what size batteries to buy ?

[Jeff]

Don't need solar or wind gens

Unless you'll be cruising for weeks. Charge them with 2 good integrated 110v chargers via shorepower. One for each bank.Analyze your needs. Choose the correct batts. Then purchse the next range up in each category. And buywire an extra one. Weight schmeight. Another 50lbs low is just good ballast. Besides, you won't have the extra weight of the solarwind gens.You won't remember what you paid, but you'll remember that you never run out of power.If you'll be cruising more than a week, well then nevermind. Get the wind and solar gens. But don't skimp on the batts. Wire the banks for switchable independant charging, then charge one bank while using the other. This will allow charging extensive battery supplies with a normal windsolar setup.

 

[nick cameron]

What about the planet

Jeff, "Don't need solar or wind gens" !!! The beauty of sailing is that you can be independent. Sail where the the wind takes you and generate all your own power needs (both at sea and in the Marina) on board. Do your bit for the Planet Chet.

 

[Jeff]

Aussie Libs

Huh?We develop power with water in California.We also recycle our batteries.We also accept ships in distress to our ports. Even if they are nuclear powered. Which by the way is drastically safer for the environment than diesel powered, however that's a different thread.Logic prevails is sailing.

 

[Stu Jackson]

Lotsa reading and research for ya

There have been some great contributions here, but, Chet, you really need to do some more, dare I say it, homework on this subject of Electrical Systems. Not only is it the batteries that store energy, but the ways you have available to you to replenish that energy back into the batteries once you use them.Read the West Marine Advisors in their catalogs or on line about electrical systems.Read this: http://www.amplepower.com/technical_documents/index.html from Ample Power. Read the Ample Power Primer. Look at other boating websites.Tell us what boat you have. What engine. What alternator.Little things like that help a lot.The way you plan to use your boat has EVERYTHING to do with how you'll design your system, how many batteries you'll buy and need, and what kind of charging system you'll use. Everything these folks have said is correct, and each represents a slightly different boat use. BobW's and Bill R's posts covered the basics, but many others differed in recommendations.Also, try this from our C34 website: http://www.c34.org/projects/projects-electrical-system-upgrade-2.htmlOnly YOU can make these decisions for you and your boat.That's for electrical systems.As for batteries: I shopped around locally and found a very reputable firm that sells 130 ah wet cells for $95 each, compared to WM's $150 each. Ouch. Guess what I did? Shop around locally, talk to people on your dock, do your due diligence, although I must admit that this is one part of it.What do I have? (3) 130 ah wet cells, (1) 60 ah start, a 100 amp alternator with a Balmar Max Charge external regulator and an 11 watt solar panel. We hardly ever plug in and never do if we're away from the boat, & that means during the week. The alternator is wired directly to the house bank with a combiner for the start bank. The alternator output does NOT go to the 1-2-B switch. Shorepower charger is a Freedom 15 combined inverter charger.

 

[Chet7135]

Thanks so much.....

everybody, I think now I have a pretty good idea of how I need to go about finding the battery sizes ,for my needs. I think it great to have news groups like this one, so people like me with not alot of experience can ask questions and get some very good answers.thanks alot ,chet

 

[r.w.landau]

Chet, I hope you do your search

and find the right choice for you but before you buy , would you submit to us your needs, your thinking, and your choice?thanks,r.w.landau

 

[BobW]

I second the requests....

for more details on your boat, Chet. That's because none of the advice that we've given you has been specific enough to be of much help in your search for batteries.We'd like to help. Cheers,Bob

 

[Chet7135]

r w landau

Thats a good question as to I have to spend sometime deciding what my needs are first,and to how many amps I`ll need per day ? It sounds like I should use either the AGM`s or gell if I want them to last.as far as to what size ,I`m really not sure yet.Thanks for your concern though.chet

 

[r.w.landau]

Chet, don't through out the wet cell .

I use them and so do many others. They take some maintenence, but they actually last longer if maintained and at a lower initial cost. So, in that mix of what you are thinking and now learning, is it really that hard to care for wet cells?Sorry Chet, I just had to throw that in!r.w.landau

 

[Chet7135]

well its a 1981 hunter 30 ....

with a yamar 2 cyl,15hp diesel engine I don`t know the size of atnertor? I have no batteries for it right now ?no old ones either.Right now its pretty much plain boat,with only the running and cabin lights,VHF.but I`m installing the three raymarine ST60 ,wind ,speed, deptf,and would like to put in an ice box cooler unit.an converter to use the hot water heater and my labtop to. installing an AM/FM Radio also,  Not sure what else at this time.  This season I`ll have shore power to charge, but would like to be set independent for living aboard on mooring or hook ,solar, wind for charging. chet

 

[r.w.landau]

Chet, You have almost fully defined your needs.

