[C320-list] Lithium vs. golf cart

[Richard Walker]

Great questions 

Dick Walker

> On Feb 22, 2023, at 19:43, Jack Brennan via C320-list <c320-list at lists.catalina320.com> wrote:
> 
> So the four group 24s I have right now are not doing the job, and I’m debating golf cart vs. possibly lithium before I pull the trigger on batteries.
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> I’m not an expert by any means; I’m just throwing out some numbers to see what other people on the list think as a way to clarify my thinking.
> 
> The cost: I can get four good-quality Duracell golf carts, about 450 AH, from Sam’s Club for less than $450. Two decent lithium 100 AH batteries will cost me maybe a grand, plus I’ll need a 20 amp DC to DC charger to move the alternator amps from the start battery to the lithium.
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> I have 320 watts of rigid solar that can give me 20 AH on a perfect day for either golf carts or lithium. The Ahs will of course shrink over time with the golf carts as the rate of acceptance slows, but pretty much stay at 15 or 20 forever with the lithium.
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> I also have the standard Hitachi 50 amp alternator on my Yanmar 3gm30. That can give me 50 for a short period and then a diminishing amount on golf carts as the rate of acceptance slows, but 20 for a longer time with lithium if I use the DC to DC charger.
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> I probably use 80-100 AHs a day while cruising, between the fridge, anchor light, my CPAP machine, music,  a movie, etc. Solar will replace that on a sunny Florida day with golf carts, but only some of it if it’s cloudy. A couple of hours of motoring would fill the gap.
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> With lithium, as I understand it, it will accept everything the alternator and the solar throw at it. So it works really well, cloudy or sunny. You’re topped off quickly, especially if you motor some.
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> So my question is this: Given the limits on alternator and solar charging, how much difference does it actually make whether I go with golf carts or lithium? Is it just an issue of whether your battery bank is topped off at 2 p.m. or 5 p.m.?
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> I know there are other considerations. You save about 200 pounds of displacement with lithium. They also appear to last much longer with proper treatment. On the other hand, I could buy three sets of golf carts for the price of two 100 AH lithium batteries.
> 
> An interesting puzzle.
> 
> Jack Brennan
> Sonas, 1998 Catalina 320
> Tierra Verde, Fl.
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