[C320-list] Batteries

[Danny Jensen]

I have been running lithium lifepo4 batteries on house bank only and charging them with 200w solar and a 60a dc to dc charger while on trips. Because of the high charge acceptance rate and low state of charge limits, I could get by with a 130ah house battery or less. Here is a video of my project. https://youtu.be/h991SCePHpw

Danny
972
Sent from my iPhone

> On Jun 4, 2019, at 7:09 PM, CARY DENNIS LOWE <cdlowe1769 at sbcglobal.net> wrote:
> 
> Help
> 
> 
> Sent from my iPad
> 
>> On Jun 4, 2019, at 4:12 PM, Troy Dunn <troutwarrior at gmail.com> wrote:
>> 
>> For me this is an incredibly easy answer.  If the PO already converted to
>> 6V Trojans I would be really hard pressed to go back to 4Ds (either AGM or
>> FLA). Here's why.
>> 
>> #1 Those Trojans are true deep cycle batteries and dollar per amp hour
>> times number of cycles you are likely to get out of them, a better buy.
>> #2 The 4Ds are incredibly heavy and therefore have high potential for back
>> injuries.
>> #3 To get to a similar quality and amp hour rating in a 4D
>> configuration...you are stuck with AGMs (cha ching).  Others will argue
>> that there are FLA 4Ds out there that come close, but really cost
>> competitive 4Ds are hard to pin down on quality, cycles, and specs for 20
>> hour rating...that’s a red flag.    That doesn’t mean those are bad choices
>> for those of us stuck with 4Ds and not wanting to reconfigure for GC
>> batteries at the moment, especially for the casual cruiser or club racer
>> that leaves the boat mostly on the shore charger.    It’s a crappier chair
>> to be sitting in than the one you are however...ask me how I know.
>> 
>> I’m not convinced I agree with the theory that changing your battery
>> configuration may be a bad idea because you are set up for 6V FLAs and you
>> might mess up the new batteries going back to 4Ds.  It implies you don't
>> need to worry those things if you don’t reconfigure and I think that’s a
>> bad idea.   Regardless of what you decide to do, you should understand your
>> DC power system well enough to know if it is configured properly for
>> whatever batteries you have in there, even if you go with identical
>> batteries.  I think it would be a mistake to buy new batteries and assume
>> your alternator, regulator, charger, and any other devices are properly
>> configured.   Assuming the PO has this right to begin with is a really bad
>> idea and could potentially negatively impact the life of an expensive bank
>> of batteries you are about to spend some coin on.
>> 
>> So to sum up.  Here is my recco.
>> 
>> Replace the Trojans with identical batteries and learn about your charging
>> systems well enough to ensure the correct bulk, absorption, and float
>> voltage profiles are being delivered to your new batteries.  Never go below
>> 50% SOC, and try to ensure you get back to full charge with each cycle.
>> 
>> For much much more info, read all the articles in the aforementioned
>> marinehowto.com website on electrical systems and upgrades.
>> 
>> Good Luck
>> 
>> Troy Dunn
>> Hull #514
>