I have been reading the recent posts as well as whatever else I can find about my need to change my batteries. Currently I have two group 24, fortunately (unfortunately) too new to trash, and a standard equipment alternator. I just added an Alder-Barbour Cold machine and a Raytheon 4000+ autopilot. And, since I added the autopilot so that I will not have to stand at the wheel all the time when under sail, I have a plan. My question, yes I really do have one, is will a few of you guys evaluate my plan? I think I have room for this, but I am in Virginia and my boat is in Florida, I will measure on Saturday and do the following if I have room. I am going to wire the two group 24 batteries in parallel as my starting battery. I know one would be fine, but I have two, so why not use it? I am going to purchase two, six volt golf cart batteries and wire them in series for the house. West has a plastic box that I think will fit into my lazarette for the golf cart batteries. I know that this will fill my starboard lazarette but I do not want to be running low on power and I want to do this as economically as possible. That is, I know I would be fine with one group 30 as a starting battery, but I already have the two group 24s. If they will fit, am I not correct to assume that two 24s are better than one? This is way too long, but thanks ahead for any response. I am going to do this on Saturday unless someone tells me I am viewing this incorrectly.
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Starting Battery
My starting battery results based on INexact science is that an automotive battery will crank the diesel faster than the typical deep cycle battery. The literature explains the difference but when I tried it with an old (6 or 7 years) and small automotive battery that came out of a Honda the results were surprising. The comparison was with a pair of fairly worn out Group 24s. Electrical experts tend to agree that connecting 12v batteries in parallel is not a good idea because the bad battery will drag down the good one, but with my old Group 24s this seemed to provide the best results so since your experience is similar to mine I'd tend to disregard the expert opinion and go parallel. If nothing else it'll kill them off sooner and you can get new ones! When it's time to replace the starting battery(ies) I'd recommend a non-maintenance free flooded batter to coordinate with the golf carts. This way, when the high capacity charger is putting out full capacity you don't have to worry about gas pressure buildup in the sealed battery. The golf carts are deep cycle also but for some reason they seem to crank faster than my old Group 24s also and after reflecting back on the possible reasons all I can think of is it probably has something to do with voltage. The Group 24s typically had a lower voltage than the golf carts had. There was one single thing that made starting better and that was replacing one of the cables, engine ground or start battery positive - don't remember which one, it must have had a problem somewhere with corrosion of bad crip in the lug. If you have a car battery available try using it for starting and see if it makes a difference.
My starting battery results based on INexact science is that an automotive battery will crank the diesel faster than the typical deep cycle battery. The literature explains the difference but when I tried it with an old (6 or 7 years) and small automotive battery that came out of a Honda the results were surprising. The comparison was with a pair of fairly worn out Group 24s. Electrical experts tend to agree that connecting 12v batteries in parallel is not a good idea because the bad battery will drag down the good one, but with my old Group 24s this seemed to provide the best results so since your experience is similar to mine I'd tend to disregard the expert opinion and go parallel. If nothing else it'll kill them off sooner and you can get new ones! When it's time to replace the starting battery(ies) I'd recommend a non-maintenance free flooded batter to coordinate with the golf carts. This way, when the high capacity charger is putting out full capacity you don't have to worry about gas pressure buildup in the sealed battery. The golf carts are deep cycle also but for some reason they seem to crank faster than my old Group 24s also and after reflecting back on the possible reasons all I can think of is it probably has something to do with voltage. The Group 24s typically had a lower voltage than the golf carts had. There was one single thing that made starting better and that was replacing one of the cables, engine ground or start battery positive - don't remember which one, it must have had a problem somewhere with corrosion of bad crip in the lug. If you have a car battery available try using it for starting and see if it makes a difference.
Sounds reasonable
I don't see much benefit to wiring the two 24s together. Assuming they are deep cycle batteries, I'd probably wire one of them in with the two golf cart batteries and use the other as a starting battery.
I don't see much benefit to wiring the two 24s together. Assuming they are deep cycle batteries, I'd probably wire one of them in with the two golf cart batteries and use the other as a starting battery.
OK, but
I do not see any advantage of using the two group 24's for starting, but if you think that is good then OK. What I see as a problem here is that if you leave your refridgeration on and it consumes your two golf cart batteries you will not have anything left for house keeping. The refer. units consume about 40-80 amps per day and you only can use about 50% of your battery bank. I would think that you need the two golf cart batteries just for the refer plus whatever you need for housekeeping.
I do not see any advantage of using the two group 24's for starting, but if you think that is good then OK. What I see as a problem here is that if you leave your refridgeration on and it consumes your two golf cart batteries you will not have anything left for house keeping. The refer. units consume about 40-80 amps per day and you only can use about 50% of your battery bank. I would think that you need the two golf cart batteries just for the refer plus whatever you need for housekeeping.
Agree with Steve
If you have a fridge, you might want to consider doubling your house battery bank capacity. The A/B sucks up those amps like a thirsty camel. But, otherwise, please tell us how sailing and life are like in the Punta Gorda area. We've all seen those real estate ads and would really appreciate a first person account.
