Sadler 32/Red Flash/Bukh DV20

[DownWest]

Just as a comparison.. My car battery is a much abused 70 ah which came with the previous motor in 2005, so not very new then. Still going strong and was supplied by Carrefour. Should I buy a lottery ticket?

 

[CCJ]

Just as a comparison.. My car battery is a much abused 70 ah which came with the previous motor in 2005, so not very new then. Still going strong and was supplied by Carrefour. Should I buy a lottery ticket?

Wait until you take to La scrappy then use those funds to purchase said lotto ticket

 

[Tranona]

But there's an element of common sense in being tight.

Depends on your time horizons. I bought all the three cars I have in 2003-5. Two are on their third conventional batteries (so 4-5 years average life) and the oldest, the Morgan is just 15 years old on its original Red Flash.

 

[pvb]

Depends on your time horizons. I bought all the three cars I have in 2003-5. Two are on their third conventional batteries (so 4-5 years average life) and the oldest, the Morgan is just 15 years old on its original Red Flash.

I'd expect around 10 years from a car battery in regular use. Your Red Flash on a light use car isn't unusual.

 

[Heckler]

Depends on your time horizons. I bought all the three cars I have in 2003-5. Two are on their third conventional batteries (so 4-5 years average life) and the oldest, the Morgan is just 15 years old on its original Red Flash.

My cheapo lead acid starter battery, chosen because I asked for one that would suit a Tranny, lasted 9 years on my Bene. Of course I looked after it properly. Was about £50

 

[vyv_cox]

Ah, common sense is creeping in to the practical boat owner forum!

I don't know the precise layout of a Sadler 32, but on the 34 the three battery boxes are built in and surrounded by foam. There is no other option for a fourth (starter) battery other than putting it in the engine room. This is very small with absolutely no chance of using a small cheap starter battery. A Red Flash is the only option I could find and even the difference between a 900 and 1100 needed careful planning.

 

[Hydrozoan]

I don't know the precise layout of a Sadler 32, but on the 34 the three battery boxes are built in and surrounded by foam. There is no other option for a fourth (starter) battery other than putting it in the engine room. This is very small with absolutely no chance of using a small cheap starter battery. A Red Flash is the only option I could find and even the difference between a 900 and 1100 needed careful planning.

One L-shaped box to the rear of the quarterberth, if ours is representative, which will take 2 conventional leisure batteries of about 110Ah each. (But ISTR that Champagne Murphy (?) may have found a combination of 3 batteries which can fit and give a bit more overall capacity - though I may be wrong on that, in which case my apologies to him.)

 

[Tranona]

I'd expect around 10 years from a car battery in regular use. Your Red Flash on a light use car isn't unusual.

Not my experience.

I know it is not unusual for the Red Flash and no reason why it should not last another 5 years at least. That is why I like them as they last longer than cheap lead acid as well as being smaller and more versatile in a boat.

If you don't value those properties, don't buy one.

 

[Ross f]

The S32 has an "L" shaped battery box under the quarter berth with room for 3 "standard" size batteries. There is a fair bit of room in the engine bay at the back of the Bukh which is easily accessible when the cockpit "bath tub" is removed. Plan is to fit the starter battery on the starboard engine bay bulkhead on a bracket just above the gearbox virtually right next to the starter motor - port side I have fitted an automatic fire extinguisher and there is the same amount of free space on the starboard side. It is a good feature of the S32 in that it has good engine access from the back.
Lang may yer lum reek!

 

[lw395]

Not my experience.

I know it is not unusual for the Red Flash and no reason why it should not last another 5 years at least. That is why I like them as they last longer than cheap lead acid as well as being smaller and more versatile in a boat.

If you don't value those properties, don't buy one.

I know a lot of Land Rover owners who've managed to get short lives from RF batteries. When we looked into this, we found that it wasn't uncommon in motorsport either.
These batteries are mostly chosen for their size. Nowadays Lithium is taking their market.
It also seems to be increasingly common for modern(ish) cars with 'intelligent' alternator control (but pre stop/start) to get over ten years/100k miles from a fairly ordinary lead-calcium acid battery. Although such cars seem to have quite hefty batteries.

 

[ditchcrawler]

I used a Red Flash 1100 to start my Volvo2003 28hp and it performed perfectly for 9 years. It probably would have lasted longer but I decided to replace it anyway. I wanted a small battery because of space limitations so I could link my two sealed 110 batteries as domestics. My Sterling management system has been adjusted to output14.4 volts the AGM setting.
This has been fine for my domestics as well which I changed after 10 years although they were still fine.

 

[Malish]

Hi

I have a Red Flash on a DV24, pretty sure it is an 1100. Works a treat, plenty of juice even for multiple attempts at starting. Can't comment on your temperature question as ours is in the battery bank, would be surprised if it is an issue but others may know better.

Just found the receipt - yes it is an 1100, fitted in 2010 and never a problem since. Would replace with the same without a second thought.

 

[BabaYaga]

I know a lot of Land Rover owners who've managed to get short lives from RF batteries. When we looked into this, we found that it wasn't uncommon in motorsport either.

Did you discover any special reason for their short-livedness? (charging regime, usage pattern etc)