Jump starter pack for a Volvo Penta D4

kennyh

kennyh

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Hi all

I regularly stay out on the hook and in the winter months I do get a little concerned that I've enough grunt in my batteries to start my VP D4-260.

Of course I've got a voltage meter on board and I've got monitoring on the domestics, but not on the starter battery.

I was wondering whether a Jump Starter pack would be the solution to my concerns.

I see you can get a 1000A Peak starter pack which weighs 3.2kg from Suaoki.

Question is: is that big enough to start a cold VP D4? Is it overkill (and I can carry a smaller pack)?

Or should I just get a set of jump leads to keep on board and connect to the domestic batteries if I need to?

FYI - I've 2 x 110Ah batteries in rack of the Starter and Domestic Banks.
 
Jump leads and using domestic batteries is the way to go. Jump packs never seem to be fully charged when you need em and a D4 will need a good/fully charged one to stand any chance. Better still, why not wire in some kind of proper emergency crossover. Doesn't need to be complicated.
 
I think from memory that the D4 requires no less than 1100 cca which most starter pack can't deliver. You'd be better off getting anothe two batteries and bank switch.
 
My boat has an emergency start switch, which joins the domestic battery to the starting battery. Thats probably the best solution.

But what is going to drain your starting battery overnight if you already have seperate domestic battery?
 
julians said:
My boat has an emergency start switch, which joins the domestic battery to the starting battery. Thats probably the best solution.

But what is going to drain your starting battery overnight if you already have seperate domestic battery?
Click to expand...
we have a swich does seperate or all thats the way
 
My trips are not that long - 5 to 10 miles; I''m not that sure how much 20mins run will put back into the bank after a cold start. Also my eberspacher runs from the starting bank (which I probably should move to the domestic). Either way, on a cold morning (minus temps all night) which has had the eberspacher run all night, there is a possibility of not enough grunt to start, so looking for a backup plan.

I've not been caught out yet, but that is the reason for planning; just in case. Certainly, it has sounded like a struggling turn-over on the coldest mornings on a few occasions.
 
kennyh said:
My trips are not that long - 5 to 10 miles; I''m not that sure how much 20mins run will put back into the bank after a cold start. Also my eberspacher runs from the starting bank (which I probably should move to the domestic). Either way, on a cold morning (minus temps all night) which has had the eberspacher run all night, there is a possibility of not enough grunt to start, so looking for a backup plan.

I've not been caught out yet, but that is the reason for planning; just in case. Certainly, it has sounded like a struggling turn-over on the coldest mornings on a few occasions.
Click to expand...
from your Avitar it looks like your boat is a Sealine of similar if so it is very likely to have the 'link' switch on the helm to link your battery banks together
 
kennyh said:
My trips are not that long - 5 to 10 miles; I''m not that sure how much 20mins run will put back into the bank after a cold start. Also my eberspacher runs from the starting bank (which I probably should move to the domestic). Either way, on a cold morning (minus temps all night) which has had the eberspacher run all night, there is a possibility of not enough grunt to start, so looking for a backup plan.

I've not been caught out yet, but that is the reason for planning; just in case. Certainly, it has sounded like a struggling turn-over on the coldest mornings on a few occasions.
Click to expand...


I suspect that the battery will be fine after a 20 min run. You will be going quite quickly and the battery will have been fully charged before use from shore power.

However..... you should absolutely rewire the heating - as there should be nothing connected to your starting battery other than the engine!
 
jrudge said:
However..... you should absolutely rewire the heating - as there should be nothing connected to your starting battery other than the engine!
Click to expand...

I fully agree on that. Looks like the heater was a DIY install, and a poor one at that. I've already had to change its orientation and ducting to get it working properly.

Next on the list is to switch the power on to the domestic bank.

CharlieAlpha, it's a Jeanneau I have with no "link" switch or "both" selector switch on the dash or electrics locker.

So, looks like a winter project to fix any wiring issues and fit a "Both" selector.

I see BEP do a 1,2,Both Selector rated at 500amp. That should do the job.
 
Kingfisher 3 said:
This thing says it'll start up to a 5.2 litre diesel ........

https://www.amazon.co.uk/DBPOWER-18...id=1479919869&sr=8-2&keywords=jump+start+pack
Click to expand...

If that does what it says on the tin, then that would an impressive bit of kit.

It would also come in handy for my high-speed tender inflator. Currently I use a standard 12v cigarette lighter socket on the dash, but it gets very hot; I'm guessing I'm pushing the rating on that somewhat.

I suppose I could do the belt and braces and buy one of the charger packs AND fit a cross over switch! Best to be prepared ;-)
 
kennyh said:
If that does what it says on the tin, then that would an impressive bit of kit.

It would also come in handy for my high-speed tender inflator. Currently I use a standard 12v cigarette lighter socket on the dash, but it gets very hot; I'm guessing I'm pushing the rating on that somewhat.

I suppose I could do the belt and braces and buy one of the charger packs AND fit a cross over switch! Best to be prepared ;-)
Click to expand...

I assume this is a li-ion pack. I know these lightweight jump start packs came out poorly in a Car mechanics test.

FWIW, I use a Clark (Machine Mart) 4000 pack which is rated at 1500 peak - always started mine, but they are pricey - about £115 ex VAT.
 
julians said:
My boat has an emergency start switch, which joins the domestic battery to the starting battery. Thats probably the best solution.

But what is going to drain your starting battery overnight if you already have seperate domestic battery?
Click to expand...

Re point 1; Mine ( an American boat) has the same set up.

Re point 2: it depends on how stupid the OEM was. The stereo on mine is powered by the systems battery, but the high power amplifier is (or rather, was) powered by the starter battery.
 
Last edited:
kennyh said:
Hi all

I regularly stay out on the hook and in the winter months I do get a little concerned that I've enough grunt in my batteries to start my VP D4-260.

Of course I've got a voltage meter on board and I've got monitoring on the domestics, but not on the starter battery.

I was wondering whether a Jump Starter pack would be the solution to my concerns.

I see you can get a 1000A Peak starter pack which weighs 3.2kg from Suaoki.

Question is: is that big enough to start a cold VP D4? Is it overkill (and I can carry a smaller pack)?

Or should I just get a set of jump leads to keep on board and connect to the domestic batteries if I need to?

FYI - I've 2 x 110Ah batteries in rack of the Starter and Domestic Banks.
Click to expand...

As mentioned earlier, focus on the CCA. This is straight from the D4 Manual

Minimum requirements for cold start: • 12V, 1150 CCA for D4 engines.

In my experience, you can get away with a usual 110ah single to start the boat in warm conditions but you need two 110ah to overcome the 1150 CCA required to start a D4 when cold. I am not aware of a starter pack that can do this so you are probably better off getting a couple more batteries to add into your bank and switch out the leisure and starting batteries using a 1, 2 both, off type rotary switch.
 
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