[Public-List] Small batteries and diesels

Wes Gardner via Public-List public-list at lists.alberg30.org
Sat Jun 11 05:26:00 PDT 2016


Here's my opinion...honestly, the way I use my boat - shore power when not sailing and then evening day sails and a couple of overnights, I just buy cheapo AutoZone group 24s.  I have two, a house and a "start" in conjunction with the good ole Perko switch. My alternator is the "standard fare" no fancy charge controller.

I'm not concerned with weight although my batteries are down low under the cabin sole, typical of our boats. I still use standard light bulbs and I only have a depth sounder.

Someday will this system let me down and I'll have to sail home...maybe.

More than likely some idiot will screw a standard thread oil pressure sender into the side of my metric block and it will blow out and pump all the oil into e bilge...oh wait, that already happened :-)

Wes
Griffin's Faith #196
Just broad reachin' through life....

> On Jun 11, 2016, at 6:34 AM, Jeffrey <fongemie at gmail.com> wrote:
> 
> Not much of a premium with AGM motorcycle batteries.  For my bikes, a good flooded battery is $50 to $60 where the AGM's I bought are $70 or so.
> 
> A cheap flooded group 24 auto battery from Walmart is ~ $100 whereas an Optima AGM Bluetop is $156.
> 
> The battery I'd like to try is  this little guy:
> https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B003YI1BQ2
> 
> Jeff
> 
> 
> Seagrass. #116
> Boothbay Harbor, Maine
> http://sailboatseagrass.com/
> 
> 
> 
>> On Fri, Jun 10, 2016 at 6:38 PM, Wes Gardner <wesgardner1952 at gmail.com> wrote:
>> Yeah, that article is from 2010 I think. Do you pay a premium for bike batteries?
>> 
>> Wes
>> 
>> > On Jun 10, 2016, at 6:15 PM, Jeffrey via Public-List <public-list at lists.alberg30.org> wrote:
>> >
>> > Michael,
>> >
>> > Smallest auto group 24 battery? Or a motorsports/motorcycle battery?
>> >
>> > Wes, I've seen that article from MainSail. He's a smart guy, but I wonder
>> > if AGM would be ok in my situation.  Price has come way down, not such a
>> > premium any more.  A few years ago in put AGM batteries in my 1967 and 1977
>> > Triumph motorcycles with very primitive charging systems and they've been
>> > great.  One almost never gets used, just sits there. I put the pikes up in
>> > November with a full charge and in the spring the charger tells me they are
>> > still full.  No issues at all so far and I've heard the same from other
>> > motorcycle owners.
>> >
>> > jeff
>> >
>> > Seagrass. #116
>> > Boothbay Harbor, Maine
>> > http://sailboatseagrass.com/
>> >
>> > <http://instagram.com/jfongemie>
>> >
>> >> On Fri, Jun 10, 2016 at 3:59 PM, Michael Grosh <dickdurk at gmail.com> wrote:
>> >>
>> >> I've taken to getting the smallest, cheapest batteries at Walmart and
>> >> alternate getting new ones every 2 years. They provide oodles of juice,
>> >> even when having to crank for a while on chilly mornings (  no glow plug)
>> >> I imagine it takes less overall to turn over a 20 hp diesel than a 90 hp
>> >> hog,  but there is always the decompression lever to get the thing really
>> >> spinning.
>> >> Have you seen the new lithium ion batteries for motorcycles? I'm thinking
>> >> of getting one for my Sportster-they are really light, and only
>> >> unreasonably expensive, not exorbitant.
>> >> Michael Grosh
>> >> #220
>> >> P.S. I've also changed to led lighting throughout, so I really have no
>> >> electrical drain requiring a deep cycle source.
>> >> On Jun 10, 2016 9:35 AM, "Jeffrey via Public-List" <
>> >> public-list at lists.alberg30.org> wrote:
>> >>
>> >>> Hey everyone,
>> >>>
>> >>> I need a new starting battery for my 20hp diesel and I'm wondering if I
>> >>> can
>> >>> get by with a smaller battery.    I'm looking at what is essentially a
>> >>> large AGM motorcycle battery with 21 ams and 300CCAs.
>> >>>
>> >>> I know diesels need more of a kick to get going, but I'm wondering how
>> >>> small of a battery I can get away with and still have a margin for
>> >>> successive starts in a row.
>> >>>
>> >>> I also have a 225 amp hour house deep cell bank I could fall back to.
>> >>>
>> >>> Is this simply not enough juice?
>> >>>
>> >>> Jeff
>> >>>
>> >>> Seagrass. #116
>> >>> Boothbay Harbor, Maine
>> >>> http://sailboatseagrass.com/
>> >>>
>> >>> <http://instagram.com/jfongemie>
>> >>> _______________________________________________
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>> >
>> >
>> > --
>> > ______________
>> >
>> > Jeffrey Fongemie
>> >
>> > <http://instagram.com/jfongemie>
>> > _______________________________________________
>> > These businesses support your Association:
>> > http://www.alberg30.org/store/A30supporters.html
>> > Please support them.
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> 
> 
> 
> -- 
> ______________
> 
> Jeffrey Fongemie     
> 
> 


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