I have searched and read many posts here about batteries for the Catalina 310. I now know just enough to ask a few questions. Thanks in advance for your comments.
The previous owner installed 2 4D AGM batteries appx 6 years ago. They have performed trouble free until recently when I noticed sulphur odor, heat in battery area, and now they won't hold charge. I have a C-Charger model 5000, 20 amp, 3 bank charger (but I noticed in the manual it is recommended for flood or gel batteries. I called the charger company and the tech support guy said it should be ok to use with AGM batteries. So it is time to buy batteries I guess. Would you:
a. Replace with new AGM 4D batteries (same set-up we have been using)?
b. Go to flood or gel style since the charger manual says it is not for use with AGM?
c. Follow lead of other posts who have replaced 2 4D 12 volt batteries with 4 6 volt batteries and a 5th battery for starting... Not sure I understand how to wire them or use the battery selector switch (1/2/BOTH/OFF) with position 1 as the 4 6 volts (house) and position 2 as the starting battery. I like this idea as I vaguely understand it.
The previous owner installed 2 4D AGM batteries appx 6 years ago. They have performed trouble free until recently when I noticed sulphur odor, heat in battery area, and now they won't hold charge. I have a C-Charger model 5000, 20 amp, 3 bank charger (but I noticed in the manual it is recommended for flood or gel batteries. I called the charger company and the tech support guy said it should be ok to use with AGM batteries. So it is time to buy batteries I guess. Would you:
a. Replace with new AGM 4D batteries (same set-up we have been using)?
b. Go to flood or gel style since the charger manual says it is not for use with AGM?
c. Follow lead of other posts who have replaced 2 4D 12 volt batteries with 4 6 volt batteries and a 5th battery for starting... Not sure I understand how to wire them or use the battery selector switch (1/2/BOTH/OFF) with position 1 as the 4 6 volts (house) and position 2 as the starting battery. I like this idea as I vaguely understand it.