Trojan, Varta, or El Cheapo - a no brainer?

[RichardS]

We've had to abandon our cruise and are going home tomorrow because the starboard engine started taking a few seconds to start and the port engine simply will not turn over. As the port engine has to be running to use the anchor windlass, the loss of that engine is pretty terminal. :ambivalence:

I decided to replace both starter batteries as they are the original Lifeline 100Ah batteries that were fitted by the builder in 2008. However, when I got them out from the engine compartments, the battery which still functions has a large Lifeline sticker which says "Lifeline Starter Battery". The one which has failed says "Lifeline Deep Cycle Battery - Not to be used for Engine Starting". Bloody marvellous!

As the batteries are otherwise identical and are enclosed in full height holders with no stickers on display, this was the first time I have ever seen these stickers.

I showed them to the local chandlery manager here in Croatia and his reaction was that he has never seen batteries with M8 and M10 bolted terminals and, as far as he knows, such batteries are not available anywhere locally. I have neither the tools nor the inclination to convert the cabling to standard conical type terminals so the Fat Lady has sung.

Richard

 

[geem]

My Trojans get cycled daily all year round. I get 3 to 4 years out of them.

I have 6 x T 105s and could get by on two but having 6 allows me to keep going for 3 days of overcast conditions without firing up a genny. .

Being the Caribbean you get the heat issue that reduces battery life as well. Hit 40degC in the battery box and you half the life of the batteries. Anything above 25degC has a impact on battery life. Add in less than perfect charging and the batteries take a hit. My truck batteries are at 3 years and I wonder how much more life we will get out of them due to the heat of a layup in the summer months in Curacao. I am hoping they will still be ok when we get back there in September

 

[Daverw]

You can get terminal adapters to allow you to use the studs to connect

 

[lw395]

We've had to abandon our cruise and are going home tomorrow because the starboard engine started taking a few seconds to start and the port engine simply will not turn over. As the port engine has to be running to use the anchor windlass, the loss of that engine is pretty terminal. :ambivalence:

I decided to replace both starter batteries as they are the original Lifeline 100Ah batteries that were fitted by the builder in 2008. However, when I got them out from the engine compartments, the battery which still functions has a large Lifeline sticker which says "Lifeline Starter Battery". The one which has failed says "Lifeline Deep Cycle Battery - Not to be used for Engine Starting". Bloody marvellous!

As the batteries are otherwise identical and are enclosed in full height holders with no stickers on display, this was the first time I have ever seen these stickers.

I showed them to the local chandlery manager here in Croatia and his reaction was that he has never seen batteries with M8 and M10 bolted terminals and, as far as he knows, such batteries are not available anywhere locally. I have neither the tools nor the inclination to convert the cabling to standard conical type terminals so the Fat Lady has sung.

Richard

I've got that on the RIB. The M8 eylets on the cabling are simply threaded on the clamp bolt of the normal clamp fitting.
I can't see anything wrong with it TBH.

 

[sailaboutvic]

I am on my fourth set each have lasted 3 to 4 years. I rarely get them to 100% 85% would be typical. Deep discharge several times when it gets overcast for days.

The lowest mine have been any morning is 92% and there on float by mid day , much before if we start the engine for any time to move .
I be very disappointed if I have to replace them in four years time ,

 

[JohnGC]

@RichardS

Thought you could do/fix anything Richard! Maybe we should send a lifeboat?

Joking aside, sorry to hear about that. We had 2008 Lifelines. I replaced them with a pair of T105s and a Varta 44Ah car battery in 2013. They have been trouble free. If you don't want to fix them properly, you could temporarily cobble something together with jump leads. You'd need to be careful but it might rescue your trip.

John

 

[RichardS]

@RichardS

Thought you could do/fix anything Richard! Maybe we should send a lifeboat?

Joking aside, sorry to hear about that. We had 2008 Lifelines. I replaced them with a pair of T105s and a Varta 44Ah car battery in 2013. They have been trouble free. If you don't want to fix them properly, you could temporarily cobble something together with jump leads. You'd need to be careful but it might rescue your trip.

John

I used the jump leads to get us back to the marina but I didn't fancy an entire cruise rely on jump leads across the deck. Due to medical circumstances we were late setting off on this cruise and would have had to curtail it early as we would have to head home next Tuesday anyway. It's been a bit of a disaster from the start and the batteries were just the final straw. We'll buy new starter and house batteries in the UK, as they were also fitted in 2008, and start again in September.

Richard

 

[JohnGC]

I used the jump leads to get us back to the marina but I didn't fancy an entire cruise rely on jump leads across the deck. Due to medical circumstances we were late setting off on this cruise and would have had to curtail it early as we would have to head home next Tuesday anyway. It's been a bit of a disaster from the start and the batteries were just the final straw. We'll buy new starter and house batteries in the UK, as they were also fitted in 2008, and start again in September.

Richard

If you decide to go for T105s, make sure they have a maintenance charge while you are away from the boat. I just leave my solar connected in the UK. In all other respects I've found them to be excellent. Starter batteries can be low capacity, I recon less than 0.5% for 30s glow and 30s crank from a 44Ah.

John