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 battery reserve		  New Topic  Topic Locked
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newell
Navigator

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USA
113 Posts
Initially Posted - 02/14/2008 :  09:38:26  Show Profile
I am about to purchase a new deep cycle battery for my boat and I am wondering if anyone has thoughts on how many amp hours (on average) would be required. As I think about what actually runs on the battery when I am away from the dock the amperage draw is minimal, even at night.

thoughts???

newell
Newell
1980 C25 SR/SK
AVALON
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Prospector
Master Marine Consultant

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Canada
3159 Posts
Response Posted - 02/14/2008 :  10:01:13  Show Profile  Visit Prospector's Homepage
The answer I got from the surette guy at the boat show was to figure out your demand in amp hours, and multiply it by 4. We are in a similar situation to you in that all we need the battery for is starting the outboard, and the house lights. Our demand is very low, and the surette guy told us that buying his stuff would be major overkill.

I was at Princess Auto the other night and came across an interesting idea. They has USMC ammo boxes with a small deep cycle battery in them. The batteries were rated for 28 AH - which means actual use would be 1 amp for 7 hours. I was thinking that if I picked up 2 or three of them, they would be an alternative for day cruising. Easy to transport, throw them on the charger at home when not in use, and just use the boat batteries to start the outboard. So I'd have one "ammo box battery" on the boat, and one on the charger at all times with a spare for backup.

I am still mulling this idea over.
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Frank Hopper
Past Commodore

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Pitcairn Island
6776 Posts
Response Posted - 02/14/2008 :  12:26:53  Show Profile  Visit Frank Hopper's Homepage
I am an old simpleton, I have always used the same formula, go to Sears and buy the most expensive, biggest battery that will fit; car, boat, mower, bike, whatever. I have never regretted it. Being a slave to hauling even little batteries back and forth is inconceivable to me. All technology should be invisible, that includes power sources; big batteries and a top quality charger = invisible reliability.
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Dave5041
Former Mainsheet Editor

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USA
3758 Posts
Response Posted - 02/14/2008 :  17:13:04  Show Profile
Agree with Frank, a bigger battery means you won't discharge deeply and it will live longer. And if your needs go up, you've already got the batter you need
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tinob
Master Marine Consultant

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USA
1883 Posts
Response Posted - 02/15/2008 :  08:50:30  Show Profile
GO WITH FRANK AND DAVE

Val on the hard DAGNABIT, # 3936, Patchogue, N.Y.
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dlucier
Master Marine Consultant

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Virgin Islands (United Kingdom)
7583 Posts
Response Posted - 02/15/2008 :  10:03:36  Show Profile
When my current non-hermetically sealed, wet cell, group 27, deep cycle battery gives up the ghost, I'm going to move up to a sealed AGM/Gel type battery so I don't have to keep topping off the electrolyte after I've spent the afternoon with the rail in the water.
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Dave Bristle
Master Marine Consultant

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Djibouti
10005 Posts
Response Posted - 02/15/2008 :  11:13:57  Show Profile
<blockquote id="quote"><font size="1" face="Verdana, Arial, Helvetica" id="quote">quote:<hr height="1" noshade id="quote"><i>Originally posted by dlucier</i>
<br />..I'm going to move up to a sealed AGM/Gel type battery...<hr height="1" noshade id="quote"></font id="quote"></blockquote id="quote">Forget gel... Go AGM. They're less sensitive to charging voltage (gels need a special charger) and to deep discharges. (Where's all that acid going??)
Edited by - Dave Bristle on 02/15/2008 11:14:50
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dlucier
Master Marine Consultant

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Virgin Islands (United Kingdom)
7583 Posts
Response Posted - 02/15/2008 :  11:28:32  Show Profile
<blockquote id="quote"><font size="1" face="Verdana, Arial, Helvetica" id="quote">quote:<hr height="1" noshade id="quote"><i>Originally posted by Dave Bristle</i>
<br />(Where's all that acid going??)
<hr height="1" noshade id="quote"></font id="quote"></blockquote id="quote">

Inside the battery box.
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Notice: The advice given on this site is based upon individual or quoted experience, yours may differ.
The Officers, Staff and members of this site only provide information based upon the concept that anyone utilizing this information does so at their own risk and holds harmless all contributors to this site.