Csail
N/A
electronics guy says engine strart battery needs replacing and suggested a much smaller type.....is that good?
big or little battery?
- Thread starter Csail
- Start date
ccscott49
Well-Known Member
If the new type is the same capacity and cranking amps, OK. But I would tend to go for a nice big battery, as long as your charging circuit can handle it.
roly_voya
Well-Known Member
You need very little capacity in a start batt as it only draws a few a/h to start engine. What matters is the current it will give. If you check the engine manual it will give a recommended minimum CCA (cold crnking amps) and this is the min size you should fit, 20% extra wont do any harm. A bigger battery in a/h allows more engine starts. Normally marine engins have about twice the capacity of the equivelent car batt to give greater reserve in case of problems starting, again the manual should give a recomendation.
MrCramp
Well-Known Member
Agree with roly. You need capacity in hand in case for some reason the engine does not start immediately. Not worth saving £15/20 on a smaller battery.
Pye_End
Well-Known Member
Also need to consider whether you want the option of using it as a domestic battery.
CSFenwick
Well-Known Member
I’m guessing he means a small AGM starting battery? I fitted a small 'Red Flash 1000' AGM battery 3 seasons ago and it's been absolutely fine. It freed up space in the battery box for a second 110AH domestics battery. It's sealed and can be fitted in any orientation meaning you have less hassle finding somewhere to put it. It won't save you money - in fact it'll cost more than a ‘Halfords special’ but it is far more convenient. The only concern is over capacity should the engine ever need a lot of coaxing to start. It’s not a problem I’ve had but I can parallel in the domestics bank if I do ever need some extra capacity. If your engine is reliable and always starts easily and you could do with the space and weight saving then from my experience there's no reason not to go with a small AGM battery.
RestlessL
Well-Known Member
My vote is also for the Red Flash. I think they are sealed lead-acid, but the construction is optimised for starting engines (high cranking current).
Installing the Red Flash freed up the space used by the original "starting" battery, and allowed me to install 2x130Ah AGMs for the domestic circuits.
I have a emergency cross-over switch to allow me to use the domestics to start the engine, but have never needed this.
John
Installing the Red Flash freed up the space used by the original "starting" battery, and allowed me to install 2x130Ah AGMs for the domestic circuits.
I have a emergency cross-over switch to allow me to use the domestics to start the engine, but have never needed this.
John
sailinglegend420
Well-Known Member
Yes - Red Flash - you'll be surprised how small they are. Mine is lying on its side under the screwed down sole in an area not used before.
BEWARE - the battery terminals are also very small and not really up to a large spanner!! I thought I was being VERY careful using a small cheap ratchet and still managed to strip the threads. They were repaired FOC.
BEWARE - the battery terminals are also very small and not really up to a large spanner!! I thought I was being VERY careful using a small cheap ratchet and still managed to strip the threads. They were repaired FOC.
PeterGibbs
Well-Known Member
Seems to me that a smaller battery, as proposed by other posts, will do the job fine - if the engine starts regularly and doesn't ever need a longer "run at it" to get going. This is when it suffers: several deep cycles and its reserves are permanetly depleted.
I note, for instance, that emergency battery starters make heavy with the warnings about "no more than 6 seconds" under load at any one time - this restriction could be fatal, of course.
That's why most of us grump and fit 70-80 amp starter batteries, and take the dividend in greater starting reserve power, plus long life: in my case my starter battery is still performing well after 10 years. I prefer it this way.
The choice is yours!
PWG
I note, for instance, that emergency battery starters make heavy with the warnings about "no more than 6 seconds" under load at any one time - this restriction could be fatal, of course.
That's why most of us grump and fit 70-80 amp starter batteries, and take the dividend in greater starting reserve power, plus long life: in my case my starter battery is still performing well after 10 years. I prefer it this way.
The choice is yours!
PWG
RestlessL
Well-Known Member
[ QUOTE ]
Seems to me that a smaller battery, as proposed by other posts, will do the job fine - if the engine starts regularly and doesn't ever need a longer "run at it" to get going. This is when it suffers: several deep cycles and its reserves are permanetly depleted.
I note, for instance, that emergency battery starters make heavy with the warnings about "no more than 6 seconds" under load at any one time - this restriction could be fatal, of course.
That's why most of us grump and fit 70-80 amp starter batteries, and take the dividend in greater starting reserve power, plus long life: in my case my starter battery is still performing well after 10 years. I prefer it this way.
The choice is yours!
PWG
[/ QUOTE ]
Point taken - but if I need a "longer run at it" I can switch the domestic batteries in.
The Red Start 1100 is quoted at 35Ah, and capable of providing 223 A for 3 minutes, so I am not particuarly worried about it being deep cycled.
There are smaller versions, but I went for the largest I could fit in the space left over after installing the 2 130Ah domestics.
J
Seems to me that a smaller battery, as proposed by other posts, will do the job fine - if the engine starts regularly and doesn't ever need a longer "run at it" to get going. This is when it suffers: several deep cycles and its reserves are permanetly depleted.
I note, for instance, that emergency battery starters make heavy with the warnings about "no more than 6 seconds" under load at any one time - this restriction could be fatal, of course.
That's why most of us grump and fit 70-80 amp starter batteries, and take the dividend in greater starting reserve power, plus long life: in my case my starter battery is still performing well after 10 years. I prefer it this way.
The choice is yours!
PWG
[/ QUOTE ]
Point taken - but if I need a "longer run at it" I can switch the domestic batteries in.
The Red Start 1100 is quoted at 35Ah, and capable of providing 223 A for 3 minutes, so I am not particuarly worried about it being deep cycled.
There are smaller versions, but I went for the largest I could fit in the space left over after installing the 2 130Ah domestics.
J
