Boat Battery...Marine deep cell or not?
DDummitt
Only this, the most recent was covered under any warranty. The first came with
the boat and the second was just past the 3 year warranty.
The last two were marine deep cell batteries and thus only came with a three
year warranty. High grade auto batteries have 8 year warranties.
Do I need a marine battery in my inboard? or should I go for the longer auto
warranty?
Dean
Macon, Ga.
Sybil
dryer, and blender, you'll need a deep cycle battery.
If you just want to run your boat...a good 600 to 800
amp hour battery will be sufficient. (you'll be able to
listen to the radio too.
Tom and Michelle Harvanek
DDummitt wrote in message <19990622131632...@ng-fu1.aol.com>...
>I have recently replaced the battery in my inboard for the 3 time in 6 years.
>Only this, the most recent was covered under any warranty. The first came with
>the boat and the second was just past the 3 year warranty.
>
>The last two were marine deep cell batteries and thus only came with a three
>year warranty. High grade auto batteries have 8 year warranties.
>
>Do I need a marine battery in my inboard? or should I go for the longer auto
>warranty?
>Dean
>Macon, Ga.
'Marine' does not imply deep cycle,
You definitely need a cranking battery to turn over a v8. A deep cycle has too
much internal resistance and can't supply high current (100-300 amps) because
the voltage drops. Instead of snapping to life, the components get real hot as
you crank (battery, cables, solenoid & starter, its duty cycle thing). You
should get a decent warrantee for a RV/Marine cranking battery, they supposedly
better reinforce the plates to resist damage from vibration. Look for the
ratings Sybil recommended, a 450 amp battery is made for outboards & such. A 750
amp battery should be good for 5-6 seasons at least.
Tom
Bob McMahon
need. You get what you pay for in batteries like many other products. A good
Megatron 60 month Interstate Battery is hard to beat. Nationwide warranty,
18 month free replacement.
You do not need the Marine battery unless you plan on running a trolling
motor or other high ampere use items. They have more plates to hold charge
for longer periods, which you do not need in a inboard.
Tom and Michelle Harvanek wrote in message
<7kqv2v$3956$1...@newssvr01-int.news.prodigy.com>...
NIBRAL1
>
>Only this, the most recent was covered under any warranty. The first came
>with
>the boat and the second was just past the 3 year warranty.
>
>The last two were marine deep cell batteries and thus only came with a three
>year warranty. High grade auto batteries have 8 year warranties.
>
>Do I need a marine battery in my inboard? or should I go for the longer auto
>warranty?
>Dean
>Macon, Ga.
>
The quick and the dirty of it is that if you are using a 'wet' cell battery you
are lucky to get 3 years out of it. Marine/RV/Auto if it is a wet cell it
needs to be exercised. In a car generally speaking it cranks it and gets
charged at least twice a day - to and from work. In a boat you will be doing
this on weekends in the summer and not at all in the winter. When you
winterize your boat you need to pull the battery and keep it in a warm place.
AND you will need to hit it with a charger at least once a month for a couple
of hours. This will keep it fresh and keep the plates from sulfiding. In
other words the sulfur molecules tie up all the free electrons on the plates
and once this happens you don't have a battery anymore, just an environmentally
bad anchor.
Inboard V8s should have a minimum of 650 CCA available. Check your owners
manual or even the lid to the battery box. I personally use an Optima from
Interstate. The red one - 800 CCA. Great battery - pricey but great. No
acid, so I don't worry about the boat carpet going in and out, my clothes don't
get trashed if it rubs against them, great battery. And Interstate warrants it
for three years straight across the board replacement and for 6 years prorated.
Mine is 5 years old and has not missed a lick.
If you are trying to run the world from your boat and need the deep cycle
funtion of the battery - heavy duty stereo - subs - two/three amps, etc.
Optima has a 1000 CCA Deep Cycle 65 Amp Hour battery that will really fit the
bill. Do be sitting down when your Interstate dealer quotes that price. But,
so far you have gone through three batteries where you would still be on the
same one. On balance it works out. Difference is you are using the boat not
going to the store for a new battery. Good luck.
ttfn
nibral1
William Robison
> When you winterize your boat you need to pull the
> battery and keep it in a warm place. AND you will need to hit it
> with a charger at least once a month for a couple of hours.
> This will keep it fresh and keep the plates from sulfiding.
If you're gonna pull the battery out of the boat, it will
last a lot longer if you stick it in the deep freeze...
If you store it inside each winter, I'm not suprised
that you only get 3 years service out of it...
It doesn't freeze in the dead of winter in the car,
and if it's in good condition and clean it won't
freeze in the boat...
(I've put the 4th. battery in the '81 boat this year.
Never seem to find the time to charge it prior to
spring start either...)
