DEAD &%#*& Batteries?
 

Beautiful day today, not even that hot, breeze was 12-15, no
thunderstorms great day to scrape barnacles from the bottom and do some
sailing. I had not been sailing since mid-June due to the heat and
travel. Got aboard, put in the key, pressed START and
RRRrrr.....rr......r then silence. Huh? I keep my batteries charged
with a solar panel and have never had problems in 20 yrs.
Hmmmm...............OK, I try to relieve compression and get even less,
batteries are really dead. My neighbor has a battery pack for jump
starting his gasoline motor on his pontoon boat, not sure it'll work on
a diesel but we try. I relieve compression and push "Start"
RRRRRRRRRR (compression ON) R......... and silence. Compression OFF,
RRRrr..rr.r and silence. CRAP! OK, So we wont get it started but why
didnt the solar panels keep the batteries charged.
I check my wiring and see that the constant UV exposure has embrittled
the wiring insulation from the solar panel to batteries and it has
simply allowed the wires to corrode thru after 15 yrs.

So, now I have one 4 yr old battery, one 3 yr old battery. Neither has
ever been discharged completely. They were not allowed to discharge by
any use but simply by sitting. Replace or not?

DEAD &%#*& Batteries?
 

wrote in message ups.com...

|
| So, now I have one 4 yr old battery, one 3 yr old battery. Neither has
| ever been discharged completely. They were not allowed to discharge by
| any use but simply by sitting. Replace or not?
|

Definitely replace 'em both as a set. Three and four year old batteries are
about shot anyhoo. Give the new ones a good first charge because the stores
don't generally bother doing much but putting acid in.

Paladin

--
Posted via a free Usenet account from http://www.teranews.com

DEAD &%#*& Batteries?
 

I think it depends on the quality of the batts. Seems like if they're good
quality to begin with, you should be ok. I would definitely give it a shot.

--
"j" ganz @@
www.sailnow.com

wrote in message
ups.com...
Beautiful day today, not even that hot, breeze was 12-15, no
thunderstorms great day to scrape barnacles from the bottom and do some
sailing. I had not been sailing since mid-June due to the heat and
travel. Got aboard, put in the key, pressed START and
RRRrrr.....rr......r then silence. Huh? I keep my batteries charged
with a solar panel and have never had problems in 20 yrs.
Hmmmm...............OK, I try to relieve compression and get even less,
batteries are really dead. My neighbor has a battery pack for jump
starting his gasoline motor on his pontoon boat, not sure it'll work on
a diesel but we try. I relieve compression and push "Start"
RRRRRRRRRR (compression ON) R......... and silence. Compression OFF,
RRRrr..rr.r and silence. CRAP! OK, So we wont get it started but why
didnt the solar panels keep the batteries charged.
I check my wiring and see that the constant UV exposure has embrittled
the wiring insulation from the solar panel to batteries and it has
simply allowed the wires to corrode thru after 15 yrs.

So, now I have one 4 yr old battery, one 3 yr old battery. Neither has
ever been discharged completely. They were not allowed to discharge by
any use but simply by sitting. Replace or not?

DEAD &%#*& Batteries?
 

Charge them up and measure peak current into a low impedance load (short
circuit). If they deliver their rated current they are still good, the cell
impedance is not high.

Age does not matter, past history does not matter much. Keep them topped off
with distilled water and actually MEASURE their performance.

Don't listen to these old wive's tales.

Bob Crantz

DEAD &%#*& Batteries?
 

Bad advice. Those batteries are obviously shot. No doubt
sulfphated all to hell.

Paladin


"Bob Crantz" wrote in message . ..
| Charge them up and measure peak current into a low impedance load (short
| circuit). If they deliver their rated current they are still good, the cell
| impedance is not high.
|
| Age does not matter, past history does not matter much. Keep them topped off
| with distilled water and actually MEASURE their performance.
|
| Don't listen to these old wive's tales.
|
| Bob Crantz
|
|

--
Posted via a free Usenet account from http://www.teranews.com

DEAD &%#*& Batteries?
 

http://www.homepower.com/files/desul...mpedance%20%22

DEAD &%#*& Batteries?
 

