Battery Help

[jddens]

Two weeks ago I serviced my batteries. I have 2 pairs of 6 volt batts in series for two set of 12 volts....these are them in parallel so my house power is 12 volts provided by 4, 6 volts batts..........when checking them two weeks ago I found 3 cells on one set of two very low........all 6 cells on the other set were fine........my link 2000 monitor tell me that the charger is in float mode and the batt voltage is 13.45 volts.......yesterday I checked again and found the same 3 cells very low and the others fine..........what is this telling me? Bad batts? Over charging? Seems if it was over charging then all cells would be affected the same? One more thing......I can smell the batts and so does my bilge sniffer and gives me an alarm......I haven't gotten to deep into this yet and thought I'd check with my expert friends here on the forum.........thanks in advance for any ideas.................John

[larryeddington]

They may need equalizaiton. I only know of this as my farm has a battery backup system powered by solar panels and in reading all the literature on the systems it mentions recharging from the grid from time to time to be sure all batteries are equal. That is all I know about it.

I am taking the system out, it was installed by previous owner who was frightened by Y2K. Incidentally it uses Trojan 6 volt batteries in series and paralell configuartion to produce 12 volts of deep cycle power.

Y2K has come and gone and so is this system. I may use the inverter as it is a pretty solidly built unit, not in boat but for other uses as it is not marine specific.

[randyp]

The one battery may have 3 bad cells. How old are they? Also, agree about equalization, but if the cells are bad in the one it may not bring them back. The smell is from the sulfur and if the water is boiling in the one battery with the bad cells and not the others, it may also be time for a change. All your batteries should ideally be in the same condition or same age, because if one is weak it will drain down the other. Hope that helps.

[jddens]

Thanks Larry and Randy,

I was wondering if a bad battery would boil or just go dead, the two in question are definitely boiling........voltage on both suspect batts is still a little over 6 volts. all 4 batts are about 4-5 years old but they were HD marine batts at $125 each.......was hoping to get a little more life out of them......for cost considerations, I might go with 2 good marine 12v batts for my house power.........thanks for the responses.....

[randyp]

Now I know I'm gonna go against all the big buck purists here but I use 3 Walmart MAXX 29 deep cycle batteries (group 29 12 volt) with 125 amp hour each. I hook up 2 together for a house bank and one for my single engine. They used to cost about $65 each and are now closer to $80. I replace them every 4-6 years, but I really don't know how long they'd last.

[ready123]

all 4 batts are about 4-5 years old but they were HD marine batts at $125 each.......was hoping to get a little more life out of them......for cost considerations, I might go with 2 good marine 12v batts for my house power.........

4 yrs is pretty good life for marine batteries that are going through multiple charge cycles.

I went with one large Lifeline AGM battery for my house battery, going on 3 years now and I leave it in the boat, outside covered storage, cold winters, disconnected all winter and it is still at full Voltage when I hook it up in the spring.
Size 4DL 210 Amphrs @ 20 Hr rate http://www.lifelinebatteries.com/marinedeepcycle.php

[jddens]

Randy P, what do you run off your batts when on the hook and how long can you run them with those batts? I have a small refer, occasional Micro wave use and LCD TV and lights.........think those two group 29's would do me for a weekend?......I also have a 120 amp alternator on the port engine for charging if necessary......no generator......thanks.........John

[Paul - SW Ontario]

Hey guys...

not sure if anyone has seen this links...

can be pretty helpful when calculating power needs and battery choice.

http://www.boundlessoutfitters.com/Batt ... -s/129.htm

http://www.supercircuits.com/resources/ ... -Converter



Paul

[jddens]

Update.....I have removed my 4 6volt batts and replaced with 2 group 29 12volt batts. Based on the size and weight of the 6 volts batts I am losing some amp hrs......didn't have the bucks right now to go the 6 volt route as it would be about 3X the 12volt cost......I'm hoping the 12's will work for a couple nights on the hook with a small refer and LCD TV. I'll find out in the spring.............thanks for the input.........John

[wowzer52]

I have two group 29 house batteries and have stayed three days and didn't have a problem. But I go to bed just after dark. If I ever feel the need for charge while at anchor I fire up one engine for a short time to charge the house batteries. Also, my engine starting batteries are seperate.

[jddens]

Thanks wowzer52......that's exactly what I'm hoping for, 3 days and two night on the hook. I have a 120 amp alternator on the port motor if I need to recharge while on the hook. The 2-12's weight 1/2 what the 4-6's did so I'm sure I'm losing considerable amp hrs, just didn't want to drop the $$$ right now on 6's and if these work out I won't have to.........

[g36]

although i love my 6 volt batteries i still changed all my interior lighting to led. even added some mood lighting that i dont worry about leaving on for a while you will be suprised at how much this will save in amps and you dont have to be so conservative with turning on a light. the anchor light since there is 2 on my f32 to make a 360 white light were the first to be changed. i do like the tv and i do also run 2 fridges so i dont wnt to worry and with my setup i'm good. to each his own.

[jddens]

G36....can you get led's that fit in the standard original light fixtures? Mine are about 6" round with a toggle switch on the side........I changes some outside xmas lights at home this year to LED and was amazed at the diff, the old ones said don't string more the 3 strings together and the LED said up to 48 string together..........WOW....for some reason I hadn't thought about LED's on the boat.............now if only I could get an LED refer.................

[Paul - SW Ontario]

G36....can you get led's that fit in the standard original light fixtures? Mine are about 6" round with a toggle switch on the side........I changes some outside xmas lights at home this year to LED and was amazed at the diff, the old ones said don't string more the 3 strings together and the LED said up to 48 string together..........WOW....for some reason I hadn't thought about LED's on the boat.............now if only I could get an LED refer.................

Here is a link to the LED strip lighting I have on my boat.

Mounted under all the valances, in the cabin ...and in the cockpit.

Beautiful at night for entertaining.

http://www.ledlightsworld.com/smd-3528- ... -p-90.html

The link to my pics of them:

http://s658.photobucket.com/albums/uu301/F26_Express/



Paul

[g36]

i'm not sure what the standard original light fixtures were but if you are talking a medium screw base like at home here is a link to to some just make sure what voltage you are running the fixture from 12vdc or 120ac. cost to purchase will be more for led but power usage makes up for it for me.

http://www.theledlight.com/12volt-led-bulb.html
or
http://www.superbrightleds.com/cgi-bin/ ... globe.html

if this base is not what you are looking for just poke around on this website some more and i m sure you will find more that would work. i found some warm not cool white led 12v rope light and installed them around my cabin and cockpit for mood and indirect lighting and it works great, also put under my cabinets in the galley after my counter remodel looks very nice. i dont want to have to be so concerned about using stuff while anchored so these leds work well for the lighting