Yet another 'which battery to buy' topic

[slawosz]

Hi,
I need a new battery for my Sadler 25. It will be used lightly - I don't need more than 1 Amp per hour, max 3 if the autopilot is engaged. I have only GPS, VHF, sounder, log - nothing fancy. Well, sometimes I might like to charge a phone. I want a dual purpose as the current starter battery is not the best.
Now, I see this is quite good one:
Exide ER350 DUAL Leisure Battery 80Ah (Porta Power PP75)
regarding price and 80Ah. I wonder if someone has experience with similar battries. By reading other threads, all this things like AGM or higher NCC rating are for people who will use batteries in more demanding environments than costal cruising?

 

[Tranona]

For what little extra it costs, if you have room go up a size to around 100Ah. Not a lot to choose between those standard type leisure batteries. Is your engine start just for engine?

 

[[2574]]

In your situation I'd be very tempted to buy a couple of these:

Victron 110AH Gel Batteries (x6)

 

[Pye_End]

Hi,
I need a new battery for my Sadler 25. It will be used lightly - I don't need more than 1 Amp per hour, max 3 if the autopilot is engaged. I have only GPS, VHF, sounder, log - nothing fancy. Well, sometimes I might like to charge a phone. I want a dual purpose as the current starter battery is not the best.
Now, I see this is quite good one:
Exide ER350 DUAL Leisure Battery 80Ah (Porta Power PP75)
regarding price and 80Ah. I wonder if someone has experience with similar battries. By reading other threads, all this things like AGM or higher NCC rating are for people who will use batteries in more demanding environments than costal cruising?

Have used these (think they are same model) for the last few years and found them good. You may not have space to put bigger, but if you do, you always use more power than you think!

 

[Tranona]

In your situation I'd be very tempted to buy a couple of these:

Victron 110AH Gel Batteries (x6)

Problem is that the cost of driving to Emsworth from London to pick one up would make them more expensive than having a new one delivered!

 

[Gixer]

A couple of years ago I went through this and after researching bought an Hankook 85AH leisure battery. My needs sound the same as yours and although I haven't had chance to do any long sails it seems to suit me fine. I also have another 85Ah as my engine start.

 

[Lightwave395]

I bought two of these last year at a really good price including delivery to the IOW:

Exide ER550 Dual Leisure Battery 12 Volt 115Ah -Quality battery from Exide

Cheapest place by some margin fro here: Home

 

[Stemar]

I bought two of these last year at a really good price including delivery to the IOW:

Exide ER550 Dual Leisure Battery 12 Volt 115Ah -Quality battery from Exide

Cheapest place by some margin fro here: Home

I had one of those on Jissel. It was a good few years old and still working well when I sold her.

I'm firmly of the opinion that there's no such thing as too much battery power as long as you can fit it in and keep it charged but, with modest needs, I'd reckon on getting 100AH or so and then getting a basic solar installation before spending more on batteries. We had 40w on Jissel with a cheap dual battery controller, and it could keep up with our needs at anchor in the summer. If you can get 100w, it'll easily keep up with your autopilot in most light conditions.

 

[[2574]]

Problem is that the cost of driving to Emsworth from London to pick one up would make them more expensive than having a new one delivered!

Ah yes, we have to think of these things now with diesel being inversely correlated to the value of the Rouble…….

 

[neil_s]

I've had good service from a Hankook battery bought from Battery Megastore.

 

[slawosz]

Thanks. And how about NCC rating and inventions like AGM? Is it for more demanding (crossing atlantic, cruising in months) users?

 

[Plum]

Hi,
I need a new battery for my Sadler 25. It will be used lightly - I don't need more than 1 Amp per hour, max 3 if the autopilot is engaged. I have only GPS, VHF, sounder, log - nothing fancy. Well, sometimes I might like to charge a phone. I want a dual purpose as the current starter battery is not the best.
Now, I see this is quite good one:
Exide ER350 DUAL Leisure Battery 80Ah (Porta Power PP75)
regarding price and 80Ah. I wonder if someone has experience with similar battries. By reading other threads, all this things like AGM or higher NCC rating are for people who will use batteries in more demanding environments than costal cruising?

My boat size, type of sailing and energy demands sound similar to yours. I have two of these Hankook XV85 Dual Purpose Leisure Battery and my 21hp diesel starts perfectly from either and I have never run out even on an overnight passage using autopilot. I usually get 8 years life from them.

