[C320-list] Batteries

[Allan S Field]

Scott - When we bought Sea Shadow in 2016, we had to replace the 4D's.  We shopped this around and found 2 4D's at $440 each from Tri-State Battery in Gambrills, MD, 301-595-2971.  I am not sure where you are and whether or not they will ship.  They have another store in DE and one in Forest Hill, MD.  The batteries were DEX8A4D Intimidators.  I think the point is to shop this purchase at a place that sells a lot of batteries, as in maybe that's their only business.  When I asked the dealer how he could sell these at such a low price, as I also cringed at the West Marine price, his answer was, "Volume, lots and lots of volume!"

As for a charger, I see from a later post that you have a Xantrex Truecharge 2.  We just installed one of these in Sea Shadow yesterday.  These chargers are really smart which also means you can set them for AGM, Gel, flooded or lead calcium batteries.  A Charles charger came with our boat but they are no longer in business.  I did not install a temp probe from the charger to the batteries yesterday but that is on my Good Intentions LIst as that will also help extend the life of the batteries and further capitalize on the smartness of the charger.

Finally, we also last year installed at the NavStation electrical panel a Link-10 battery monitor.  The Link-10 tracks: 1)  the voltage of the house bank (the 2 4D's) and the starting battery (also an AGM but is charged through an ACR (automatic charge relay that came with the boat) by the house bank so is isolated from the Xantrex charger); 2) current amp usage from the house bank; 3), number of amps out of the house bank (this is an approximate math calculation as there is no way that I know of to truly measure amps out or remaining in a battery or battery bank); and 4) percentage of amps left in the house bank (again, an approximate math calculation).

This entire set-up is very similar to the set-up we had on our Catalina 320 except we had Gels on her.  Our first Gels lasted from 2004 to 2012 with zero problems and were replaced only because we let someone live on the boat for a month and they successfully killed the batteries. The point here is that we have learned over the years how to baby the batteries as if they were our first-born baby and would always remain a baby.  On both boats, we run the fridge/freezer 24/7 from mid-March to early December so the charger is plugged-in and turned on whenever we are on shore power.  The Xantrex Truecharge 2 will not over-charge and cook a battery bank like some of the earlier 2-stage chargers could, such as the ProMariner that came with our C320 and did cook a bank.  I was told years ago, when we had lead cell batteries (AND WOULD NEVER GO BACK TO THEM!!!), that whenever a charger is turned on, a load, such as a fridge, should be on the batteries.  My understanding with the smart-chargers of today that this in no longer necessary and, in fact, a boat can stay plugged in year-round, like in the winter, without a problem and no load on them (our Catalina's stay in the water all winter on the Chesapeake Bay).

Hope this helps!

Allan S. Field
Sea Shadow - C387, #103
Columbia, MD



-----Original Message-----
From: C320-list [mailto:c320-list-bounces at lists.catalina320.com] On Behalf Of Scott Westwood
Sent: Wednesday, July 11, 2018 7:26 AM
To: Catalina List <c320-list at catalina320.com>
Subject: [C320-list] Batteries

OK.  Another loaded question:
I am trying to dig into the decision to replace the existing battery(ies) or switch to AGM.  One of my Liquid Batteries is toast and needs to be replaced.
AGM batteries are more than twice the price and it will "likely" mean replacing my existing charger.  I need to verify that but I am assuming, for now, that I will need to replace the charger I just installed 3 years ago.
I understand the value of non-liquid AGMs and not having to keep re-filling distilled water, heeling not an issue, etc....
If I go ahead and go to AGM and replace my charger, then I might as well go ahead and get an upgraded monitoring system.  Right now I have the old analog rocker switch and I would go/add a digital one that would show the current load.  I always like the thought of knowing how much current you are drawing "right now".  I added a remote panel monitor for the charger when I replaced it so I have some sort of monitor but would be nice to know current draw.
A co-sailor is suggesting I move to the West Marine 4D  at $790 each... while I can replace the existing liquid LA for $280 each and keep my charger.
Does anybody have any experience with longevity of the AGMs?  If they live twice as long it might be worth it to do it all now.  If not then I don't see the value.  I can replace these LA batteries every 5+ years and save boat units.
May even think about adding a start battery??
Any thoughts out there?  Has anybody re-done all this and have models/pics/experices etc....  Projects on the website?
I said it was a loaded question(s). 
Thanks,
Scott Westwood scottwestwood at bellsouth.net H (919)-362-8538    C (919)-618-7185