-Willy
NIBRAL1
>last a lot longer if you stick it in the deep freeze...
>If you store it inside each winter, I'm not suprised
>that you only get 3 years service out of it...
>
> It doesn't freeze in the dead of winter in the car,
>and if it's in good condition and clean it won't
>freeze in the boat...
>
>(I've put the 4th. battery in the '81 boat this year.
> Never seem to find the time to charge it prior to
> spring start either...)
>
>-Willy
>
>
>
>
Don't be ignorant.
A battery does not freeze in a car because it is maintaining a charge and
being used (molecules are moving back and forth between the plates, much like a
bubbler in a lake during the winter will keep the ice from forming around a
lift.). The chemical reaction from starting - charging etc. keeps it warm. If
the battery is not used it will loose its charge and it can and will freeze at
which point it is useless.
ttfn
nibral1
William Robison
solution is around -40. Although the original comment about
placing the battery in the freezer was facetious, the battery
will last longer when stored cold (this includes holding a
charge longer). Batteries, as installed in cars, will drop
to ambient temperature overnight.
So, if you're going to regularly charge the battery, store
it in the cold as it won't freeze. If you're not going to
charge regularly, store it in the cold to reduce the
self-discharge rate...
-Willy
Vacations
difference in my battery life. You can get them at any
auto parts store our catalog. Leave it on the battery in
the off season, and even during long dry spells in season.
The trickle charger shuts off after hitting about 12.5
Volts. That way it does not boil off the acid water mix.
Keeps the battery healthy and happy. Keeps me happy as I
go out with a hot battery every time.
**** Posted from RemarQ - http://www.remarq.com - Discussions Start Here (tm) ****
NIBRAL1
>solution is around -40. Although the original comment about
>placing the battery in the freezer was facetious, the battery
>will last longer when stored cold (this includes holding a
>charge longer). Batteries, as installed in cars, will drop
>to ambient temperature overnight.
>
> So, if you're going to regularly charge the battery, store
>it in the cold as it won't freeze. If you're not going to
>charge regularly, store it in the cold to reduce the
>self-discharge rate...
>
>-Willy
>
It will freeze. PERIOD. And cold will accelerate its demise not retain its
charge. Actually the sulfuric acid will break down into its molecular
components and sulfur dioxide will bind - fill all the holes - no more 'Free
Wiley electrons available to perform a reaction' - with the lead plates and
sulfide the plates - if the battery is not exercised. No more anode, no more
cathode just - nothing! The plates are useless when this happens, it is not
reverseable and the the remaining H2O will freeze and crack/destroy and
otherwise code the battery. No - wet cell batteries should not be stored cold.
Ask Interstate, Exide, Delco, Gould or any of a dozen other
dealers/manufacturers.
In a car/truck/bus the battery is used almost daily, in a boat its used for 5
months and sits for 7 months, it just won't last if you do not hit it with a
charger at least once a month when not in service. Realigning the electrons,
reasserting anode and cathode and hence keeping the discharge rate at a minimum
and preventing the sulfiding of the plates.
Heck even Interstate comes and rotates old stock off their dealers shelves,
because (a) good business (b) they know they will go bad if they sit there.
Cheaper in the long run if they 'freshen' up the batteries, rather than have it
die in a customers hands.
And all those battery commercials in the winter time are just coincidence?
Batteries die in the winter more often than summer. Wonder why that could be?
Could It Possibly Be The COLD?!
ttfn
nibral1
Brad
Brad
NIBRAL1
>
>Brad
>
>
You mean, all you needed was a good excuse?! Any excuse is good enough to go
skiing.
The boat is dusty from sitting in the garage, I better take it to the lake and
wash it. Well I had to get it off the trailer and run it around to get the
dust off the keel, so I skiied, too. This doesn't work at your house?
ttfn
nibral1
Mark Lenox
William Robison wrote:
>
> It doesn't freeze because the freezing point of sulphuric acid
> solution is around -40. Although the original comment about
> placing the battery in the freezer was facetious, the battery
> will last longer when stored cold (this includes holding a
> charge longer). Batteries, as installed in cars, will drop
> to ambient temperature overnight.
>
> So, if you're going to regularly charge the battery, store
> it in the cold as it won't freeze. If you're not going to
> charge regularly, store it in the cold to reduce the
> self-discharge rate...
Correct. In addition, as the battery discharges, the sulfur bonds to
the plates, and the acid solution becomes more like water, raising the
freezing point. A fully charged battery will freeze at -40, but a
discharged battery will freeze at a much higher temperature.
A cold battery will lose it's charge slower than a warm battery. So,
it stands to reason to store the battery in a cool place and maybe
charge it once in february.
If a battery is left discharged too long, the sulfur more permanently
bonds to the plates and the battery will no longer take a charge as
well, eventually leading to failure.
Mark Lenox