Www.solocoastalsailing.co.uk

 

[slawosz]

My boat size, type of sailing and energy demands sound similar to yours. I have two of these Hankook XV85 Dual Purpose Leisure Battery and my 21hp diesel starts perfectly from either and I have never run out even on an overnight passage using autopilot. I usually get 8 years life from them.

Www.solocoastalsailing.co.uk

Thanks, that's a solid recommendation. Do you use 1/2/both switch or do you have just one battery bank? Do you use solar to top up them?
I am planning to buy just one new battery, providing the current tiny 35Ah will be 'ok-ish'. But maybe its better to buy two as the saving is not significant and they will be in the same condition?

 

[fredrussell]

Is (OP’s) boat on a swinging mooring? I put a fancy Varta battery on my 26ft boat but was never able to give it a really good charge as was on a swinging mooring and battery didn’t do too well as a result. If I were on a swinging mooring again I think I would buy a smallish and light lithium battery and then take it ashore once in a while for a charge.

 

[slawosz]

Is (OP’s) boat on a swinging mooring?

Yes, it is. I am planning to have a solar panel to top up batteries.

 

[slawosz]

My boat size, type of sailing and energy demands sound similar to yours.

I forgot to ask - how do you charge your batteries?

 

[Plum]

Thanks, that's a solid recommendation. Do you use 1/2/both switch or do you have just one battery bank? Do you use solar to top up them?
I am planning to buy just one new battery, providing the current tiny 35Ah will be 'ok-ish'. But maybe its better to buy two as the saving is not significant and they will be in the same condition?

I use a 1-2-B switch so I can select which battery cranks the engine and gets charged by the alternator. This has woked well for me for 20 years although up until 12 years ago I had one 110Ah and one 60Ah . Now both batteries are the same make and specification. I do not have solar or wind charging, nor do I stay connected to shore power. Once the isolator switch is OFF there is absolutely no drain at all and the batteries stay good for 2 months if left (maybe longer). I am in a marina so occasionally when I am on board, say doing maintenance, I plug in a 7A smart battery charger to whichever battery I choose but have never found this essential. If I was on a swinging mooring I don't think I would need solar.

Www.solocoastalsailing.co.uk

 

[Pete7]

Thanks. And how about NCC rating and inventions like AGM? Is it for more demanding (crossing atlantic, cruising in months) users?

The NCC sounded like a really good idea, but they don't actually test batteries.

Pete

 

[Stemar]

I use a 1-2-B switch so I can select which battery cranks the engine and gets charged by the alternator. This has woked well for me for 20 years although up until 12 years ago I had one 110Ah and one 60Ah . Now both batteries are the same make and specification. I do not have solar or wind charging, nor do I stay connected to shore power. Once the isolator switch is OFF there is absolutely no drain at all and the batteries stay good for 2 months if left (maybe longer). I am in a marina so occasionally when I am on board, say doing maintenance, I plug in a 7A smart battery charger to whichever battery I choose but have never found this essential. If I was on a swinging mooring I don't think I would need solar.

Www.solocoastalsailing.co.uk

Go one better and fit a relay to charge both batteries from the alternator. These days, a VSR won't break most banks, but one of these is under a fiver. I used one of these on Jissel and it worked perfectly for years.

HELLA 4RD 933 332-051 Relay, main current - 12V - 5-pin connector - Changeover Contact : Amazon.co.uk: Automotive

My 1-2-both switch was wired common to the starter, 1 to the start battery and 2 to the domestic one The alternator output went to 1, and the relay connected 1 &2 when energised. The energising contacts went from the alternator warning light connection on the alternator to earth, so when the warning light went out, the relay energised, putting the two batteries in parallel.

 

[Plum]

Go one better and fit a relay to charge both batteries from the alternator. These days, a VSR won't break most banks, but one of these is under a fiver. I used one of these on Jissel and it worked perfectly for years.

HELLA 4RD 933 332-051 Relay, main current - 12V - 5-pin connector - Changeover Contact : Amazon.co.uk: Automotive

My 1-2-both switch was wired common to the starter, 1 to the start battery and 2 to the domestic one The alternator output went to 1, and the relay connected 1 &2 when energised. The energising contacts went from the alternator warning light connection on the alternator to earth, so when the warning light went out, the relay energised, putting the two batteries in parallel.

Thank you for the suggestion. I am well aware of the use of relays to combine charging but on this boat I much prefer the simplicity of the system I have and happy the manually rotate my 1-2-B switch.

Www.solocoastalsailing.co.uk