lennartl
New member
For you who live a lot of time at anchors, (MED) I´m interested in knowing what type of batteries (L,GEL,AGM..) you use, size in banks, charging types, problems and even good battery stories.
Battery status
- Thread starter lennartl
- Start date
TQA
New member
- Joined
- 20 Feb 2005
- Messages
- 6,815
- Location
- Carribbean currently Grenada
Caribbean
6 x 6 volt 225 ah flooded wet cell golf cart batteries
400 watts tiltable solar.
Fridge [large] and makes ice + lots of laptop use and some SSB
6 x 6 volt 225 ah flooded wet cell golf cart batteries
400 watts tiltable solar.
Fridge [large] and makes ice + lots of laptop use and some SSB
shaxi
N/A
i like the trip to Caribbean , i think that will be a happy tour !
sailinglegend420
Member
This thread has a chance of getting messy, so PLEASE can all posters just respond to the original question with facts about their liveaboard experiences and leave out their "opinions" as to what is best.
"WILD ONE"
5 x 210 Ah Lifeline AGMs - 6 years full time liveaboard
55Ah Red Flash starter
Victron Multiplus 2.5 KVA Charger/Inverter
100A Balmar Alternator/regulator
4 KVA Fischer Panda 12 volt generator - charging at 280 amps
150w solar
DuoGen Wind/Solar
BEP Battery monitor
One Balmar regulator has already burnt out because of the continually high current demand from the AGMs.
Twice the DuoGen 35 amp fuse has blown in high winds!
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jordanbasset
Well-known member
Seren-mor has
4 x 140 Ah Open Wet cell heavy duty batteries
55Ah starter battery
Adverc battery management system
Sterling charger
2 x 100w solar
Nasa BM1
4 x 140 Ah Open Wet cell heavy duty batteries
55Ah starter battery
Adverc battery management system
Sterling charger
2 x 100w solar
Nasa BM1
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crisjones
Active member
Nimrod has 3 x 357AH Rolls Wet Lead Acid batteries installed Mar 2006, with 400W solar and 400W wind gen for charging alongside Victron inverter charger.
We have been liveaboards full time for just over two years and we are quite heavy users of the batteries with the inverter being used for microwave, hair dryer, hot water etc. This summer (June to Oct) we did not visit a marina so have not had any mains charging in that time.
Now in Lagos for winter and have just checked batteries and capacity etc. SG still shows 100% charge and a discharge test showed the batteries still have their full capacity of 1070AH.
Overall I am very happy with the Rolls batteries, they are more expensive than other lead acid batteries, but so far they seem to be worth the extra cost.
We have been liveaboards full time for just over two years and we are quite heavy users of the batteries with the inverter being used for microwave, hair dryer, hot water etc. This summer (June to Oct) we did not visit a marina so have not had any mains charging in that time.
Now in Lagos for winter and have just checked batteries and capacity etc. SG still shows 100% charge and a discharge test showed the batteries still have their full capacity of 1070AH.
Overall I am very happy with the Rolls batteries, they are more expensive than other lead acid batteries, but so far they seem to be worth the extra cost.
Talbot
Active member
2 x 6v 400amphr US Battery
1 x 1000 CCA engine start (shared across two engines)
0.5 amp wind - Forgen
180 amp/hr solar
Fischer Panda
Victron
Considering doubling domestic battery and increasing solar to 500amphr
Trade off the extra weight with a much lighter dinghy and outboard combo.
1 x 1000 CCA engine start (shared across two engines)
0.5 amp wind - Forgen
180 amp/hr solar
Fischer Panda
Victron
Considering doubling domestic battery and increasing solar to 500amphr
Trade off the extra weight with a much lighter dinghy and outboard combo.
tri39
New member
I'll second Chris' recommendation for Rolls wet lead acid batteries.
I have two by 125Ah batts for service (fridge + autopilot) and engine.
Plus another two cheaper sealed leisure 110Ah batts for windlass/SSB/instrumentation.
A VSR switches excess charge to windlass batts.
Three solar panels, not massive, 35 to 48 watts.
I have two by 125Ah batts for service (fridge + autopilot) and engine.
Plus another two cheaper sealed leisure 110Ah batts for windlass/SSB/instrumentation.
