[C320-list] Batteries

[Jeff Hare]

Just a note here:  If you have AGM house batteries and a Lead Acid
automotive type starting battery, that's not really a great mix.  Danny's
right that it would likely cause a short life for your starting battery if
you leave the external regulator set to AGM.  If you set it to Flooded
battery mode, you'll undercharge your AGMs which is more expensive over the
long haul. Better to just bite the bullet, buy the biggest AGM Starting
battery you want to afford and not look back.

I like connecting either an EchoCharge or a Blue Sea ACR between the house
bank and starting battery.  That will top off the starting battery from the
house bank whenever there's a charge source present on the house bank.  AGMs
like to charge around 14v and flooded like slightly less at somewhere around
13.8v.  

BTW:  If you're installing a separate starting battery, never use a Deep
Cycle or Dual Purpose Deep Cycle/Starting battery for that battery.  Go
straight automotive (preferably AGM) for that.  The reason is that starting
batteries are meant for short cycle, high current applications where you
don't intend to deeply discharge them.  So they have thin plates and can
supply a lot more starting current which is what you need for starting a
diesel.  Small Deep cycle and Dual Purpose batteries are terrible at
supplying high levels of current needed by the starter so you'll see they
crank the engine a lot slower and won't give you a lot of cranking time
before they need recharging (even though they may have many hours of stored
energy left in them).

Also, I like to leave Both legs of the shore power charger connected to the
house bank and allow the Echo Charge/ACR to trickle over to the starting
battery to keep it topped off.  That allows your shore power charger to
deliver the most current possible to your house bank when recharging from
shore.  This, of course, depends on your shore power charger, but for
example a 60amp shore power charger with 2 output legs would split the
output and have a max current of 30a per leg.  So to get 60A into your house
bank when they're low, you'd need both legs connected to your house bank.  

-Jeff Hare

-----Original Message-----
From: C320-list <c320-list-bounces at lists.catalina320.com> On Behalf Of Danny
Jensen
Sent: Wednesday, July 11, 2018 4:06 PM
To: C320-List at Catalina320.com
Subject: Re: [C320-list] Batteries

I have the same charger and it has a setting for agm. You could change the
setting but then you may overcharge your lead acid starting battery. I think
you could be safe and just leave the charger on lead acid if you have a lead
acid starting battery. I would set my external voltage regulator to agm to
rapid charge my agm batteries.

Sent from my iPhone

> On Jul 11, 2018, at 5:59 AM, Scott Westwood <scottwestwood at bellsouth.net>
wrote:
> 
> Xantrex Truecharger  2 40AMPXAN8041240023 Bank 12V Charger New 
> Version804-1240-02 Thanks,
> Scott Westwood scottwestwood at bellsouth.net H (919)-362-8538    C
(919)-618-7185
> 
>      From: Danny Jensen <danny at jensenshouse.com>
> To: C320-List at Catalina320.com
> Sent: Wednesday, July 11, 2018 7:38 AM
> Subject: Re: [C320-list] Batteries
> 
> What charger do you have?
> 
> Sent from my iPhone
> 
>> On Jul 11, 2018, at 5:26 AM, Scott Westwood <scottwestwood at bellsouth.net>
wrote:
>> 
>> 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
> 
>