. CatawbaPort
Clinton, Ohio 43452419-409-1000 mobilewesthoven at wcnet.org
<westhoven at wcnet.org>*