"Bob Crantz" wrote...
| Charge them up

Yes, but how? Doesn't it make a difference?


| .... and measure peak current into a low impedance load (short
| circuit). If they deliver their rated current they are still good, the cell
| impedance is not high.
|
| Age does not matter, past history does not matter much. Keep them topped off
| with distilled water and actually MEASURE their performance.
|

Agreed.
A moderate or low load test over a measured time interval is
easy to do and the best way to rate battery performance.
That's better IMHO than a quick high load test, unless you
are specifically testing start batteries.

| Don't listen to these old wive's tales.
|

Hey in some cases, that's all ya got!

Paladin wrote:
Bad advice. Those batteries are obviously shot. No doubt
sulfphated all to hell.
|


If that's all, not a problem... with the right equipment, of
course.

A good charger is not expensive and makes a HUGE difference
in battery life & performance.

Fresh Breezes- Doug King

DEAD &%#*& Batteries?
 

"DSK" wrote in message

A good charger is not expensive and makes a HUGE difference in battery
life & performance.


Bingo!

Battery charging is a science and must be done properly.

DEAD &%#*& Batteries?
 

Gilligan wrote:
Battery charging is a science and must be done properly.


Looking thru the maintenance log of our tugboat, I saw that
the two previous owners had been replacing batteries after
about 2 years, although they carefully noted level readings
etc etc. The charger was huge buzzing ferro-resonant
contraption, cutting edge state-of-the-art 1920s technology.
I unbolted it and threw it away.

DSK

DEAD &%#*& Batteries?
 

"DSK" wrote | Looking thru the maintenance log of our tugboat, I saw that
| the two previous owners had been replacing batteries after
| about 2 years, although they carefully noted level readings
| etc etc. The charger was huge buzzing ferro-resonant
| contraption, cutting edge state-of-the-art 1920s technology.
| I unbolted it and threw it away.
|
| DSK
|

Does tugboat talk really belong in a sailing news group? Do sailboats
really need batteries? Mine does just fine with no battery.

Cheers,
Ellen

DEAD &%#*& Batteries?
 

"Ellen MacArthur" wrote in
message
reenews.ne
t...

"DSK" wrote | Looking thru the
maintenance log of our tugboat, I saw that
| the two previous owners had been replacing batteries
after
| about 2 years, although they carefully noted level
readings
| etc etc. The charger was huge buzzing ferro-resonant
| contraption, cutting edge state-of-the-art 1920s
technology.
| I unbolted it and threw it away.
|
| DSK
|

Does tugboat talk really belong in a sailing news group?


Yes.


Do sailboats
really need batteries? Mine does just fine with no
battery.


*Real* sailboats have batteries.



--
Scott Vernon
Plowville Pa _/)__/)_/)_

DEAD &%#*& Batteries?
 

"Scotty" wrote

| Yes.

I don't think so. There are tugboat groups surely :-)

| *Real* sailboats have batteries.

My sailboat is real and it doesn't have a battery. It doesn't have a motor either.
I wonder if there are any purists here.

Cheers,
Ellen

DEAD &%#*& Batteries?
 

I wonder if there are any purists here.

Hmmmm... I detected a bit of Captain Neal's philosophy in the
above referenced comment.

I wonder if there is a connection..?

Bill

DEAD &%#*& Batteries?
 

"Dave" wrote
| Most of us have something bigger than a sailing dink, and don't like to hand
| start the diesel with a crank except in emergencies.

I don't blame you but no motor is better on a sailboat. They're supposed to be simple and fun.
And mine's not a sailing dink. It's a real sailboat. It's an 18-foot Tangerine. Like the one with
blue and white sails at this site. But mine has a big red stripe on the hull.
http://www.geocities.com/renkensailboats/index.html

Cheers,
Ellen

DEAD &%#*& Batteries?
 

