Time for New Batteries

[Frank Pratt]

I currently have 2 batteries on either side of the shaft. I would like to add a pair of batteries for house power and have one for starting. All suggestions greatly appreciated.

 

[Steve Dion]

HOW many total?

Frank:How many total batteries are you going to have when you are done? We did something similar. We have refridgeration. I now have two batteries that are isolated just for the refer. These have been placed in the aft lazarette on the port side. We left the two batteries over the shaft log.We also went with AGM's and a smart charger (Statpower 40 ).Remember that you need heavier cables the farther away they get from the charging source.

 

[Tim Op't Holt]

3 batts on H31

I have a three-battery system. Two house and one starting. I have a two bank charger that I use to top off the batteries before and after sailing, but I don't leave it on while I'm away from the boat during the week. I don't have a refrigerator and have found this system to handle the water pump and lights with no problem. I recently purchased a new starting battery. I read about them in the various catalogs, but ended-up with one from Wal-Mart. It will be interesting to see how long it lasts, but the price was right. I can buy 3-4 of them for the cost of something fancy, like an Optima.

 

[Bill Ebling]

4 BATS ON H31

I HAVE 4 BATTERIES. TWO 6 VOLT GOLF CART BATTERIES DOWN DEEP IN THE STARBOARD LAZERETTE WIRED IN SERIES. THESE ARE CONNECTED IN PARALLEL TO A 12 VOLT BATTERY JUST STARBOARD OF THE SHAFT. THESE THREE ARE MY MY HOUSE #2 BANK. THE OTHER BATTERY, BANK #1, IS MY ENGINE CRANKING BATTERY JUST PORT OF THE SHAFT. THE BATERIES ARE HOOKED UP TO A 10 AMP DOUBLE SIDED 3 PHASE SOILD STATE CHARGER THATS WIRED INTO MY PANEL. I LEAVE THIS ON BETWEEN WEEKENDS TO FULLY TOP UP BATERIES I AM SURE THAT I WOULD CORRECT THE SLIGHT STARBOARD LIST THAT 31'S HAVE IF I MOVED THE GOLF CARTS TO THE AFT, PORT SIDE LAZERETTE. YESTERDAY'S DREAM, 1985 H31