Battery Craziness

[Canibul]

Paradise??? I think we must have different definitions. Living here full time is definitely not a Corona commercial.

[skipmac]

Originally Posted by Kenomac

Replaced the battery bank on my Hunter 450 four years ago for $1300 purchased through Port Supply. Replaced our current set on the Oyster two years ago for $1800 in the UK.

Ouch! How many of what kind of batteries are you using?

Originally Posted by Kenomac

I don't think I'd consider those prices cheap. Going to do my best to make them last. No solar, just genset and diesel.

I think one point that is kind of running through this thread is keep your batteries charged up and it keeps them alive and well.

Based on my admittedly limited understanding I follow this philosophy. The more I can keep my batteries topped off and the higher SOC I can maintain on a regular basis eg, discharging to 60% min instead of 50% min then the longer my batteries will last.

Solar I think will help, a lot, but I favor a multipronged approach. Solar, wind, engine and generator. One isn't working then go with the other.

[hellosailor]

Wait a minute. So, you can actually recharge and reuse your batteries?

You don't just have new ones delivered and replace the used up ones every week? Along with the Sunday papers?

Shirley, you're joking.

[skipmac]

Originally Posted by Canibul

Paradise??? I think we must have different definitions. Living here full time is definitely not a Corona commercial.

Sun, sand, clear blue water, some of the best reefs and diving outside the southern Caribbean, what am I missing here? January it's -15 F and blizzards in the US and in the T&C you might have to wear a shirt that day.

I guess if you are working there and spend all day in an office or working at a desk then you might say you're in paradise just not getting the full enjoyment.

If it is really that bad the company I work for is hiring. You would have to move to Minneapolis. Nice an balmy there last winter.

[SeaKing]

So Canibul,

What did you wind up paying for the 4 batteries, what type and size. I know its the shipping and probably some duty charged.

[Canibul]

I got four NAPA golf cart batteries. Hundred and eighty eight bucks each. No other options. Same battery as the Exide 3600.

Hey, I know all this battery talk is polarizing some of the forum, but you have to realize that some of us just do it for the charge we get.

[onestepcsy37]

3 years ago I bought 4 golf carts at sams club made by johnson controls, for 300 dollars. Sams now carries golf carts made by east penn, 4 for 320 bucks.

Sent from my GT-P3113 using Cruisers Sailing Forum mobile app

[DeepFrz]

but you have to realize that some of us just do it for the charge we get.

Paradise can be really miserable cruising if you don't have a well set up electrical system. Ask me how I know.

[bobconnie]

Well folks, If batt's are to expensive, Yall can always go old school!! Kerosene lights and no refrig, warm beer ect ect !! We tried when we started our back in the late 70s !! It sucked !! But then we are OLD now and love our wham-whams and zoom-zooms !! We now have AC and a big freezer-fridge! of course we also have a gen-set to go with all this stuff !! Ya pays your money and make's your choice !!

[Brilliant Sea]

Originally Posted by Canibul

Paradise??? I think we must have different definitions. Living here full time is definitely not a Corona commercial.

+1 , It isn't easy living on a boat. There are Corona moments(Quite a few), but we still have to mind our pees and q's!

[Jim Cate]

Jeeze, listening to you guys gripe about battery prices... last year I had to replace my 6 year old T-105's in Tasmania... best price found: 250 AUD each.

Had to order them in from Melbourne, so they came across the ditch on the ferry, and when they unloaded the pallet, the forklift dropped it and smashed the 8 batteries thereon. Back to square one, new order. When they finally arrived, they were only about 25% charge state, and the dealer didn't have anything but a trickle charger to bring them up. Sheesh!

So, quit your bitching!

Jim

[Ex-Calif]

Originally Posted by sailorboy1

Batteries aren't made of gold, even though we seem to talk about them like they are. So much obsessing over what in the bigger picture are inexpensive regular replacement required items.

<snip>

So let’s say that between the Battery Monitor and the cheaper solar it would be $970 to “protect” the batteries. All to get say 5 years instead of 3 years life out of the batteries. At 5 years life the cost of the batteries is $88/yr and at 3 it is $147 (rounded) for a yearly savings of $59. So to save $59/yr you spend $970, which is a 16 year pay back (if your batteries were/are lasting longer the payback gets even longer)

Does this make boaters cheap or just crazy?

Let’s stop obsessing about these stupid batteries so much!

Agree 100%

But I am not sure you are bitching about batteries, solar or the monitors...

Like you I believe the battery is a consumable and all ya gotta do a is a little research, have a little faith in either other persons experience or the manufacturers claim and get the cheapest battery that lasts the longest time - sometimes the most expensive isn't the cheapest per day.

For me the monitor discussion isn't about serving or protecting the battery - It's about having an accurate "fuel" gauge to alert me to either start the engine to help the solar catch up or start shedding load.

Originally Posted by ka4wja

And, it is the batteries that allow the solar arrays to do this for us, 24 hours a day...

Exactly - the battery is a fuel tank.

Originally Posted by skipmac

The price you pay for living in paradise. Don't think you're going to get a whole lot of sympathy on this forum.

For sympathy look in the dictionary - It is somewhere between sh!t and syphilis

Originally Posted by hellosailor

Wait a minute. So, you can actually recharge and reuse your batteries?

You don't just have new ones delivered and replace the used up ones every week? Along with the Sunday papers?

Shirley, you're joking.

No, I'm not joking, and my name is not Shirley...

[gts1544]

I think one of the best lines that I have ever heard about batteries goes as follows: "Batteries don't die, They are murdered!"

[Blue Crab]

Originally Posted by Canibul

... Hey, I know all this battery talk is polarizing some of the forum, but you have to realize that some of us just do it for the charge we get.

My kind of corny joke!

[sailorboy1]

Originally Posted by Jim Cate

Jeeze, listening to you guys gripe about battery prices... last year I had to replace my 6 year old T-105's in Tasmania... best price found: 250 AUD each.

Well I feel this proves my point. A large bank of about 900AH of 8 batteries at $250 that lasted 6 years is $333.33/yr or $27.78/mo.

That's cheap in the big picture of owning a boat!