Battery gassing.....

[NYSail]

hello all

So my lifeline agm 4ds are on their last leg. Probably 7 years old and p/o who has them for 5 didn’t really treat them so well. So for next season I am getting new. I have a few options here. 1) replace with identical for about $1,100, 2)?replace 4ds with flooded for probably half the price, or 3) go with flooded 6v. I like the idea of 6v due to the lighter weight but with the flooded I worry about gassing as my batteries are in engine compartment where I have charger and acr as well as obviously the engine. I have a large compartment with blower exhaust when engine is running. Boat stays plugged in during week.... on hook weekends. Charging now consists of 150 balmar alt and will be adding 200w of solar over winter.
Thanks for advise!

Greg

 

[Gunni]

I swapped out my 2 flooded 4Ds for 4 group 31 Lifeline. Picked about 25% more Ahs in the change. Got my battery out of the engine compartment at the same time. I didn’t like the heat stress situation AND the FLA battery acid mist was corroding some very important electrical connections in the engine bay. I took a systems approach and upgraded my charger to a MasterVolt 100amp charger to take better care of the AGMs, it has a temp sensor and settings for AGM.

 

[Don S/V ILLusion]

Having batteries and even worse, the charger co-located in the engine compartment is the fundamental problem. I'd fix that and not worry about battery gassing which becomes a problem only when not properly charging.

 

[thinwater]

7 years, no corrosion obvious.

I could say a lot of things about battery types, standards, and best practices, but I'm not going to. You've gotten good service and simply doing the same thing again might be smart. Perhaps things could have been done differently, but I wouldn't lose 20 seconds of sleep over it.

Drop in new ones and go sailing.

 

[NYSail]

7 years, no corrosion obvious.

I could say a lot of things about battery types, standards, and best practices, but I'm not going to. You've gotten good service and simply doing the same thing again might be smart. Perhaps things could have been done differently, but I wouldn't lose 20 seconds of sleep over it.

Drop in new ones and go sailing.

7 years no corrosion with the current 4d agms........... would like to switch to 6v for movability.

 

[NYSail]

Having batteries and even worse, the charger co-located in the engine compartment is the fundamental problem. I'd fix that and not worry about battery gassing which becomes a problem only when not properly charging.

Yea Beneteau did some funny things.... with the charger obviously it is never used when engine is hot so do you think it’s still an issue being in there?

 

[NYSail]

I swapped out my 2 flooded 4Ds for 4 group 31 Lifeline. Picked about 25% more Ahs in the change. Got my battery out of the engine compartment at the same time. I didn’t like the heat stress situation AND the FLA battery acid mist was corroding some very important electrical connections in the engine bay. I took a systems approach and upgraded my charger to a MasterVolt 100amp charger to take better care of the AGMs, it has a temp sensor and settings for AGM.

I also like this idea..... however have limited space in immediate area. What is the maximum distance from engine/alt can house bank be...... I am sure it’s a factor of wire size but is there any other issues as I do have a potential place about 12 feet aft of engine.
Thanks

 

[dlochner]

I also like this idea..... however have limited space in immediate area. What is the maximum distance from engine/alt can house bank be...... I am sure it’s a factor of wire size but is there any other issues as I do have a potential place about 12 feet aft of engine.
Thanks

Mostly it is about cable size and then accessibility. Take a good look at the ampacity charts, if in doubt go to the next size larger.

 

[Gunni]

You may have the ability to place all batteries in the designated battery tray. Good deal, I did not. The 411 tray holds one 4D. My other batt was aft in the starboard laz. You don’t want anymore weight aft, and you don’t want to split the house battery into hot and cool locations. Closer to the keel sump is best. Correct wiring size will make whatever location work.