Battery suppliers in France

[Tradgirl]

Hi everyone,

We have 2 x 5 AH led acid, new batteries and 128w of solar panels & a Rutland wind generator. We’ve dumped power on anchor using the solar and wind, but struggle when trying to use navigation equipment whilst sailing. We’ve got an old e80 Classic, which does eat the power, even with the brightness turned down.

We’ve altered the autopilot settings to be more economical and think we need to up the battery bank in order to make the cruising experience more viable (at anchor more than in marinas).

If anyone has suggestions of AGM vs Gel battery makes and stockists in France it would be highly, highly appreciated. We’re currently in Roscoff and will be heading across the dreaded Raz de Sein and into La Rochelle over the next week or 2, so that would be our ideal delivery location.

Thanks in advance, Sarah & Trev

[Pete7]

Have you missed a couple of figures out of the battery bank size. Shame you have left the UK as batteries are cheaper back home rather than France. You might try ordering in the UK for a La Rochelle delivery to see if that is cheaper than the French chandlers which are outrageously expensive, hence I suspect your question.

If you are not sure what you want, then please do spend a couple of evenings reading up on CF about batteries, there are lots of different views and skill levels for maintaining batteries.

However, my money is still on flood lead acid batteries which I can top up as the best bang for the buck and take some abuse not being charged fully every time. Others will disagree, which is fine.

Pete

[Tradgirl]

Ha thanks Pete, good spot! They are 2 x 85 AH batteries. We’ve been looking at Alpha batteries for a ship out to La Rochelle as a possibility, but thought we’d ask the community about any recommendations.

We’re thinking we could do with circa 400 - 450 AH available to us, this seems to be pretty common amongst live boards.

Thanks in advance,

S & T

[Pete7]

2 x 85AH is a bit small for a live aboard especially if they are getting on a bit.

However, first step is you need to work out how much electricity you use each day, both in harbour and at sea. That will give you the size of the battery bank you need bearing in mind batteries shouldn't be taken below 50% very often or the battery life will be shortened.

Once you have the batteries you can then work out the charging regime you need and how you are going to monitor the new batteries.

So, sorry but its homework time with a couple of nights reading up on batteries, usage and battery monitors.

Note, any short cuts will almost certainly be more expensive in the longer term.

Pete

[parkstone bay]

For all battery requirements - do NOT (ever) go to a yacht chandler. The best sources are RV/camping/commercial vehicle battery suppliers. They don't often know a great deal about boats, but, as such that's not a problem; they do know about batteries, and they will always be interested in something a bit off their usual beat . RVs/camper vans/trailers/caravans/ mobile homes - and even some refrigerated vehicles - in fact have very similar issues to boaters: they need dependable starter motor power, always, even if the domestics have been run right down using TV, cabin lights, fridge, etc, etc, etc. The great advantage is that these sources are only mildly expensive, as compared with chandlers which are eye-wateringly expensive.
Finally, your starter battery set is electrically separate from your domestics bank, isn't it? (not including an optional emergency link). It's important that there is no way that the domestics can take power from your starter battery. Otherwise one day, it will happen, and you won't be able to start the engine. Push-starting a boat isn't an option!

[cybnis]

I'm not familiar with the French market for Yacht equipment..

I can recommend search in Germany:
https://meta-preisvergleich.de/

This supplier is recommendable with excellent customer service & decent shipping prices

https://www.svb24.com/en/category/el...batteries.html

[Pete7]

I have seen svb recommended before. However, be aware that Germany has a disposal tax on batteries that is charged at the point of purchase.

[moseriw]

fridge 1Ah at minimum, computer 1 Ah at minumum, Autopilot 4 Ah at minimum. Position lights with LEDS 0,7Ah makes 24+24+(96)+8,4(12 hrs) = 56,4 or 152,4

And the wrong question: You dont need it until you essentially need it.
Generator with 1 Kw 1000/12 = 83,33 Amps on the DC side not included some loss trough the charger itself. Say 80 Amps. How long do you want to have the noisy genny working to recharge your batteries? Remember - modern UOI something chargers do only load with max 20% of the batteries capacity to load them as gentle as possible....

[Pete7]

I think we are talking to ourselves, she hasn't been back since the 10th.

Pete

[smac999]

adding more batteries does not help you. unless you are getting to a dock to plug in after each day of sailing with your electronics on. you are using power, you need more charging.

a bigger fully charged bank will help you on day 1, or 2 away from the dock. but once they are drained by day 2 or 3 you are right back where you are now, using more power then you can put back in.

[Tradgirl]

Hi all,

Apologies, I haven’t received emails about all of these replies. I a[predicate all of the responses.

Pete, took your advice and have done some calculations with the amps used from fridge, nav equipment etc. We have an old e80 classic which drains the power when sailing.

A useful book was the cruisers guide from RYA, there is an entire section bout power use age.

Al-ha batteries were really useful, UK based, and were able to find us batteries that fit into the (very) limited space when have on the boat. We’ve upped the battery power by 4 times, and have a separate engine battery, so with the solar and wind turbines I think we’re ok.

Thank you for all your comments, they’ve been really useful.

Absolutely agree about the chandlers .. we call then swindlers 😋

[Franziska]

Btw. bumped into this shop recently by accident:

http://www.batteries44.com they have a shop in Nantes (Loire Atlantique) and can supply Trojans and the like.

The shop was full of all sorts of batteries and seemed fully specialized into them.

[sailormed]

Do not buy at a ship chandler, go to a battery specialist like the shop here below.
Ask if they give discounts, most do.


Eco Batteries services est implantée à Rochefort sur Mer (17) , face au Décathlon, 4 bis rue Paimpol - ZA des pêcheurs d'Islande - Tél.: 05.46.88.24.72 - Fax: 05.46.87.41.75.

[parkstone bay]

Originally Posted by Tradgirl

Hi all,

Apologies, I haven’t received emails about all of these replies. I a[predicate all of the responses.

Pete, took your advice and have done some calculations with the amps used from fridge, nav equipment etc. We have an old e80 classic which drains the power when sailing.

A useful book was the cruisers guide from RYA, there is an entire section bout power use age.

Al-ha batteries were really useful, UK based, and were able to find us batteries that fit into the (very) limited space when have on the boat. We’ve upped the battery power by 4 times, and have a separate engine battery, so with the solar and wind turbines I think we’re ok.

Thank you for all your comments, they’ve been really useful.

Absolutely agree about the chandlers .. we call then swindlers 😋

No Trad girl - chandlers AREN'T swindlers. They are in business to make money from us yotties. We yotties often want a length of string, a gas cooker, an oil filter, and a leisure battery - now - (and it's now 5:30 on a Sunday evening). The chandler needs a wide stock, and is open much longer than many other retail shops. He buys and holds the stock, and pays his staff for abnormal hours. They make up the service he's offering, and for which he, quite legitimately, wants to be paid.
What i would agree with is - if you have time and the inclination to source things individually from elsewhere, then yes you will probably save money. If you haven't got the time, or the inclination, then, Mr Chandler may have it, and charge accordingly. If you don't like the deal, you may walk away with your money intact. We economists call it "capitalism".
(it should go without saying, I am not a yacht chandler).