[C320-list] AGM Batteries and Battery Charger

[Mike Ott]

Hello all,
It appears that my gel house batteries are losing ground.  One isn't holding much of a charge, so I'm looking at 4-D AGM's.  Anybody got any feedback on the Lifeline brand ?
If I'm going to spend this kind of money I think I'll invest in a better battery charger as well. I currently have a Professional Mariner Promatic 30-3 and according to the manufacturer, its about as good as a boat anchor and should be replaced.  Got any suggestions for a good charger ?
Regards,
Mike Ott
'Amanda Lu'
#508

[Jack Fitzgibbon]

Installed in parallel two 4D Lifelines providing 420 amp hr of power
almost three years ago along with a Balmar 110 amp aternator and
Balmar three stage regulator. Also added a group 27 start battery.
Can stay on the hook for three days before needing a recharge.
Lifelines accept charge much quicker then flooded. Best part, no
maint. So far worth every penny.

Sent from my iPhone

[Mike Paris]

Mike,
I just replaced my Pro Mariner 30-3 this past weekend. Following suggestions
from a number of people on this list, I installed a Xantrex Truecharge2. It
was easy to install. I paid $220 at West Marine when they matched the price
of an online retailer I showed them. WM list is $309 I believe. I'm getting
new flooded batteries this week so I don't have any first hand knowledge of
its performance yet.

Take care,
Mike P
#734
So. Cal.

[Jon Vez]

Very happy with my Lifelines (2 house and 1 starting) and my Xantrex
Trucharge--I installed mine in 2001 and still going strong! I too did not
want to take a chance on my investment in these batteries and ditched the
Promariner when I made this change....pricey, but well worth it in my
opinion.....

Regards,

Jon Vez
Solstice #582

-----Original Message-----
From: c320-lis...@lists.catalina320.com
[mailto:c320-lis...@lists.catalina320.com] On Behalf Of Mike Ott
Sent: Monday, January 25, 2010 9:48 PM
To: Catalina 320 Association
Subject: [C320-list] AGM Batteries and Battery Charger

[bruce...@cox.net]

Mike which Batteries are you going with and what kind of price did you get?
Bruce
Somerset 671 SoCal
Sent via BlackBerry by AT&T

[Mike Paris]

I went with Interstate 4Ds. I don't know the model number off hand. I'm
supposed to pick them up today or tomorrow. The price was $199 each.

Mike P
#734

[bruce...@cox.net]

Has anyone tried to shove 8D's in? Looks like they are 2.19 inches wider.
Bruce
Somerset #671 SoCal

[Jeff Hare]

Won't fit, they're just a tad too wide unless possibly if there is an option for side terminals you may have a shot.

The MKII will take 8Ds though.

Wait a few years for Lithium Ion batteries to come down in price. Then you'll be able to run your Hot Tub and hair dryer at the same time off batteries the size of 4Ds. :).

Joking aside, I'm guessing 7 yrs or so and they'll be price compatible with 4D AGMs but double or triple the available amp hours and much longer life.

Don't know if anyone makes marine ones yet.
-Jeff

------Original Message------
From: bruce...@cox.net
Sender: c320-lis...@lists.catalina320.com
To: C320...@Catalina320.com
ReplyTo: C320...@Catalina320.com
Subject: Re: [C320-list] AGM Batteries and Battery Charger

[bruce...@cox.net]

As a last ditch effort to get some more time out of my wet cells I'm trying to equalize them but doesn't look good.

Side terminal 8d's would just fit in with a little fiberglass work to the holders. Unfortunately haven't found and with side terminals yet.

I'm thankful for everyday that people are working on how to get their houses of the grid and electric cars. The technology and volume spill over will be great! Now where to put the hot tub on a 320 MK1?
Bruce Somerset 671

Sent via BlackBerry by AT&T

-----Original Message-----

[Robert Seastream]

We went with wet cells when the time came based on expense and because
we wouldn't have AGM's long enough to benefit if we upsized sooner
than later.
We'll put AGM's (or lithium) in 'the last boat we'll ever buy', if
they don't already have them.

Bob Seastream
Intuition # 906

[Larry Frank]

Hot tub = anchor locker!

