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#41
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Batteries - what's best and cheapest for long term cruising these days
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#42
posted to rec.boats.cruising
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Batteries - what's best and cheapest for long term cruising thesedays
On Jun 18, 3:11*am, Salomon Fringe wrote:
... Does your battery monitor show % discharge of your bank? If so that might be better than relying on voltage that changes depending on load. It does, but it's funky. I've fiddled with the Peukert a fair bit (now trying 1.150) and with the charge efficiency % (97). Still, it always tells me the batteries are worn down long before the voltage is weak and then it shows them fully charged while they're still accepting current. And it periodically has a two's complement / over- run thing that sends it off into huge negative numbers sounds the alarms and requires a re-set... It is a nice volt/amp meter, it does a good job of controlling the alternators and it does an adequate job of controlling the solar, but it's not all that useful as a battery gauge. ... What does your1500w inverter power? I suppose the inverter will be the heaviest load at possibly 120A @12v. The computers mostly. I also have some battery powered tools that I recharge with it and a dremel tool that I run off of it and when we've got cell phones we charge them, too. Typically it is off. We're basically a 12v DC boat. Sounds like you're on the other side of the coin being mostly 230 AC (50 cycle, I presume). In theory, your way should save a lot on wire and transmission losses. Anyway, I'm very happy with my AGMs and I'm glad to hear that you're happy with your tractor batteries. I think we'll all be happier yet when nickel, lithium or maybe even fuel cells are affordable. -- Tom. |
#43
posted to rec.boats.cruising
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Batteries - what's best and cheapest for long term cruising thesedays
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#44
posted to rec.boats.cruising
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Batteries - what's best and cheapest for long term cruising thesedays
On Jun 18, 9:43*am, Salomon Fringe wrote:
... Seems like you have programmed it for too small a battery? You did check the correct number of amp hours and if the monitor asks for a c/20, c/10 or c/5 value? Well I put in the nominal ah for the c/20 rate. But it could be that the batteries are conservatively rated. The monitor manufacturers suggest testing the batteries at a high rate and then a low rate to get real numbers. I've avoided that as it can't be good for the batteries to run them flat twice or more (a single test is likely to have errors) and the numbers will change as the battery ages... All in all that seems like a high price to pay to have a % remaining number. I already know if the batteries are doing what I need. Anyway, I'm very happy with my AGMs and I'm glad to hear that you're happy with your tractor batteries. * Not tractor, more like forklift ;-) Oh darn "cruizhimers" strikes again. I knew it was one of the "T" words... Sorry -- Tom. |
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