[C320-list] Flooded acid battery and refrigeration questions

[Dave Hupe]

 Scott-
I am in need of a new refrigerator to replace my original old (1993-4) unit and am planning to install one of these $837 Nova Kool models as recommended (highly) by several others Nova Kool LT201-RT4 Ice Box Conversion Kit (suremarineservice.com) 
I also replaced my original Newmar battery charger (ran hot all the time) several years ago with a Promariner ProNautic 1240p 3-bank smart charger  Amazon.com : ProMariner 63140 ProNauticP Series 1240P 12-Volts 40-Amp Battery Charger,White : Boating Battery Chargers : Sports & Outdoors  I have been very happy with this replacement.
Regarding 4D batteries, I bought this battery at NAPA auto parts in 2017 for $165 (now $211) and it has performed flawlessly NAPA Commercial Battery BCI No. 4D 1050 A Wet BAT 7266 | Buy Online - NAPA Auto Parts (napaonline.com)
Dave Hupe
1994 C320 (#32)
Holland, MI 
    On Monday, November 15, 2021, 03:44:24 PM EST, Scott Thompson <surprise at thompson87.com> wrote:  
 
 Early during our final cruise of the fall I noticed LED cabin lights 
flickering one evening, and when I checked battery voltages on the house 
bank they were very low. (We spent every night anchored out so were not 
on shore power.) We determined that our fridge was running too often. I 
started the engine to charge the batteries and shut the fridge off and 
we were fine overnight. The next morning I realized that I hadn't 
checked the level in the flooded batteries in the house bank (two 
connected in parallel since we have a separate starting battery) for 
months. When I checked it they were quite low. I didn't have distilled 
water with me at the time, and so didn't get around to watering the 
batteries until this weekend. (We hardly used the boat in between, but I 
did have a solar charger connected.) When I watered the batteries the 
levels were still above the plates, but they were lower than I've ever 
seen them. I added probably about 3/4 of a gallon total of distilled 
water to the bank. Interestingly, the low levels were not even. The 
cells towards the starboard side often (but not always) seemed 
considerably lower than their neighbors immediately to the port side.

I'm not sure what it means when batteries have low levels unevenly 
across cells. There is no evidence of fluid leakage and all of the caps 
were tight.  Do any battery experts have a thought on what this means? 
I've gotten seven years out of these batteries so probably time to 
change them next Spring.

As for the refrigerator, we have an Adler Barbour Cold Machine. It 
probably needs recharging, but I'm guessing that we could probably find 
a replacement that is more efficient given that the unit is more than 20 
years old. Suggestions for a replacement model welcome.

-- 
Scott Thompson
Surprise, #653