On my H 23, what is a good battery to have. I've noticed many different amperages, CCA etc available. Other than getting the largest battery possible. Which should I get for some radio playing and steaming lights. My outboard is pull start. I will probably at most do a couple of days w/o charging. TIA.
Battery question
- Thread starter peptobysmol
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The best choice is a gel cell battery. It can be stored in any position without leaking. It can take a full discharge and recover. It will not freeze. It maintains voltage for a longer time than lead acid.
The down side is it costs more, but given a longer life expectancy it is the more economical choice.
The down side is it costs more, but given a longer life expectancy it is the more economical choice.
Thanks! Now that leads to my follow-up question. How many amp trickle recharger would you recommend and what features do you need to have and can get away without having?
[FONT="]The choice of battery chemistry is somewhat dependent on how you plan to charge it.[/FONT][FONT="]For this reason, Gels may not be your best choice. In any case, a trickle charger is intended as a "maintenance" charger, not to recharge which means you should consider a real charger regardless of which type battery you choose. The following may help you make the right decision:
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Flooded Lead Acid (FLA)[/FONT][FONT="]
These have plates submerged in an liquid electrolyte of sulfuric acid.
Advantages: They tend to be the lowest cost/Ahr, or stated a different way, “the best bang for your buck” type battery. A little more robust at being badly treated in regards to charging, thus less expensive charging methods can be used. They tend to be the better at deep discharge duty and tend to have the highest number of discharge cycle rates, providing the 50% minimum cycle rule is employed.
Disadvantages:
These require regular inspection to assure the battery is topped off, so as the plates do not dry out. They can spill acid and thus can only be installed upright. They can be more quickly damaged if left discharged. They are not as robust in regards to vibration as Gell and AGM . They have a higher discharge rate and require constant maintenance charging to keep them in good condition.
Gel Cell
The plates of these batteries are submerged in a thick Gel type paste of sulfuric acid.
Advantages:
They have the advantage of being able to be placed in any orientation, having no liquid that can leak out. They are also very good at withstanding high vibration environments. If charged correctly, they do not vent much in the way of gas. This also means that some of these batteries can come totally sealed, or at the very least, have a relief vent in case of pressure build up.
They have a very low self-discharge rate.
Disadvantages:
More expensive than FLA. As the Gel dilutes the acid, the battery has to be made in a way that makes it larger and heavier. So although these batteries are bulkier, don't let that fool you into thinking it is more powerful. The electrolyte cannot be replaced, although in saying that, it should never need to be. It requires special charging needs and can be damaged or even become dangerous if charged over 14.2V. Thus unregulated chargers should not be used.
Can require a special charger to bring them up out of a very deep discharge.
AGM
These have a glass mat with the acid absorbed into it, sandwiched between the plates.
Advantages:
These are also considered “maintenance free”, having no user replaceable electrolyte. Thus they can also be installed in a variety of angles, but not upside down. They do have the distinct advantage of being able to be used for both starting and deep cycle duties, although once again a compromise and most likely at the detriment of their over all life span. However, they are also made in all three specialized types as start, deep cycle and dual, which. Good shock resistance and very low gas release when charged properly. They have a very low self-discharge rate.
Disadvantages:
These tend to be the most expensive batteries. They also tend to be the heaviest/Ahr. Once again, you cannot replace electrolyte, but also once again, you should never need too.
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Flooded Lead Acid (FLA)[/FONT][FONT="]
These have plates submerged in an liquid electrolyte of sulfuric acid.
Advantages: They tend to be the lowest cost/Ahr, or stated a different way, “the best bang for your buck” type battery. A little more robust at being badly treated in regards to charging, thus less expensive charging methods can be used. They tend to be the better at deep discharge duty and tend to have the highest number of discharge cycle rates, providing the 50% minimum cycle rule is employed.
