Stupidity Reveals Lesson Learned

[Gord May]

Hard Wire them

I'm /w Stu - hard wire the batteries (don't just store them). Also fasten & enclose them - you don't want these to "get loose", nor to spill acid.

 

[Tom S.]

Hard wiring them properly & permanently

costs money and takes time. Sometimes its just a quick backup

 

[Fred Ficarra]

Ya, You guys are right

I was just thinking of the smile I could put on the face of a fellow boater. And it wouldn't work well for us, having only ONE bank of golf carts. Those portable jump starters look like the way to go.

 

[Gord May]

Loose cannonballs sink ships

Tom S:What happens when the, cheap & easy, “quick backup” battery (weighing 50-60 Lbs & full of acid) or powerpac gets loose or spills acid?I hope the unwary (read: frugal & lazy ) boater gets the opportunity to spend considerable time, effort, and MONEY repairing the damage. Worst case, that “loose cannonball” could sink him/her!I know it easy for me to spend other people’s time & money, but: If you don’t have the time ($) to do it right in the first place - where will you get the time ($) to fix it later?Regards,

 

[Tom S.]

*pop Well I was making the assumption

that they stored them securely, like any heavy object, if not, then as you say, that is not too smart.I do know people that carry those small self contained "Jump Starter" batteries (Complete with Jumper Cables" and they say they work pretty well. But I still like my permanent set-up.Here is a link to one. (pretty cheap, I think I spent that much in cabling alone).http://www.westmarine.com/webapp/wcs/stores/servlet/ProductDisplay?storeId=10001&langId=-1&catalogId=10001&productId=59199

 

[Ed]

the jump start batteries work great!

I have had one abord for a long time. use it in power and the sailboats. My dockmate uses two one to run the lights on his catboat and one for backup. It gives him running lights and a small cabin light for evening sails and is easy to charge and transport. they are easy to stow away and dont spill!

 

[Stu Jackson C34 1986 #224]

Batteries redux

Seems to me that if you do it right, and have a separate start battery with a decent sized house bank AND you take care of your banks, there is a decreased likelihood of bad stuff happening.If you have two house batteries, and one battery dies, you still have one house battery, plus the starter battery.If all you have are 2 golf carts (220 ah), then you still have the start battery.I still don't get jumper battery concept. If you can afford that stuff, get REAL batteries and just wire them in properly.Gord hit it right on the nose, do it right first, maintain the equipment, and there's less chance of it going south. The reason, I believe, that many people have "trouble" with their electrical systems, is that they haven't learned much about them. In this case, ignorance is NOT bliss. Or, if it is, then you're the happiest person I know Learn the systems, trace and check the wiring, do an energy budget, check your batteries, and, as Rick will be the first to tell you, TRACE THE WIRING IN YOUR OWN BOAT and don't rely on what the PO told ya!Stu

 

[Tom S.]

Stu, it really is a lot more costly to wire it up

properly. And thats if you do it yourself, if you have a Marine Electronics person install it, then the costs can really go up.These all in one stand alone "jump starter" batteries are $50 on sale at West Marine now.My set-up (and I didn't go that elaborate and did the work myself) cost me:Orbital AGM Battery ($120 -- but I know you could get away with a regular wet cell for about $50)Battery Switches and cabling, lugs and heatshrink, etc (at least $50-60 probably alot more - 4 ga battery cable is $2.60 a foot)Heavy duty Cable crimp tool ($30)Battery Box ($10)Echo Charger ($125)The time and effort to route the wires, cut them, clamp them and secure properly is not trivial and then making a mounting platform of wood for the battery and making it fit level to the curve of the hull and then sealing it with paint, etc, etc, etc I can't even imagine what a professional installer would charge.It really adds up. BUT with that said, after doing it I am **very** happy with my installation.

 

[Stu Jackson C34 1986 #224]

Doin' It Right

TomYou're right about the cost. I guess the question really is, compared to what? If it's to the $50 for the jump starter, no choice. But if it's compared to doing it "right" in the first place, and not having to ever (within reason) worry, seems to be no choice. It is still really too bad that builders continue to scrimp on the important parts of the boat given the electrical use of today's boaters. Those of us with older boats do have a choice: minimize electrical consumption or rewire. If you don't rewire, you are guaranteed to have a lousy electrical system that you will continue to complain about and need to go get jump starters for.The link is from a similar discussion. Try the message board at www.c34.org, do a find on C34 electrical systems, lots of similar discussions there.This particular related link has LOTS of built-in cross references to other posts and is very long. I think with that reference and it's built-ins, anybody should be able to understand boat electrical systems. Enjoy.Gee, Rick, thanks for starting this one, again.Stu

 

[Fred Ficarra]

Stu, here's mine too.

One or two of you guys might have seen it. No substitute for doing it right.