Batteries, a close call..........

rafiki_

rafiki_

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Had one of those 4 am thoughts this morning. It's been a while since I checked the fluid levels in the batteries, so a job for this morning. After significant dithering I clambered down into the lazerette this morning to be greeted with a pong similar to gear oil. Checked the engine room, and no stray oils there, so back to the batteries. Opened the service battery box and found one of the batteries rather too hot for comfort. Checked the cells, and they were all low. On topping up, the fluid was boiling nicely. The sister battery felt fine, and took hardly any water. Engine and gennie batteries took a bit of fluid. With the offending battery continuing to bubble and cuss, I turned off the charger. Voltage level looked fine at 13v on the dash. Turned everything off and checked each battery, hot one 10.5v, the other 12.8v. Quick call to the Battery Megastore and they have a pair of 170 ah for me at £90 a pop. We will go back to our home port in the morning, meantime I have taken the offending battery out of the circuit, and am keeping a weather eye on its mate.
So, no real harm done, but this could have gone a bit Pete Tonge if I hadn't checked. And thanks to Advance Engineering at Portishead for their usual accurate and sage advice.
 
A good reminder to us all Paul to keep an occasional check on our batts if their not the sealed type.
On a positive, a 170ah batt for £90 is a real good deal. I've heard good things about Advance Marine, and apparently they also own/based at boat yard in Sharpness, don't suppose you know if that is correct or not. When I've checked their website there was no mention of the sharpness yard.
 
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sharpness said:
A good reminder to us all Paul to keep an occasional check on our batts if their not the sealed type.
On a positive, a 170ah batt for £90 is a real good deal. I've heard good things about Advance Marine, and apparently they also own/based at boat yard in Sharpness, don't suppose you know if that is correct or not. When I've checked their website there was no mention of the sharpness yard.
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Advance run the boat yard at Sharpness, as well as their base at Portishead. Great people, incredibly knowledgeable, and always happy to help out when they know you.
 
I ordered some batteries from Battery Megastore late one Wednesday night earlier this year, and checked the following day that they would be delivered on the Friday - this was confirmed. At Midday on the Friday I called to see how they were getting on and was told they were on the truck and would be with me by 6pm. At 5pm I checked with the transport company and they said they would be with me within the hour. At 6pm I got the transport company ansaphone, but they called me back and told me very rudely that I wouldnt be getting my batteries as they hadnt even picked them up yet.

Didnt arrive on the Monday either so I cancelled the order and was promised money back by return. Had to write an assertive letter before my money was returned.

It seems that may people get their batteries by next day delivery, but I wonder how many are lied to several times like I was??
 
Mine are too big for the standard delivery method, but I will collect, as Tewkesbury is on the way home from our boat. I have never used the delivery process, and have always collected.
 
rafiki_ said:
Mine are too big for the standard delivery method, but I will collect, as Tewkesbury is on the way home from our boat. I have never used the delivery process, and have always collected.
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Good choice! I wished that I had had that option, but too far. Cost me 2 days holiday and half the weekend waiting in on the off chance they might arrive.
 
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