If you have a fridge, you might want to consider doubling your house battery bank capacity. The A/B sucks up those amps like a thirsty camel. But, otherwise, please tell us how sailing and life are like in the Punta Gorda area. We've all seen those real estate ads and would really appreciate a first person account.
Punta Gorda is as good as they say
I live in Virginia and the Boat lives in Punta Gorda. If you have not sailed Charlotte Harbor then I would suggest that you give it a try one year during the winter. If you have only been to the east coast of Florida, I would suggest that you try the west coast for a change of pace. The two coasts are as different as the Atlantic and Pacific coasts of the US. But most of you know this. Punta Gorda is a bit of a slower pace that I would have wanted at 25 years old, which is why I like it now. From Burnt Store Marina I can be sailing in 10 minutes from when I drop my dock lines. Then only ten miles across to Boca Grande Pass if I want out into the Gulf. Plenty to do inside if I wish. It is easy to spend a week in Charlotte Harbor. There is Pelican Bay and the State park on Cayo Costa, Gasparilla, Cabbage Key, up into the Peace and Myakka rivers. Yep, cannot beat it. I have the best job in the world, I am a college professor, and spring break starts on Friday. I'll be down there on Saturday thinking about all you guys with snow on your decks. My wife and I must have agreed with all those magazine adds, we bought a condo and put our boat there.
I live in Virginia and the Boat lives in Punta Gorda. If you have not sailed Charlotte Harbor then I would suggest that you give it a try one year during the winter. If you have only been to the east coast of Florida, I would suggest that you try the west coast for a change of pace. The two coasts are as different as the Atlantic and Pacific coasts of the US. But most of you know this. Punta Gorda is a bit of a slower pace that I would have wanted at 25 years old, which is why I like it now. From Burnt Store Marina I can be sailing in 10 minutes from when I drop my dock lines. Then only ten miles across to Boca Grande Pass if I want out into the Gulf. Plenty to do inside if I wish. It is easy to spend a week in Charlotte Harbor. There is Pelican Bay and the State park on Cayo Costa, Gasparilla, Cabbage Key, up into the Peace and Myakka rivers. Yep, cannot beat it. I have the best job in the world, I am a college professor, and spring break starts on Friday. I'll be down there on Saturday thinking about all you guys with snow on your decks. My wife and I must have agreed with all those magazine adds, we bought a condo and put our boat there.
Punta Gorda Ditto!
I know talking about Punta Gorda is off the subject of batteries but we think it is the place to be for sailors. We loved it so much we bought a water front lot in PGI last year and plan to retire there in about 10 years. On batteries - I heard you should not mix battery sizes in one bank. I have four golf cart batteries and run my refrigeration all weekend. As for battery boxes, Wal-Mart sells a plastic container for less than $5 that fits one golf cart battery perfectly.
I know talking about Punta Gorda is off the subject of batteries but we think it is the place to be for sailors. We loved it so much we bought a water front lot in PGI last year and plan to retire there in about 10 years. On batteries - I heard you should not mix battery sizes in one bank. I have four golf cart batteries and run my refrigeration all weekend. As for battery boxes, Wal-Mart sells a plastic container for less than $5 that fits one golf cart battery perfectly.
Burnt Store Marina...
...is where I picked up a charter boat for delivery this past week! The place was GREAT. Even the egg and ham croissants made by...uh...Linda ( I think ) were delicious. All the owners (boats and marina) were very friendly and helpful. While walking the dock where the boat was (a '96 Island Packet 44) I took a little inventory of the dock: Valiant: 3, Shannon: 1, Hans Christian: 3, Island Packet: 14, Catalina: 1, Beneteau: 0, Hunter: 12. Not bad considering the company, no? We left the marina at 1400 looking to get through Boca Grande Pass before dark and set sail for a landing in daylight in the Dry Tortugas the next day. Charlotte Harbor is definitely a beautiful place to sail. If you have a big boat, you'll need to watch the bottom in a few places, though. We saw roughly two dozen boats out sailing on a Wednesday afternoon; all in the 40-55' range...wow. Would definitely recommend the area for chartering. The fleets there are magnificent!!
...is where I picked up a charter boat for delivery this past week! The place was GREAT. Even the egg and ham croissants made by...uh...Linda ( I think ) were delicious. All the owners (boats and marina) were very friendly and helpful. While walking the dock where the boat was (a '96 Island Packet 44) I took a little inventory of the dock: Valiant: 3, Shannon: 1, Hans Christian: 3, Island Packet: 14, Catalina: 1, Beneteau: 0, Hunter: 12. Not bad considering the company, no? We left the marina at 1400 looking to get through Boca Grande Pass before dark and set sail for a landing in daylight in the Dry Tortugas the next day. Charlotte Harbor is definitely a beautiful place to sail. If you have a big boat, you'll need to watch the bottom in a few places, though. We saw roughly two dozen boats out sailing on a Wednesday afternoon; all in the 40-55' range...wow. Would definitely recommend the area for chartering. The fleets there are magnificent!!
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