Life of a battery ??

[Matt341]

Hi All, I think i am starting to have problems with the batteries /forums/images/graemlins/frown.gif

We went down the boat today, she has been standing for a few months now without the engine started. We have a 20 amp solar panel.

Went to start the engine today and there was a dull attempt at a start. On the third attempt she started which was surprising. The engine is only 2 years old.

The batteries are standard 85ah. We have 2 in parallel.

We don't have a charger but it is top of my list to fit!

The batteries were replaced 4 years ago.

I'm just wondering whether they are nackered? Once the engine had been running for an hour or so they were showing full.

Was it just the cold weather and the fact she hadn't been started for months?

Thanks
Ian

 

[morgandlm]

I'd be disappointed if I only got 4 years out of good quality lead/acid batteries but it does depend on how you have been using them i.e how many times you've let them run down and re-charge etc. I went to my boat on Wednesday when it was really cold and both my batteries (2 x 85 ah) were fine although had received no charge for four weeks. Both are over 5 years old.
Morgan

 

[toad]

On cars I change a lot at the five year mark although some can go on a lot longer, my boat starting battery failed last year at six years old.

 

[johnalison]

I hope you've been turning the engine over occasionally as a new engine deserves better than to be left for months without attention (or being winterised)

 

[Malish]

check the terminal connetions

 

[Matt341]

Hi All, Thank you for your replies. The problem started when we moved to a different marina. The berth we were given dried out with only a couple of inches of water so I couldn't start the engine due to the mud. Yesterday we moved to a nicer berth so every other weekend we will go down to start it up. I can't turn the engine over. On our old Yanmar I could but this one has no option to do so. It also can't be manually started it is dependant on batteries.

I think the main problem was the cold, the engine was cold, the batteries were cold and also the engine hadn't been started.

I'm going down next weekend with a battery tester and a charger. So hopefully it was just caused by the cold.

Before we moved the boat we had to crack the ice from around her!

Thanks again.

Ian

 

[sailorman]

Cold thick Oil