Disadvantages:
These require regular inspection to assure the battery is topped off, so as the plates do not dry out. They can spill acid and thus can only be installed upright. They can be more quickly damaged if left discharged. They are not as robust in regards to vibration as Gell and AGM . They have a higher discharge rate and require constant maintenance charging to keep them in good condition.
Gel Cell
The plates of these batteries are submerged in a thick Gel type paste of sulfuric acid.
Advantages:
They have the advantage of being able to be placed in any orientation, having no liquid that can leak out. They are also very good at withstanding high vibration environments. If charged correctly, they do not vent much in the way of gas. This also means that some of these batteries can come totally sealed, or at the very least, have a relief vent in case of pressure build up.
They have a very low self-discharge rate.
Disadvantages:
More expensive than FLA. As the Gel dilutes the acid, the battery has to be made in a way that makes it larger and heavier. So although these batteries are bulkier, don't let that fool you into thinking it is more powerful. The electrolyte cannot be replaced, although in saying that, it should never need to be. It requires special charging needs and can be damaged or even become dangerous if charged over 14.2V. Thus unregulated chargers should not be used.
Can require a special charger to bring them up out of a very deep discharge.
AGM
These have a glass mat with the acid absorbed into it, sandwiched between the plates.
Advantages:
These are also considered “maintenance free”, having no user replaceable electrolyte. Thus they can also be installed in a variety of angles, but not upside down. They do have the distinct advantage of being able to be used for both starting and deep cycle duties, although once again a compromise and most likely at the detriment of their over all life span. However, they are also made in all three specialized types as start, deep cycle and dual, which. Good shock resistance and very low gas release when charged properly. They have a very low self-discharge rate.
Disadvantages:
These tend to be the most expensive batteries. They also tend to be the heaviest/Ahr. Once again, you cannot replace electrolyte, but also once again, you should never need too.
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I would not recommend a GEL battery unles I knew beforehand that you had the need for extra capacity and the smart charger to recharge them. A Gel battery will run you around $200 and the chargers start at around $250.
Accordying to what you indicate of needing a battery for two day trips to operate music radio and navigation/anchor lights I would say that you should not exceed a usage of 30 amps for both days. A Lead Acid, group 27, Deep Cycle battery has a capacity of around 100 amps. In order to extend their life discharges in excess of 50% capacity are not recommended. That would render you around 50 amps of usable capacity which will exceed your posted needs between recharges. Lead Acid batteries are inexpensive, can we recharged by unsophisticated chargers and are widely available. I happen to like Interstate batteries. Vector offers a two stage 10 amp charger for around $25 and a battery should not set you back more than $80. We have a trailerable, Starwind 223, that we take all over the country and we have it set up with two, group 24, deep cycle lead acid and an inboard 3 cycle 10 amp Quest charger. This set up is more than adequate to run instruments, radio, fans and navigation lights. We mostly stay at marinas so we recharge daily and at the most every 2nd day. We chose two smaller batteries for weight distribution. On the h320 we do not worry much about capacity and recharging as we run a genset.
Accordying to what you indicate of needing a battery for two day trips to operate music radio and navigation/anchor lights I would say that you should not exceed a usage of 30 amps for both days. A Lead Acid, group 27, Deep Cycle battery has a capacity of around 100 amps. In order to extend their life discharges in excess of 50% capacity are not recommended. That would render you around 50 amps of usable capacity which will exceed your posted needs between recharges. Lead Acid batteries are inexpensive, can we recharged by unsophisticated chargers and are widely available. I happen to like Interstate batteries. Vector offers a two stage 10 amp charger for around $25 and a battery should not set you back more than $80. We have a trailerable, Starwind 223, that we take all over the country and we have it set up with two, group 24, deep cycle lead acid and an inboard 3 cycle 10 amp Quest charger. This set up is more than adequate to run instruments, radio, fans and navigation lights. We mostly stay at marinas so we recharge daily and at the most every 2nd day. We chose two smaller batteries for weight distribution. On the h320 we do not worry much about capacity and recharging as we run a genset.
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