You watch the response you get now!.If you can narrow down some more, the better.I am talking things like now budget, and future budget for solar stuff..What are you considering for shore power charging?try to put it all in one post so that the answers all come evenly and with all the info. I would repost the new complete info question as a new thread.r.w.landau

 

[Chet7135]

shore power charging ...

I`m looking at the Pro Sport 12 or 20 plus,chargers,?as to budget... mines very low, batteries and charger first then the extra`s , like maybe this summer or next.I don`t want to reposted I`ve gotten lots of good replys already,thanks though.chet

 

[Steve Dion]

I would highly recommend a Xantrex charger

Chet:I would highly recommend a Xantrex Charger. It was the charger of choice by the fellow that did my charger upgrade.If you think about this, you typically only will need one charger for the next 15-20 years, so purchase the best quality you can. They will save you money over the years by properly maintaining your batteries (longer life).

 

[r.w.landau]

Chet, we are sailors. I am cheap and sail

on a small budget. The info you get here is "THE" way to go. Not all of us can do that. So if you repost with budget and intent, these guys are good with numbers and can help you meet your needs. No one could afford all of the advice they hear here.It is fun for them and benefical for you!I bet the solarstik is worth more than my boat, but if it fit in the budget, it would help my electric needs!r.w.landau

 

[Ross]

One of the considerations that I use is the

annual cost of large ticket items like batteries. If a set of batteries costs 300 dollars and has a useful life of 5 years then the annual cost is 60 dollars. I spend far more than that for beer and wine.

 

[r.w.landau]

Ross, you lush is that a year or month?

r.w.

 

[Ross]

That is a very conservative estimate for the

boat if we don't have company. But the purpose is to put in perspective the cost of batteries, new running rigging , dock lines, etc.Since I don't spend much time on the boat when the temperatures are in the upper awfuls there is a second refer in the basement for needed reserves.

 

[r.w.landau]

Ross, our boat operational fees seem to be

close to the same figures with out the occasional extra draw from the supply!(visitors they are like fish...after three days they start to smell)We are on the boat 3days and three sometime four nights, all summer long.r.w

 

[BobW]

The advantage of gell/AGM....

is that they are maintenance-free. Since you are on a budget, it seems a simple decision to trade some minimial labor (of which you will have an ample supply) necessary to maintain wet-cell batteries.... for the extra cost (about double) of gell/AGMs.Further, since you say you might be 'on the hook' in a year, I would forgo the Xantrex charger (I have one, Steve, and I swear by it!) and perhaps sink the money into a solar panel (not the 'Solar Stick', but a simple 50w one). Here's my rationale:You will ALWAYS be able to benefit from a solar panel (for the 25 years they are supposed to last), and will probably end up with more than one. If you are truly intent on life afloat, a fancy 3 stage battery charger will be of limited use.Even for the next year, assuming you will mostly sail weekends (gotta build the cruising kitty, right?) a single solar panel - even without being there to keep the angle perfect - will charge your batteries to 100% during the week, letting you cast off fully-charged. Once you're away from the dock, the solar panel will STILL provide you with amps while you are sailing, and may well save you from having to run your engine just to charge the batteries.You may not have looked into referigation equipment. If I recall, the minimum 'buy-in' is about $3,000, so you'll want to add that to your equations. That's a lot of boat-bucks to keep the beer cool, so you might want to put that off and consider an ice-chest for your weekends.Don't even THINK of heating water from your batteries.... that draw will make the hair dryer Bill Roosa mentioned look like small change. If you're really looking for frugal boating, get an engine-driven water heater or heat your water on the stove. You're doing this on the cheap, right?So get a couple of deep cycle wet-cell Group 27s, put them in parallel, get a solar panel and a Link battery monitor (which you won't want to live without when you break away and live on the hook). If your boat has an A-B switch, wire them into 2 banks. Whatever alternator you have will be adequate for now (test its output to make sure it actually works) - don't waste boat-bucks on stuff you don't need. BTW, your Yanmar (I'm assuming it's a 2GM20F) is a great engine and will last you a long time if it's cared for. Don't neglect it!There, you got another 2c. ;DCheers,Bobs/v X SAIL R 8

 

[Stu Jackson]

Electrical Systems

Chet, what you've been presented here are comments on batteries as well as, I think more importantly, electrical SYSTEMS. The system is what you need to think about long term.Short term about a choice of batteries, many have mentioned the pros and cons of their choices. Here is a link to our C34 website where the basics of battery selection are explained. There are many other sources out there with this information, but one of our members, who specializes in batteries because of his work on railroad signal crossings, is somewhat of an expert on the subject.http://www.c34.org/projects/projects-battery-selection.htmlWith the posts here, and the other reference sources that have been provided to you, you should have enough, if not more than enough information to make your choice.