A VSR switches excess charge to windlass batts.
Three solar panels, not massive, 35 to 48 watts.
OldBawley
Active member
Two groups of two open lead acid 135 AH ( 540 Ah ) divided by a dual battery switch.
No separate starter battery
Every Sunday the switch is set from “One “ To “ Two” and the week later back, so using only two. The resting ones could be seen as emergency starting bat.
Two 85 W solar panels.
One Aerogen 4 windgen.
A mastervolt battman batery measure system
No regulators whatsoever. They burned down, have to replace them, but regulate now by hand and monitoring voltage on and off since 3 year.
No good of course since I can not load into absorption or float mode. It is all or nothing.
Engine has a 30 Amp alternator, regulator burned down in 2000, regulate now with help of two light bulbs and a rheostat. I called it “ Smart Max charging “ until I forgot it in a Force ten storm, assisting the anchor with the engine and so burning the solar panel regulator. ( Had 32 Volts on the system ) Use the alternator only in emergencies. When switch is off, he just turns idle. Have not being using it for months.
When switching the alternator on, the Perkins 4108m drops a lot of revs and that for only 30 Amp.
Once in 20 years could not start any more. Switch was on “ Both “ and the wife drained everything with the laptop. This could only happen while the battery’s ware on there end.
I was lucky to have practised sailing from a lee anchorage. In fact I always go up anchor under sail just for the fun of it. The type of our boat makes it easy and reliable.
I buy new battery’s every 2 to 3 year. The cheapest and easiest to obtain. Two year liveaboard means 700 cycles !
I know, it is a mess.
No separate starter battery
Every Sunday the switch is set from “One “ To “ Two” and the week later back, so using only two. The resting ones could be seen as emergency starting bat.
Two 85 W solar panels.
One Aerogen 4 windgen.
A mastervolt battman batery measure system
No regulators whatsoever. They burned down, have to replace them, but regulate now by hand and monitoring voltage on and off since 3 year.
No good of course since I can not load into absorption or float mode. It is all or nothing.
Engine has a 30 Amp alternator, regulator burned down in 2000, regulate now with help of two light bulbs and a rheostat. I called it “ Smart Max charging “ until I forgot it in a Force ten storm, assisting the anchor with the engine and so burning the solar panel regulator. ( Had 32 Volts on the system ) Use the alternator only in emergencies. When switch is off, he just turns idle. Have not being using it for months.
When switching the alternator on, the Perkins 4108m drops a lot of revs and that for only 30 Amp.
Once in 20 years could not start any more. Switch was on “ Both “ and the wife drained everything with the laptop. This could only happen while the battery’s ware on there end.
I was lucky to have practised sailing from a lee anchorage. In fact I always go up anchor under sail just for the fun of it. The type of our boat makes it easy and reliable.
I buy new battery’s every 2 to 3 year. The cheapest and easiest to obtain. Two year liveaboard means 700 cycles !
I know, it is a mess.
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multihullsailor6
New member
On "Burnout" I have
4 x 110 a/h lead acid house batteries (new in 2010)
1 x 70 a/h lead acid engine starting battery (new in 2008) with standard Lombardini alternator
2 x NASA BM1 battery monitors
2 x 68 watts Solara solar panels from 2008 and 2010, planning more
1 x Air X wind generator with silent power blades from Spreco
1 x Mastervolt shorepower battery charger
1 x Voltcraft 150 watt inverter
I have also equipped my boat virtually everywhere with LED bulbs including the night lighting.
4 x 110 a/h lead acid house batteries (new in 2010)
1 x 70 a/h lead acid engine starting battery (new in 2008) with standard Lombardini alternator
2 x NASA BM1 battery monitors
2 x 68 watts Solara solar panels from 2008 and 2010, planning more
1 x Air X wind generator with silent power blades from Spreco
1 x Mastervolt shorepower battery charger
1 x Voltcraft 150 watt inverter
I have also equipped my boat virtually everywhere with LED bulbs including the night lighting.
