I need to replace the original batteries in my H320 2001 model. Do I need marine or will car batteries work too? Any additional info. helpful
New Batteries
- Thread starter Skipper21516
- Start date
- Status
Batteries
The experts (I'm not one of them) state that marine batteries are built with heavier plates (assuming you are buying flooded wet cell batteries) and so will outlast a car battery. Lots of stuff in the archives and on the web pro and con if you want to search for it. I use "maintenance free" wet cell marine batteries, in the $70-90 price range (about the same as car batteries), and get good service out of them. Since I don't use my engine that much, I keep them up with a solar panel. I think the key to battery life/longevity is making sure they never get discharged beyond say 75% or so.
The experts (I'm not one of them) state that marine batteries are built with heavier plates (assuming you are buying flooded wet cell batteries) and so will outlast a car battery. Lots of stuff in the archives and on the web pro and con if you want to search for it. I use "maintenance free" wet cell marine batteries, in the $70-90 price range (about the same as car batteries), and get good service out of them. Since I don't use my engine that much, I keep them up with a solar panel. I think the key to battery life/longevity is making sure they never get discharged beyond say 75% or so.
Good time to make a decision.
Skipper: This is an excellent time to make a decision. Do you want to do this every 2-4 years? Are you diligent at battery maintenance? Do you have a proper 3 or 4 stage charger that will charge other battery types? What are your current and planned energy requirements? If you just want a couple of batteries to get you by, I suggest that you purchase deep cycle batteries from Wal-Mart or Costco and plan on replacing them every two years or so. If you have refrigeration or other high energy drains on your system, then you may want to consider a larger bank of 6 volts and a single starting battery. If you are NOT diligent with your maintenance and want something totally maintenance free you can look at AGM or GEL batteries. These batteries can easily give you 8-10 years of service life if properly charged. Some of the higher quality flooded 6V batteries can also achieve this type of battery life, but will still require propper hydration on a regular basis. Be sure to use distilled water (per your manufacturers recommendation) and do not let your batteries discharge on a regular basis. Regardless, you need a top quality charger to maintain propper charging. I would recommend as Warren suggested that you review the archives for a lot of advise.
Skipper: This is an excellent time to make a decision. Do you want to do this every 2-4 years? Are you diligent at battery maintenance? Do you have a proper 3 or 4 stage charger that will charge other battery types? What are your current and planned energy requirements? If you just want a couple of batteries to get you by, I suggest that you purchase deep cycle batteries from Wal-Mart or Costco and plan on replacing them every two years or so. If you have refrigeration or other high energy drains on your system, then you may want to consider a larger bank of 6 volts and a single starting battery. If you are NOT diligent with your maintenance and want something totally maintenance free you can look at AGM or GEL batteries. These batteries can easily give you 8-10 years of service life if properly charged. Some of the higher quality flooded 6V batteries can also achieve this type of battery life, but will still require propper hydration on a regular basis. Be sure to use distilled water (per your manufacturers recommendation) and do not let your batteries discharge on a regular basis. Regardless, you need a top quality charger to maintain propper charging. I would recommend as Warren suggested that you review the archives for a lot of advise.
Not starting - but deep cycle
The big difference is in the amp hours. Car batteries are starting only. High cranking amps, but usually low amp-hours. On a boat you want some of both. Cranking amps depends on engine, but a 2 or 3 cyl diesel in a sailboat doesn't need much in the way of cranking amps. (The big marine starting batteries you see at WestMarine are for big marine diesels found in big motor yachts) I have 1 starting battery, and house bank made up of 6-volt golf car batteries. (2 6-volts in series makes 1 12 volt. Add voltage, not amp hours in series. For more amp hours, run in parallel. Parallel you add amp-hours, not voltage.) The golf car batteries make good sense. They are cheap. (2 golf car batteries are about equal to 1 deep cycle 8D battery, but are much cheaper) Also, an 8D weighs about 150 pounds, while a 6volt weighs in at about 65. Easier for me to move. (I can't move an 8D, can barely move a 4D) I have Trojan T-105's. Very good batteries. The 6 volts available from SAM's Club are a bit cheaper, but a bit fewer amp-hours too. Figure out how many amp hours you use in a day. And how many days you want to go between charging. Then figure out how many amp hours you need (see WM catalog or others for a description of battery size vs. power requirements.) If you go with 12 volt batteries, you also need to decide between flooded, Gel Cell, and AGM batteries. Depends on where you will install and how often you will add water. (never in the case of gel or AGM) Be aware that larger battery banks need bigger alternators, chargers, etc. So there is such a thing as too much.
The big difference is in the amp hours. Car batteries are starting only. High cranking amps, but usually low amp-hours. On a boat you want some of both. Cranking amps depends on engine, but a 2 or 3 cyl diesel in a sailboat doesn't need much in the way of cranking amps. (The big marine starting batteries you see at WestMarine are for big marine diesels found in big motor yachts) I have 1 starting battery, and house bank made up of 6-volt golf car batteries. (2 6-volts in series makes 1 12 volt. Add voltage, not amp hours in series. For more amp hours, run in parallel. Parallel you add amp-hours, not voltage.) The golf car batteries make good sense. They are cheap. (2 golf car batteries are about equal to 1 deep cycle 8D battery, but are much cheaper) Also, an 8D weighs about 150 pounds, while a 6volt weighs in at about 65. Easier for me to move. (I can't move an 8D, can barely move a 4D) I have Trojan T-105's. Very good batteries. The 6 volts available from SAM's Club are a bit cheaper, but a bit fewer amp-hours too. Figure out how many amp hours you use in a day. And how many days you want to go between charging. Then figure out how many amp hours you need (see WM catalog or others for a description of battery size vs. power requirements.) If you go with 12 volt batteries, you also need to decide between flooded, Gel Cell, and AGM batteries. Depends on where you will install and how often you will add water. (never in the case of gel or AGM) Be aware that larger battery banks need bigger alternators, chargers, etc. So there is such a thing as too much.
Wal Mart
I purchased my wet cell deep cycle marine house batteries from Wal Mart. Great price. What helps most is the new Zantrex charger I installed. I can now leave my charger on, its also internally isolated. I have not had to top off the batteries all summer. When I get the the boat I know they are fully charged. I also invested in a Battery load tester (e-bay for $15.00). It is essentally a big resisitor and volt meter. The only good way to check battery state, other than a hydrometer (which I also have and recommend) is to test the battery voltage under load. After 20 seconds of pulling 100 amps the voltage should remain strong. At first sign of a problem replace the battery. My wet cells are now two years old and going strong. I used to cook my batteries with the old stock charger provided by Hunter. Never again.
I purchased my wet cell deep cycle marine house batteries from Wal Mart. Great price. What helps most is the new Zantrex charger I installed. I can now leave my charger on, its also internally isolated. I have not had to top off the batteries all summer. When I get the the boat I know they are fully charged. I also invested in a Battery load tester (e-bay for $15.00). It is essentally a big resisitor and volt meter. The only good way to check battery state, other than a hydrometer (which I also have and recommend) is to test the battery voltage under load. After 20 seconds of pulling 100 amps the voltage should remain strong. At first sign of a problem replace the battery. My wet cells are now two years old and going strong. I used to cook my batteries with the old stock charger provided by Hunter. Never again.
- Status