423 battery configuration

[NYSail]

Hello all.....
So house batteries on my boat are 2 lifeline agm 4d's that according to po are 5/6 years old. I'm going to have them load tested this week but think they are nearing their time as they discharge rather quickly. I am plugged in during week and go on mooring Friday through Sunday. I just replaced starter battery with group 31 agm.
After reading mainsails discussions I would like to switch to possibly 6 volts for house and was wondering if anybody has done this or anything else to enhance the capacity/configuration? Solar is on the radar for me soon. Also anybody ever put a dedicated battery in bow for windlass / thruster?
Thanks!

 

[Maine Sail]

Really need LOT more info on this one...

Layout - Where are the batteries physically located? (picture)
Compartment design and size (specifically height - photo would help)
Is the battery compartment "acid proof"?
How far away from the windlass is the house bank?
What do you have for an alternator?
How do you use the boat?
Ho many amp hours are you consuming each day / 24 hours?
What gauge is the existing wiring?
Where is the over-current protection?
Have the Lifline's been equalized?
What battery charger do you have?
What brand & model windlass?

 

[NYSail]

Maine sail

-House batteries are located in the front of engine compartment. 20" wide, 15"+/- hieght rear, 9" height front.
-windlass is a lewmar H3 located about 20 feet away. Lewmar bow thruster in same location. Heavy wires leading to front of boat..... will get size.
-alt is a dumb 80 amp.
-over current protection I assume you mean fusing..... they are at the beneteau battery switches.
-I have not equalized batteries
-charger is truecharge 40+
-in regards to usage I run refrigerator, basic lights and stereo.... have not calculated actual amp hour usage.
-boat is plugged in Sunday night till Friday. Leave dock Friday and drop anchor/pick up mooring and stay until Sunday every weekend. Do2 long trip of 2.5 weeks every summer and am planning to do longer cruising in future.
Thanks for input!

 

[Gunni]

MaineSail will get you tuned in. If you keep your batteries in the engine-bay I would stay with AGM, FLA batteries vent corrosive gas and that area is filled with wiring, electrical devices and all those connections on the bulkhead above your engine.

 

[NYSail]

I agree with your thought on the agm verses flooded in there. There is a blower and exhaust fan in there to keep things cool while running....

 

[NYSail]

Must say I do hate the location of the house bank..... I am looking for an alternative, or to modify this area to protect from excessive heat; enclose/circulate fresh air which is possible based on existing ventilation and room.

 

[DougM]

They only good thing about the battery locations is that they are on the centerline of the hull or very close to it. Why Beneteau calls the battery forward of the engine the house battery, and the battery under the aft berth the engine battery is a mystery. It really doesn't mak a difference except when house stuff is directly connected to the designated engine battey.
Interestingly enough, the "heavy" electrical equipment installed on the boat when I got it was wired to the center positive post between the two batteries and the fuses are located adjacent.

 

[Gunni]

Must say I do hate the location of the house bank..... I am looking for an alternative, or to modify this area to protect from excessive heat; enclose/circulate fresh air which is possible based on existing ventilation and room.

I took out the inverter ( port saloon settee) and nested 500ah of agms there. Have a genset starboard aft quarter, balances perfectly.

 

[NYSail]

Interesting.... I was thinking the cockpit port settee would be where I could locate new house bank. Its only a few feet further than where they are now to the battery switches with good access and yes would balance the boat as I too have a generator at the starboard aft. What type batteries do you have? 6v? have you upgraded your alt and regulator? I still have the dumb 80 amp alt. Stayed up late reading Maine Sails posts on batteries and charging..... Have some changes to make in the basic design I guess.

 

[Gunni]

Lifeline AGM Group 31 x 4 in parallel.
MasterVolt 100/12-3 smart charger with temp compensation.
Balmar Series 6 150 Amp alternator, with serpentine belt upgrade.
Balmar 614 external charge controller.
MaineSail coached me on the alternator considerations and specification. Beyond that I hand these jobs off to an ABYC Electrician trade company who install and warranty the work. Interestingly the Balmar alt failed first trip out as I was singlehanding the boat. Found myself 40 miles down-Bay with smoke billowing from the engine bay. After sorting out the source I was able to sail the boat back in and motor to the dock on the fail-back low output that Balmar builds into their design. My tech tradesman and Balmar got things right and I am delighted with my ability to bulk charge at +100 amps.

 

[NYSail]

Sounds nice and what I need to upgrade to.... First need to find a good ABYC electrician around here. Wish I were close to MaineSail for projects like this.....

 

[Gunni]

Wish I were close to MaineSail for projects like this..

You bet. Absolute attention to detail, dogged, and smart as a whip! Guess we're lucky he decided to be a boat systems expert instead of a brain surgeon!

 

[Maine Sail]

Maine sail

-House batteries are located in the front of engine compartment. 20" wide, 15"+/- hieght rear, 9" height front.
-windlass is a lewmar H3 located about 20 feet away. Lewmar bow thruster in same location. Heavy wires leading to front of boat..... will get size.
-alt is a dumb 80 amp.
-over current protection I assume you mean fusing..... they are at the beneteau battery switches.
-I have not equalized batteries
-charger is truecharge 40+
-in regards to usage I run refrigerator, basic lights and stereo.... have not calculated actual amp hour usage.
-boat is plugged in Sunday night till Friday. Leave dock Friday and drop anchor/pick up mooring and stay until Sunday every weekend. Do2 long trip of 2.5 weeks every summer and am planning to do longer cruising in future.
Thanks for input!

Your charging system & battery location does not really warrant or justify spending money on AGM batteries.
Get them out of the engine bay, charge them at bare minimum of 85A, using a temp compensated charger and we can then discuss AGM's.

Your TC40 should be able to equalize your Lifelines. They need about 4+ hours temp compensated at 15.5V after being charged to 100% SOC first. See if this helps. What settings are you using on the TC40+??

 

[NYSail]

Thanks! Yes I think I have found a home for the batteries away from the heat in an aft lazarette. Going to do some measuring this weekend to see. The charger is set for agms / warm / bulk absorb float. I read in the manual after you Last mentioned equalizing them that the charger won't equalize agm's.... should a setting be changed to allow it to equalize? I do plan on getting a new alt.... I miss my 70 amp balmar and external regulator that I had on my old boat.... really would charge tha batteries and want to get a set-up to take care of what I now have.....
Again thanks!
Oh and btw..... recognize the boat? I have a weekend mooring and he is my neighbor...