I have my first "big boat" a Cat 27 outboard. I just launched about two weeks ago in lake erie. I am conserned about my battery. I have an electric start 9.9 engine and the typical lights. Also I have a 110 shorepower (haven't plugged it in yet) My question is how do most people keep it charged. I have seen: *Solor panels (about $40, boat us) *110v trickle charge units forwinterstorage, that people mount in there boats.(Ihave on in basement) *small marine chargers ($60-300) My goal is not to kill a new battery but to save it cost effectively. Thanks Skip "Kid Napper"
- Status
- Not open for further replies.
L
Larry
Batteries hold charge..
A simple trickle charger could keep your battery up to its full potential. They can hold a charge, as long as nothing is draining the charge for several hours. The lead plates in the battery hold the electrons until they are called for. Unfortunately, rough treatment of the battery could jolt the plates and cause an internal "short", and decrease the life of the charge. The specific gravity of the acid in the battery has to be at the correct level also. The solar chargers look like a good idea, as long as they don't get in the way--since they have to be out in the open, right in the cockpit with your passengers. Handling the charger could damage it to, since most conventional chargers are silently doing their job without constant "aiming" or taking in and out of the work area. On board chargers should be monitored. A battery by inself usually stays out of trouble, by just losing its charge if something goes wrong. Couple a battery with a charger, and heat builds--problems can come--and "you've got a bomb". You needs may be diffent than mine, but I just expect my battery to last at least 3 or 4 days of heavy service before I have to take it out for a charge.
A simple trickle charger could keep your battery up to its full potential. They can hold a charge, as long as nothing is draining the charge for several hours. The lead plates in the battery hold the electrons until they are called for. Unfortunately, rough treatment of the battery could jolt the plates and cause an internal "short", and decrease the life of the charge. The specific gravity of the acid in the battery has to be at the correct level also. The solar chargers look like a good idea, as long as they don't get in the way--since they have to be out in the open, right in the cockpit with your passengers. Handling the charger could damage it to, since most conventional chargers are silently doing their job without constant "aiming" or taking in and out of the work area. On board chargers should be monitored. A battery by inself usually stays out of trouble, by just losing its charge if something goes wrong. Couple a battery with a charger, and heat builds--problems can come--and "you've got a bomb". You needs may be diffent than mine, but I just expect my battery to last at least 3 or 4 days of heavy service before I have to take it out for a charge.
E
Eric
Not quite true.
All batteries have a self-discharge rate. While this is fairly small, a battery will eventually "go dead" even if no load is placed upon it. This is why manufacturers suggest that you remove the battery from the boat and place in on a trickle-charger at the end of the season. The best advise that I can give is to read the "West Advisors" from West Marine. I have included the URL for them. Go to the "Electrical" section and you will see a number of articles regarding battery care.
All batteries have a self-discharge rate. While this is fairly small, a battery will eventually "go dead" even if no load is placed upon it. This is why manufacturers suggest that you remove the battery from the boat and place in on a trickle-charger at the end of the season. The best advise that I can give is to read the "West Advisors" from West Marine. I have included the URL for them. Go to the "Electrical" section and you will see a number of articles regarding battery care.
R
Rob Rich
2nd Battery
Skip, congratulations on getting your belly back in the Lake. I am jealous, as Lake Erie is a fantastic lake for sailing. My surveyor mentioned that no matter what you do to your battery (with the exception of neglect) it will eventually lose its ability to take a charge after three or four years. You will then need to replace it. He worked for C&C yachts in production, so I value his opinion. You can spend a ton of money on a hot-dog charger, but I feel that's kind of a waste. I would check West's site, like Eric mentioned, and find an intermediate charger that fits your budget and use profile (definitely one with auto shut-off, so you can turn it on and walk away). While you are at it, I would add another battery. If your C-27 is like mine, you have ample room in the port cockpit storage locker, or under the port settee. I have a battery in each location, one for starting and the other for house electrical. That way, you can run the house battery down as far as you need to, and still have a strong battery left to fire the engine when one of those famous squall lines appears over the Canadian shore. To me, the peace of mind is worth it. Best of Luck Godspeed the ice our of your lake. Rob
Skip, congratulations on getting your belly back in the Lake. I am jealous, as Lake Erie is a fantastic lake for sailing. My surveyor mentioned that no matter what you do to your battery (with the exception of neglect) it will eventually lose its ability to take a charge after three or four years. You will then need to replace it. He worked for C&C yachts in production, so I value his opinion. You can spend a ton of money on a hot-dog charger, but I feel that's kind of a waste. I would check West's site, like Eric mentioned, and find an intermediate charger that fits your budget and use profile (definitely one with auto shut-off, so you can turn it on and walk away). While you are at it, I would add another battery. If your C-27 is like mine, you have ample room in the port cockpit storage locker, or under the port settee. I have a battery in each location, one for starting and the other for house electrical. That way, you can run the house battery down as far as you need to, and still have a strong battery left to fire the engine when one of those famous squall lines appears over the Canadian shore. To me, the peace of mind is worth it. Best of Luck Godspeed the ice our of your lake. Rob
J
Jay Beery
I'm trying solar
Skip, I'm in the same boat so to speak. I have a cantakerous pull start outboard so I don't have the big power drain you do, but I'm trying a small inexpensive solar battery maintainer to keep my lights and radio working. I pay way too much money for a slip that has no water or power. So I don't have much choice except to take the battery home every week. But so far, so good.... Jay
Skip, I'm in the same boat so to speak. I have a cantakerous pull start outboard so I don't have the big power drain you do, but I'm trying a small inexpensive solar battery maintainer to keep my lights and radio working. I pay way too much money for a slip that has no water or power. So I don't have much choice except to take the battery home every week. But so far, so good.... Jay
G
Gary Bridi
SOLAR
I installed a solar panel last year-I mounted it on the split baclstay of my H23 (1992). It is the best $100 I ever spent. I keep the CD player or radio on all the time and the battery is always topped off. Charging with an alternator requires use of the outboard and I only use my motor to get out of the slip and away from the dock. Gary Bridi
I installed a solar panel last year-I mounted it on the split baclstay of my H23 (1992). It is the best $100 I ever spent. I keep the CD player or radio on all the time and the battery is always topped off. Charging with an alternator requires use of the outboard and I only use my motor to get out of the slip and away from the dock. Gary Bridi
Solar too
I have a 10W Unisolar panel, which hangs over the main hatch boards in the cockpit and does its thing while I'm away. The battery is always charged when I show up. I also watch my power usage to make sure that I don't draw the battery down past 50% of its rated capacity. Whenever I use a lot of power I take the battery home afterwards and put it on the charger. Batteries deteriorateif left depleted for too long. If you regularly use a lot of power, consider a larger panel (30W minimum) and a voltage regulator. Good luck! Peter H23 "Raven"
I have a 10W Unisolar panel, which hangs over the main hatch boards in the cockpit and does its thing while I'm away. The battery is always charged when I show up. I also watch my power usage to make sure that I don't draw the battery down past 50% of its rated capacity. Whenever I use a lot of power I take the battery home afterwards and put it on the charger. Batteries deteriorateif left depleted for too long. If you regularly use a lot of power, consider a larger panel (30W minimum) and a voltage regulator. Good luck! Peter H23 "Raven"
- Status
- Not open for further replies.