Starter battery

vyv_cox

vyv_cox

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Now retired, anchor swallowed.
coxeng.co.uk
I am contemplating the installation of a new starter battery, freeing up the present one to add to my domestic bank. A new starter battery would need to be relatively small as space is limited. Some questions please, as my knowledge in this area is pretty limited.

1. What is the CCA requirement for the starter on a Yanmar 3GM30?
2. My Sterling alternator management unit requires me to pre-set the battery type. How will it cope with a mixture of an AGM battery for the starter, but normal wet batteries for domestics?
3. I have been looking at Red Flash and Odyssey. Not sure the wallet will stand these. Any other suggestions?

Thanks, Vyv
 
Hi Vyv
The yanmarhelp.com website specifies 200CCA for all GM series engines. I resolved the same dilemma a couple of years ago with the purchase of a bog-standard starter battery from Barden who helpfully provide a complete list of standard auto batteries with exterior dimensions and CCA ratings. I found a fairly small one rated at AFAIR 330 CCA which does the job fine for my 1GM10, I can't remeber the price but it was much less than Red Flash or Odyssey etc.
 
Hi Vyv,

BTW, thanks for the extra info re beaching legs on the other post! My last boat had a 3GM30 and I fitted a Red Flash 1000 battery for starting purposes (see http://www.dmstech.co.uk/marine/pdf/redflashdata.pdf ). Originally had 2 x 100AH batts, one house, the other engine start which could be parallel'd up if required. Installing the tiny Red Flash allowed me to use both 100AH batts for house bank use whilst retaining the ability for parallel connection with Red Flash should this ever be needed. I kept my charger set for standard wet lead acid cells since the Red Flash are supposed to be happy with this and will accept charge at whatever rate you can throw at them. I never had a problem in practice and the Red Flash was still going strong when we sold the boat 3 years later.
 
I fitted a standard car battery for my Volvo MD2B. I had a bit of trouble with the supliers understanding CCA. They had to look it up. They use a different numbering system. I think it cost around £60 and I probably could have got away with a smaller battery.

It has been great, takes up a lot less space. Easier to handle. I shall do the same with my new boat. I will site the battery closer to the engine than the existing domestics.

I think we tend to over complicate things redarding batts. imho
 
I also fitted a Red Flash to my Volvo 2003-29HP(1100 but a smaller one would have done) as my starter & paralleled my existing 110a/h batteries.I was given the same advice re Red Flash will take normal charge but as I have sealed batteries as domestics my Sterling alternator is set to 14.4v charging.It had to be a small battery as I am short on space & I put it in a home made box in the engine bay.It cost me £125 inc delivery but I know they are a lot more now.Good prices at
www.tayna.co.uk
 
Providing that you can use a wet battery OK there is nothing wrong with car batteries. The need with a starter battery is for a "cranking" type battery. In other words one that does not mind high amp draw but does not necessarily like to be deeply discharged. Thats exactly what car batteries are. For service batteries you need a "deep cycle" battery which does not like giving out very high amps necessarily but does not mind being deeply discharged. The so called "leisure" bateries often sold in chandlers are a compromise between the two. As far as charging is concerned they are all wet lead acid type so you can mix em if you like.
 
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