GEL BATTERIES

[Redscouser]

Hi
I need some help on the battery subject.
I have the offer of 2 12 volt 100amp hour batteries,could you use these as a pair on the boat?, or is it better to have 1 gel 1 ordinary battery,whats the advantages and disadvantages?I am not up to speed on info of the gel type.
Whats the price of these to buy? want to see if I am getting a bargain?
Thanks Ric


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[Guest]

Ric,

Not sure quite what help you need but from the looks of it, you've been offered a couple of 100AH gel cells...

Gel cells have certain advantages (and disadvantages) over flooded batteries. Generally, they are better quality and if they are "semi traction" or "traction" cells they will deep cycle well.

If you have been offered "standby" batteries, they are not (often) designed for deep cycling.

Gel cells are expensive though and much sensitive to charge voltages than flooded (lead/acid) batteries. Also, overcharging will kill them so you have to be very careful that your charger/alternator controller can be set up properly for gels.

You shouldn't mix a gel and lead acid within the same battery bank. Strictly speaking they shouldn't really be mixed within the same system (since the system would be set up for charging gel cells (whose charge voltages are lower than lead/acid), providing too lower voltage for full recharging of the lead/acid flooded battery. Taking two (or more) batteries and paralleling them to create larger battery banks is standard practice in almost all applications - they should be the same age and type (i.e. identical) though.

The only real benefit of having gel cells is that they are spill proof and totally maintenance free. Look at AGM technology as well since you get the same benefits as gel, plus faster charge times for less money (look at www.dmstech.co.uk or www.merlinequipment.com).

Best Power-store price on a new 110AH exide sonnenschein gel (with 5 yr warranty) is £187 plus gordon brown's share.

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[spark]

Having done a lot of research we came to the conclusion that AGM is much better than any of the gel types. I have some new Lifeline AGMs 105aH batteries left over from a project for sale at cost. Specs are here - http://www.lifelinebatteries.com/marinebattery.asp - Model GPL31T.
PM me if you think they're a better deal than the gel ones.

<hr width=100% size=1><A target="_blank" HREF=http://www.qei.co.uk/spark.html>http://www.qei.co.uk/spark.html</A>

 

[PaulJ]

Spark, I've sent you a pm.

Paul.

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