"Dave" wrote |
| I noticed 4 or 5 members of my club list their vessels as 9' Dyers. But most
| of those folks are in their 70s.
|
| I'd love to see you try tacking up the channel into North Cove (located at
| 41.17.455N 72.21.055W) and then pick up a mooring in the cove under sail.
| Try it some time and then come back and talk about purists.

Don't poo-poo a Dyer Dhow. (See, I'm not as dumb as you think. :-)) They sail real well and can
get back to a mooring easy unless the wind dies. I've sailed one plenty. Actually, they go upwind
better than my present boat but they don't have any shelter in them. But, most of the time I like
to work on my tan so I like sailing dinghies.

Cheers,
Ellen

DEAD &%#*& Batteries?
 

wrote
| Hmmmm... I detected a bit of Captain Neal's philosophy in the
| above referenced comment.
|
| I wonder if there is a connection..?



Capt. Neal is kewl. I agree with his philosophy. (except the part where he puts women down but I think
he's just bluffing) Like to meet him some day, (sigh). I think I could change his mind.

Cheers,
Ellen

DEAD &%#*& Batteries?
 

"Ellen MacArthur" said:
Does tugboat talk really belong in a sailing news group?

If it bothers you, I'll use shorter simpler words

..... Do sailboats
really need batteries? Mine does just fine with no battery.


Does your boat have lights? Instruments? Windlass? Pumps?
Refrigeration? An engine?

The technology of electricity is one of the cornerstones of
what is sometimes called Western civilization. If you don't
need it, that's fine. But are you sure of your ground in
criticising others for having it?

Dave wrote:
Most of us have something bigger than a sailing dink, and don't like to hand
start the diesel with a crank except in emergencies.

Starting your diesel with your crank? Now *that's* manly!!
Are you trying to impress Ellen here?!?

DSK

DEAD &%#*& Batteries?
 

I am the purest of the purists.

My sailboat is propelled by galley slaves. Three cracks of the whip and I'm
at hull speed.

DEAD &%#*& Batteries?
 

DSK wrote:
"Ellen MacArthur" said:
Does tugboat talk really belong in a sailing news group?

If it bothers you, I'll use shorter simpler words

..... Do sailboats
really need batteries? Mine does just fine with no battery.


Does your boat have lights? Instruments? Windlass? Pumps?
Refrigeration? An engine?

The technology of electricity is one of the cornerstones of
what is sometimes called Western civilization. If you don't
need it, that's fine. But are you sure of your ground in
criticising others for having it?

Dave wrote:
Most of us have something bigger than a sailing dink, and don't like to hand
start the diesel with a crank except in emergencies.

Starting your diesel with your crank? Now *that's* manly!!
Are you trying to impress Ellen here?!?

DSK

Whats so manly?

My 12 hp Lister is hand cranked all the time. Has petxoxks that
reklease the pressure, get her rolling and hit a trigger and she off
and running.

Joe
Your eyes are wild, your face is pale,--
This is no night for ships to sail!
The hungry wind is moaning low,
The storm is up--you shall not go!

DEAD &%#*& Batteries?
 

"Joe" wrote in message
oups.com...

Whats so manly?


http://i73.photobucket.com/albums/i2...0/03342126.jpg

DEAD &%#*& Batteries?
 

"Gilligan" wrote
| My sailboat is propelled by galley slaves. Three cracks of the whip and I'm
| at hull speed.

Silly Gilly! (hee hee)

Cheers,
Ellen

DEAD &%#*& Batteries?
 

"DSK" wrote
| Does your boat have lights? Instruments? Windlass? Pumps?
| Refrigeration? An engine?

No, no, no, no, no, no. It has a compass if you call that an instrument.

| The technology of electricity is one of the cornerstones of
| what is sometimes called Western civilization. If you don't
| need it, that's fine. But are you sure of your ground in
| criticising others for having it?

