Deep cycle or combination batteries for battery bank

[Loose Ends]

What kind of batteries should I have in my battery bank on my Catalina 27?
The PO had one deep cycle and one starter battery. I have had one starter and 1 combination (deep cycle/starter) on the boat for the last 7 years and they have given me pretty good service. (I do keep them charged at the dock by a solar panel and I equalize them every winter when I remove them for storage. I also keep them on a zantrex charger over the winter)
It seems that as the season progresses, I need both batteries to start the diesel. I understand that it is colder and it takes more juice to get the diesel kicking over when it is cold out.
I just wonder if I have been using the correct combination of batteries all along, or if there is a better choice.
I use group 27 batteries.
Thanks in advance.

 

[Benny17441]

A deep cycle battery can easily start the small auxiliary diesel engine. I would install dual deep cycle batteries than can pull double duty.

 

[Bill Roosa]

If you consider that when the admiral runs the 1000 watt hair dryer it draws 120ish amps via the inverter from the banks for something like 5 minutes!!!!!! That is like cranking the motor for 5 minutes with out a break. Deep cycle can handle small engines easily.

 

[Maine Sail]

Deep cycle....

 

[Loose Ends]

So 2 deep cycle then?

 

[Maine Sail]

So 2 deep cycle then?

Yes..

 

[Loose Ends]

Thanks Main

Is there anything different I need to do charge wise with the deep cycle batts?
My run from the slip to the bay takes about 40 minutes, this is where most of my charging gets done. So a typical day gives me about 90 minutes of charging. I normally only get to the boat 1 or 2 times per month. Will that be sufficient to keep the batteries up between sails?

 

[Chesapeake Bob]

Maine Sail, would it be OK to use a group 24 and a group 27 (as this is what I have room for), both deep cycles, for a Universal M18 engine?

 

[weinie]

Loose,
I also have a catalina 27. I bought two Everstart Maxx group 24 deep cycle batteries at walmart for less about $85 each. Each one has a 93 ah capacity. I have them in parallel for a total of 186 ah for my house bank. These batteries are maintenance free flooded batteries. They are sealed and do not require topping off with distilled water.

I use a regular group 24 starting battery for my reserve. I secured it to the "shelf" in the same compartment just port of the factory battery safe with some tie down straps.

I use a yandina combiner to keep the reserve battery topped off whenever the house battery gets a charge.

Group 27 or larger won't fit in the battery cutouts on the floor.

I'm sure Mainesail will not advise combining different batteries in the same bank.

 

[Loose Ends]

Thanks for the info on the Wally batt's. Do you know who manufactured them?
I guess I will give it a go with 2 deep cycle batteries this season since I think it is time for replacement anyway. I just hope that my charging habits work as well for the deep cycles as they have for the combination ones.

 

[weinie]

http://www.walmart.com/ip/EverStart-Maxx-Group-Size-24-Marine-Battery/20531538

 

[alexco38]

I have the same setup as Weinie.

Uses a Echocharger and a Blueseas dual switch. I understand Blueseas bundled a switch and a ACR in a package now. Best deal.

You should be able to start a small diesel with 1 battery. My dedicated starter battery is Wally 24 starter battery and the 2 house bank in parallel (with a fuse in between) are Wally 24 deep cycle providing 240ah.

Echocharger always charge the house first, feeding 15A to the starter battery.

Had this setup since 2007. Just replaced the batteries after 6 years for precaution.

 

[alexco38]

Furthermore, if you don't isolate the starter from the house, when you start the engine with instrument on the auto-pilot goes crazy and the GPS goes nuts. The surge is not good for electronics.

 

[woodster]

Furthermore, if you don't isolate the starter from the house, when you start the engine with instrument on the auto-pilot goes crazy and the GPS goes nuts. The surge is not good for electronics.

couldnt you put a diode on the postive side of the instrument wire to stop the back flow from starting on the hose bank ....not to hijack the thread here just wondering ....

regards

woody

 

[zeehag]

put your instruments on a breaker for them selves. simple.

 

[woodster]

put your instruments on a breaker for them selves. simple.

thats a great idea Zee......i have that feature on my boat now...but not sure about others....you one smart cookie and i bet you can even use a hack saw...wbtw will be one of my requirements for 1st mate on my boat lol.....

regards

woody

 

[weinie]

thats a great idea Zee......i have that feature on my boat now...but not sure about others....you one smart cookie and i bet you can even use a hack saw...wbtw will be one of my requirements for 1st mate on my boat lol.....

regards

woody

how would that help? You would have to turn off the breaker to isolate the electronics, which would shut them off!

 

[zeehag]

breakers for instruments and breakers for lights and breakers for other items you wish isolated are easy. when not in use, breaker is OFF when in use, breaker is ON....same with nav lights and certain bilge pumps.

woody--in a heartbeat! i used to fix my own boltwagens and opel gt and such. i couldnt do the buick..it was a gs 455 stage I, 1970...... i could only time n tune that...besides regular stuff guys do and females forget about thus causing a destruction of wondrous toy.

 

[alexco38]

Ok with breakers too. But...

Lets say you are doing a distance / overnight trip nicely on auto-pilot. The batteries are running low. Got to start the engine to put some juice back into the battery.

Turn on the key all of a sudden the auto-pilot turned 180 degrees, all hell broke loose. Darn it, forgot to turn off the circuit breaker which is inside the cabin near the frontend of the boat. Old crap.

A diode won't work because is not the a surge blocker. The voltage drop down when cranking and go up when the engine starts.

Another senerio: the battery is running low, turn the key nothing happen but the auto-pilot and GPS both shut down. O crap. Got to leave the helm to switch the battery switch. But the wind was blowing, had to secure the wheel and hope the boat won't swing around while you are down below.

By that time, you'll say $100 is well spend to isolate the starter and house battery.

 

[zeehag]

i keep mine on ALL all the time. i have no problem, but then i have a hydraulic autopilot an d true big boat systems. easy peasy. no problem in starting engine with batteries in both banks open. who said you will suffer your electronics by turning on engine with them running???
we do that all the time without problem.
neither my nav lites nor my electronics blink when i start engine while underway in darkness. as it should be. perhaps you have a problem with your ground, if you are experiencing electronic and electrical difficulties on starting of engine with equipment on.
and, if you have yet to try it, perhaps you have been listening to the wrong souls.
yes i am out here full time permanent. cruising. no problem. i start my engine all the time with both banks operational. i also charge my batts that way. no problem.
no i did not add anything extra. that is unnecessary.
i have breakers at panel and i have power switches on all equipment so needing, as these items come with, nada mas. is all that is necessary.


hahahahaha..just re read your post...
BUY NEW BATTERIES. 7 years is OLD.
how many volts in each now, only 9??? 10???? your batteries at 7 battery years are saame as 120 people years,ok?? if you were 120 could you start an engine??
BUY NEW.