In article dz7Df.1473$UY3.1361@trndny05,
"Thomas Wentworth" wrote:

I get so confused when it comes to electric power, especially battery
output. How many AMPs can a battery put out before the battery is dead?
Say, a 12 volt battery. Could you put this as .. "if you have on a light
for xxx hours the battery is gone".

I know AMPs are the flow of power and volts is the possible amount ..
measure of flow and time . and light bulb.

Voltage is the pressure, amps is the volume per time-period. Amp-hours
(AH) = the total volume.

Why am I asking? I was looking at this boat on a web site and the owner had
added a bank of small batteries. About half the size of the marine ones I'm
use to. The batteries were tied together so they became on big battery in
power possibility.

Now,, if he had 6 batteries and each one is an 8 volt .. does this mean he
has 8x6 = 48 volts of possible power? And how does this work out to amps. ?

I suspect they're small 12v, possibly 6, unlikely to be 8. Others
covered the series-parallel stuff.

batteries are heavy. how many do you carry. wouldn't a bunch be bad for
the boat??

also.. solar power.. how much power does one of those things give you?

These last depend on your usage, though I almost guarantee that one
large battery will do better than a "bunch" of little ones.

We have simple needs, so are comfortable with a group 31 (120 AH) as our
primary, with another kept in reserve. Our 12w solar panel keeps up with
our needs most of the time and can bring the battery up enough to start
the engine by mid-morning. When we're away for a few days, the panel
brings the battery to full power, which is a couple of days' normal
usage.

When we next upgrade, I'm going to move the better 31 to right next to
the engine and "hardwire" it to the starter with short cables; No
switch, though it'll be fused of course. The house bank --probably two
6v-- will primarily be solar charged, though we will be able to parallel
it to the starting battery for a fast recharge or extra starting power.

--
Jere Lull
Xan-a-Deux ('73 Tanzer 28 #4 out of Tolchester, MD)
Xan's Pages: http://members.dca.net/jerelull/X-Main.html
Our BVI FAQs (290+ pics) http://homepage.mac.com/jerelull/BVI/