I guess it's nice on BIG sailboats but I still think it's not necessary and it
seems to take away from time spent sailing. Are sailboats supposed to hold
all of western civilization? I've got a house for all that stuff.

Cheers,
Ellen

DEAD &%#*& Batteries?
 

DEAD &%#*& Batteries?
 

Gilligan wrote:
I am the purest of the purists.

My sailboat is propelled by galley slaves. Three cracks of the whip and I'm
at hull speed.


Bull hocky...we all know that your boat is powered by the powerful
emissions from your gas riddled flying Monkeys....

DEAD &%#*& Batteries?
 

"Ellen MacArthur" wrote in message
reenews.net...

Are sailboats supposed to hold
all of western civilization? I've got a house for all that stuff.


Touche!

DEAD &%#*& Batteries?
 

"Gilligan" wrote
| http://i73.photobucket.com/albums/i2...0/03342126.jpg



Shame on you, Gilly. (blush)

Cheers,
Ellen

DEAD &%#*& Batteries?
 

"Joe" wrote in message
oups.com..
..

Whats so manly?

My 12 hp Lister is hand cranked all the time. Has
petxoxks that
reklease the pressure, get her rolling and hit a trigger
and she off
and running.

BFD, I hand crank my Cat 3406...in the winter!

Scotty

DEAD &%#*& Batteries?
 

"Gilligan" wrote in
message . ..

"Ellen MacArthur" wrote in
message

reenews.ne
t...

Are sailboats supposed to hold
all of western civilization? I've got a house for all
that stuff.


Touchy!

and bitchy, too.


SBV

DEAD &%#*& Batteries?
 

"katy" wrote in message
...
Gilligan wrote:
I am the purest of the purists.

My sailboat is propelled by galley slaves. Three cracks of the whip and
I'm at hull speed.
Bull hocky...we all know that your boat is powered by the powerful
emissions from your gas riddled flying Monkeys....

I can do pretty well myself too.

DEAD &%#*& Batteries?
 

"Ellen MacArthur" wrote in
message
reenews.ne
t...
I
Are sailboats supposed to hold
all of western civilization?


No, just the stuff that makes sailing more
enjoyable....including the kitchen sink.




I've got a house for all that stuff.

Is that were you 'hustle and bustle'?

SV

DEAD &%#*& Batteries?
 

| Does your boat have lights? Instruments? Windlass? Pumps?
| Refrigeration? An engine?

Ellen MacArthur wrote:
No, no, no, no, no, no. It has a compass if you call that an instrument.


Sure.
A good compass is a great instrument.

Since your boat does have an enclosing deck & cabin you
should consider getting an electric automatic bilge pump.
It's far better to have one & not need it, than to need it
and not have it.


| ..... If you don't
| need it, that's fine. But are you sure of your ground in
| criticising others for having it?

I guess it's nice on BIG sailboats but I still think it's not necessary

Of course it's not *necessary*.


.... and it
seems to take away from time spent sailing.

That depends very much on the person. Some get distracted
and are more gadgeteers than sailors. Others keep it in
perspective and use available technology to make their
sailing & cruising better.


.... Are sailboats supposed to hold
all of western civilization? I've got a house for all that stuff.


Your house isn't the culmination of a long tradition
starting with primordial dugouts, triremes, Viking
longships, galleons, clipper ships, and racing cutters.

"Houses are merely vessels of a different kind, so firmly
aground that they cannot ever get unstuck and so poorly
constructed that they couldn't remain afloat if they did."
-Arthur Ransome

DSK

DEAD &%#*& Batteries?
 

Dave wrote:
On 5 Sep 2006 18:15:06 -0700, "Joe" said:

My 12 hp Lister is hand cranked all the time.

My 8 HP Yanmar can, according to the manual, be started that way. I've never
tried it, but probably will have to one day.

My old 8 hp Yannie could be hand cranked but my newer 13 hp cannot and
has no provision for it.

Now, for purists, I couldnt care less about the wind except it's cheap.
I'd power a cruising boat with cold fusion if it was cheap and
available.