Battery idea

[Franklin]

With all the different small batteries there are these days and the capability of them like a cellphone battery, wouldn't it make sense to start seperating the electrical grid on a boat? After all, it's hard to find places on a boat where bulky, heavy things, such as the current marine batteries, to store them. Yeah, it would make things a little more complicated...you would have many different batteries to keep track of, but...the distance the electricity has to travel is reduce, it's much easier to find a little room around the different electrical componenets then it is for a large heavy central location. The other benifit is that you can have spares for your important/critical electronics and you can spread out the $$$$. Wouldn't you rather buy a pack of AA batteries once a month then $800 every 5 years (you might not even have the boat in two months)?

 

[Capn Dave]

Well I can see at least one

problem Franklin. All of the rechargeable batteries take different charge rates. So for every battery you would need a charger. Now we have batteries all over the place and chargers. I can go on and on but I'll let others throw their replies.Fair WindsCap'n Dave

 

[Franklin]

chargers

if your going to go with recharables, there are universal recharers which of course, are a lot smaller then the 3 stage charger I have now.

 

[Ferg]

Interesting idea ....

Hiya Franklin! Not too bad of a plan. I have 2 main batteries and carry a spare when cruising. This year, I’m replacing my anchor light with a cluster of LED’s, the power consumption is so low I may use a motorcycle battery isolated from the rest of the system. As well, I have a jump in point for the spare battery and my radio, lightening protection be damned! I’m also considering putting the music machine on it’s own circuit and a separate battery with a 15W solar cell. I can see where your plan may be a pain, but there are advantages when things go wrong, and that’s when you really need an advantage!Later, eh!Ferg

 

[Fred Ficarra]

Franklin, $800.00???

What's in your battery, gold? And 5 years?I bought my last set of golf-carts six years ago in Trinidad. They have been used modestly since then. We have 4 of them equaling 450 amp hours, so they don't get pulled down too low before charging. And we run the engine twice a day while anchored because of the refrigeration and water maker. That means the batteries get charged. (3 stage regulator)But over the course of the winter, I was worried about battery life remaining . So a couple of days ago I took the boat out for an overnighter with the intension of 'testing' them. I ran the home theater and DVD system relentlessly and loud until midnight. Kept stuff on like some AC lighting. All was run off of the inverter. Draw shown on the inverter control panel averaged around 6 amps. The LectraSan drew over 40 for a few seconds. I ran the anchor light and the forced-air heater all night. When I woke the voltage remaining was 12.5. End of worries. I made coffee. Using the electric pot of course.Oh, my bank can be replaced for about $300.

 

[Franklin]

lifeline d27s * 4 = 800+

I either have to redo my interior or go with d27s to get 400 amps because of my battery comparement. Lifeline sells them that will fit for $211 a piece. I need 4.