Larry
WindSwept 320 #246

-----Original Message-----
From: c320-lis...@lists.catalina320.com
[mailto:c320-lis...@lists.catalina320.com] On Behalf Of

[P & B Sheerin]

Hi Mike. I have just replaced my 4d Nautilus Gold DS batteries, which were
only 3years old. Seems that the charger cooked them, so that went to!. I've
replaced them with two DS Lifeline in parallel give me 420 amp hr. I have
connected up a Xantrex XC 5012 charger. This combo is great. I have also
included a Xantrex Pro battery monitor.
Can recommend all three units. Worth every cent, not to mention peace of
mind.

----- Original Message -----
From: <bruce...@cox.net>

To: <C320...@Catalina320.com>
Sent: Wednesday, January 27, 2010 3:28 AM
Subject: Re: [C320-list] AGM Batteries and Battery Charger

[Robert Tiernay]

I have had 2 lifleine 4d's for about 3 years. They are great except that
they need to be fully charged (down to 0.5% of capacity 2 amps in my case).
If you don't do that they slowly sulphate up. I take them down to about 8
amps and go to a marina every couple of weeks (we spend the winters in the
bahamas). This seems to prevent the sulphation from getting hard. If you
do some research you'll find lots of people having problems because of the
charging regimen they use. Lifeline has a manual that you can download -
read it over. Remember that you can't equalize lifeline batteries
regularly - lifeline used to allow it once a year. I haven't checked to see
if they have changed that recommendation.

Regarding the charger I have a 100 A Balmar but find that the current drops
very quickly - I would think that a 50A charger would increase the charge
time very little.

Bob Tiernay
Windwalker

[Bruce Heyman]

Bob,
Do you also have the Balmer external regulator? Is it set for AGM
batteries? According to Lifeline's web site:

"GPL-4DL Charging Instructions and Voltages:
Bulk Charge Voltages: 14.20 - 14.60
Absorbtion Charge Voltages: 14.20 - 14.60volts
Float Charge Voltages: 13.10 - 13.40
The GPL-4DL is designed for charging amperages up to 210 amps or 100% of the
rated Amp Hour Capacity due to low battery internal resistance."

If the external regulator is set for wet batteries then it will cut back the
bulk mode fairly quickly and you lose the big advantage of having the larger
alternator. If not it should take all that the Alternator can give it
during the bulk phase. I believe wet batteries are limited to about 25% of
amp hour capacity.

Bruce Heyman Somerset #671 SoCal

[Warren Updike]

Re. equalizing. Battery charger mfgrs. seem to be backing away from
equalizing. Balmar told me they are removing the equalizing mode from at
least one of their ext. regulators in the next release. Another told me that
equalizing on a boat is impractical as the batteries should be removed from
the boat and equalized on-shore. Apparently, it's a process meant to be
closely monitored.

I have one portable 3-stage charger that has a "conditioning" mode. The one
I had prior (same mfgr,) had both a conditioning and equalizing option.
Also, there is a device (Sailor Solutions I think,) that is permanently
installed, runs on battery power and is more or less constantly
"conditioning."

Conditioning involves generating a low-power high frequency current that is
supposed to de-sulfate the plates. I have been reluctant to sign-on to
this, yet I've not heard anything negative about it. Can anyone provide
relevant info? How about it, Jeff H.? Do you know anything about this?
Can it be harmful to batteries?

Warren & Pattie Updike
Catalina 320, #62, "Warr De Mar"
Middle River, Chesapeake Bay

-----Original Message-----
From: Robert Tiernay [mailto:bob.t...@gmail.com]
Sent: Wednesday, January 27, 2010 9:16 AM
To: c320...@lists.catalina320.com
Subject: [C320-list] AGM Batteries and Battery Charger

[Jeff Hare]

I wonder whether the sulfating is really much of a problem on boats that get used. With all the motion, the electrolite is sloshing around anyway.

It would hazard a guess its more of a problem with batts in large banks sitting on land. Need a way to keep the fluid we'll mixed.

Desulfating by getting the fluid bubbling to mix it up and keep sulfate from forming on the plates would seem more necessary when the fluid is stagnant.

I may be way off base here however.

A couple trips down buzzards bay ought to do the trick. :)

-Jeff

-----Original Message-----
From: "Warren Updike" <wup...@hotmail.com>
Date: Thu, 28 Jan 2010 09:00:05
To: <C320...@Catalina320.com>