[C320-list] Inadequate Dedicated Starting Battery

[Bill Culbertson]

 I hear you re: 4D = ginormous.  My Lifeline 4DL's are needing replacement next spring.  I got a whopping 13 years out of them (and yes I know they are not cheap but they are indestructible).  They weigh an impressive 135 pounds apiece.  I plan to hire a couple of 25 year olds to schlep the new ones aboard and schlep the old ones into my car (for core credit back home).
 -bill
C320IA Secretary/TreasurerHarmony #859
    On Tuesday, December 7, 2021, 03:36:46 PM EST, P.F. Ross <pfrstl at gmail.com> wrote:  
 
 Joe,

I also had 8Ds last for nearly 8 years but that was when I had limited
sailing area on an inland lake and spent one, maybe two nights on the hook
somewhere.  I was also afraid to use my refrigerator for fear of not being
able to start one morning (nearly happened early on in my ownership, having
owned the boat since new).  Admittedly, I had no battery condition monitor
at that time, so it was all guesswork.

When I moved my boat to SW FL and was able to cruise farther, I looked into
upgrading my electrical storage options.  There are tons of resources
online, but this page in particular moved me to golf cart batteries, Trojan
T-105s in my case.

https://marinehowto.com/what-is-a-deep-cycle-battery/

I also added other upgrades including a modern charger, battery monitor and
automatic charging relay along with wiring modifications for an "always
hot" bus and proper overcurrent protection (sadly lacking as OE, at least
on my old boat).  I have yet to upgrade my alternator and engine charging
system, but so far my setup allows me to spend three nights out without any
worry.  It also helps that I have changed all lighting to LED.

None of this is my original discovery, but instead I owe much to others on
this list who have come before me.

A final benefit to the golf cart batts is that they are easier for me to
man-handle if need be since there are 4 smaller units rather than 2
ginormous ones.  Doable 25 years ago, now at 69 not so much.

Regards,

Frank Ross
Beta Wave #206

On Tue, Dec 7, 2021 at 10:16 AM Hans Dose <hans.dose at gmail.com> wrote:

> I know this doesn't directly address your issue, but one more thing to keep
> in the back of your mind for anyone with a Yanmar 3GM30F... There is a
> compression release on top of each cylinder.  Pulling one back before
> cranking the motor makes it turn over much easier.  Then releasing it once
> the flywheel has some momentum will make for an easier start.  And the more
> cylinders you do that with, the easier it gets.  I've often thought of
> making linkage from a straight piece of metal that I could tie a line to it
> in case I ever had to do that alone from the helm.  They are a throwback
> from when you could hand start the engines with a crank.  I did it a lot on
> single  & two cylinder Yanmars with no battery when I lived in the Amazon
> region of Brazil.
>
> Hans Dose
> 1999 hull #569 "King's X"
> Alamitos Bay - Long Beach, CA
>
> On Tue, Dec 7, 2021 at 6:58 AM Onat Dogruer <onatdogruer at gmail.com> wrote:
>
> > Hi Bob,
> >
> > I tend to be very cautious before commenting without knowing how things
> are
> > wired on someone's boat. However, the issue doesn't sound like a wire
> gauge
> > issue. Typically older diesels have a higher cranking amp requirement,
> > recommended 450-500CCA min starting battery. Our 1998 has a Yanmar 3GM30F
> > and starting surge is 283A.  The start surge is only for a second or two
> > and once the engine kicks up, alternator starts feeding back. Our setup
> is
> > slightly similar; we have deep cycle golf cart batteries but we always
> > start on that bank. Aux battery serves as an emergency start.
> >
> > G27 batteries should be more than adequate; even a good G24 will suffice.
> > The issue might be the 'new' battery may not actually be in good
> > condition.
> > Alternatively, there may be a loose terminal (even a slight wobble will
> > decrease output).  If I were facing this, I would start by the simplest
> and
> > check the terminals, go over the wiring of the house bank and of the
> > starting battery, and lastly may do a load-test on the starting battery.
> >
> >
> >
> > On Tue, Dec 7, 2021 at 8:54 AM Bob Hoyt <rehoyt at gmail.com> wrote:
> >
> > > I recently installed a Duralast G27 Marine battery to serve as a
> > dedicated
> > > starting battery to go with my house batteries (4 six-volt golf cart
> > > batteries in series). I installed it just forward of the starboard
> > battery
> > > compartment. The existing cables are listed as 4 gauge, so I thought
> they
> > > were adequate.
> > > With a fully charged new battery and either a cold or warm engine, the
> > > motor will barely turn over. With the battery selector on all, it
> starts
> > > quickly. Is the group 27 battery underpowered or do I need to change
> the
> > > wire from the battery to the main switch and wire from the switch to
> the
> > > starter motor to 2 gauge? Thanks
> > >
> > > Bob Hoyt
> > > Hull 154
> > > 1994 C320 "Ikigai"
> > > Pensacola, Fl
> > >
> > >
> > > --
> > >
> > > *Robert (Bob) Hoyt MD, FACP, FAMIA, ABPM-CI*
> > >
> > > *Associate Clinical Professor, Department of Internal Medicine*
> > >
> > > *Virginia Commonwealth University*
> > >
> > > *Richmond, VA*
> > >
> > >
> > > *CAPT (Ret) USN*
> > >
> > > InformaticsEducation.org  <http://InformaticsEducation.org>
> > > rehoyt at gmail.com
> > >
> > > Cell: 850-384-5235
> > >
> >
>