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little_roundtop
New member
3 x 110 AH maintenance-free wet house batteries (though I can open them up if necessary)
1 x 80 AH maintenance-free wet starter battery
2 x 80w solar panels
Sterling external 4-stage alternator regulator (essential in my view)
Sterling battery management system (worth it's weight in gold)
2kw Honda portable generator for emergencies (and for running the automatic washing machine at anchor)
Mastervolt 3-stage mains charger
Been aboard 7 years, probably 80% of (summer) time at anchor or away from mains power. Winter (6 months) in marina with mains power.
1 x 80 AH maintenance-free wet starter battery
2 x 80w solar panels
Sterling external 4-stage alternator regulator (essential in my view)
Sterling battery management system (worth it's weight in gold)
2kw Honda portable generator for emergencies (and for running the automatic washing machine at anchor)
Mastervolt 3-stage mains charger
Been aboard 7 years, probably 80% of (summer) time at anchor or away from mains power. Winter (6 months) in marina with mains power.
charles_reed
Active member
2 x 105 ah maintenance-free, 1 x 120ah open wet lead-acid. 2 former used in sequence (ie 1 in reserve)
318 watts PV panels feeding through an MPPT tracker.
120 amp alternator and Adverc smart regulator
20 amp Shark switch-mode charger, 150watt inverter (seldom used) 2 x CULV computers fed through solid-state regulators, ISU compressor/fridge.
Forward (domestic) battery does 7-10 years, after, smaller batteries 5-6 years.
All the batteries have been replaced at a cost of less than €100 each, in the last 3 years.
I get <10 days anchored without engine charge in the Greek summer; 7/12 liveaboard.
318 watts PV panels feeding through an MPPT tracker.
120 amp alternator and Adverc smart regulator
20 amp Shark switch-mode charger, 150watt inverter (seldom used) 2 x CULV computers fed through solid-state regulators, ISU compressor/fridge.
Forward (domestic) battery does 7-10 years, after, smaller batteries 5-6 years.
All the batteries have been replaced at a cost of less than €100 each, in the last 3 years.
I get <10 days anchored without engine charge in the Greek summer; 7/12 liveaboard.
temptress
Well-known member
3 x 175 AHR - flooded wet cell lead acid batteries - DOMESTIC
1x 175 AHR - flooded wet cell lead acid - Engine
tried all sorts of batteries over the years and find these last as long and areas good as any of the alternatives.
- Cabin lights and Nav lights are all LED now
- Fridge
- Ebberspracher heating in the winter
- 2 onboard laptops
- Usual intruments
- Radar underway - occasionally
I charge using:
- shorepower using 80amp charger - no problems usually recharges from 60% overnight
- Under way/Anchor - AMPAIR pacific wind genny - npot much use below 20knts apparent wind
[*] Twin alternators on engine. 60 amp Hitachi for Engine batterie, 120 amp Balmar wiht smart regulator and dual belts for domestics)
- I intend to fit 2 large solar panels this winter - just researching options now
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duncan99210
Well-known member
Rampage has:
2 x 180 AHr AGM batteries (no idea what make and I'm not upsetting SWMBO to look just now).
1 x 55 AHr wet cell starter battery (cheapo one from local tyres and battery place before we set out).
40 amp sterling charger for when we're hooked to shore power.
80 amp alternator on engine.
1000 watt Maplins inverter - hardly ever used.
All domestic bulbs replaced with LEDs.
8 watt light sensative anchor light - never on for longer than it needs to be.
1 KVa suitcase generator (links to shore power socket).
We find that running the generator for less than an hour a day more than keeps pace with demand, even with the fridge working fairly hard in the summer. Looking at solar, decided not to bother with wind - too expensive and noisy.
2 x 180 AHr AGM batteries (no idea what make and I'm not upsetting SWMBO to look just now).
1 x 55 AHr wet cell starter battery (cheapo one from local tyres and battery place before we set out).
40 amp sterling charger for when we're hooked to shore power.
80 amp alternator on engine.
1000 watt Maplins inverter - hardly ever used.
All domestic bulbs replaced with LEDs.
8 watt light sensative anchor light - never on for longer than it needs to be.
1 KVa suitcase generator (links to shore power socket).
We find that running the generator for less than an hour a day more than keeps pace with demand, even with the fridge working fairly hard in the summer. Looking at solar, decided not to bother with wind - too expensive and noisy.
