[Rhodes22-list] Battteries

[Bud]

Bill,
  though I can switch my batteries to "Both", I never have - as I have 
never needed that much current at any one time.
I usually alternate between solar charging each battery on a weekly 
basis, and using each battery on a monthly basis.
 If I keep the batteries separate (which I do) then they should both 
have about the same life span.

-Bud

Bill Effros wrote:

>Bud,
>
>I tried this.  It didn't work.
>
>No matter how you play it, the weaker battery weakens the stronger 
>battery faster.
>
>Buy 2 new batteries at the same time.  I hook them up in parallel--no 
>switch--nothing tricky. 
>
>They never run out of juice.  They keep each other healthy.  They never 
>have less than a 75% charge, and never approach as little as 50%. 
>
>Hooked up like this they will last 25% longer than their advertised life. 
>
>Get a cheap voltmeter, and test the voltage in the system from time to 
>time.  The voltage should remain above 13v.  As soon as it dips below 
>13v, it's time to start looking for 2 new  batteries on sale.  You'll 
>need them in a year or two.
>
>I like wet cell batteries.  I don't heel my boat severely.  All 
>batteries are made by the same 3 or 4 companies.  Costco; Walmart; 
>Interstate; Sears--all offer top quality batteries.
>
>Bill Effros
>
>
>
>Bud wrote:
>  
>
>>Another suggestion on batteries is to buy two, but buy them a few years 
>>apart.
>>That way you (typically) won't have both of them fail at the same time 
>>or during the
>>same season.  And when the first battery does fail, it will give you an 
>>idea of the
>>life of the second battery, given the use/abuse of your particular 
>>sailing and charging
>>habits.
>>
>>-Bud
>>
>>John Lock wrote:
>>
>>  
>>    
>>
>>>At 11:33 AM 4/13/2007 -0500, you wrote:
>>>
>>> 
>>>
>>>    
>>>      
>>>
>>>>Hmmm.  This may apply to wives as well.  Let me think about that!
>>>>   
>>>>
>>>>      
>>>>        
>>>>
>>>No thinking required... that's a no-brainer ;-)
>>>
>>>Regarding el-cheapo batteries - that has been my experience as 
>>>well.  They tend to last about the same if you take good care of 
>>>them.  The more expensive ones will tolerate neglect better.
>>>
>>>Now... about flooded-cell, gel-cell, and AGM - does the same apply to 
>>>the more expensive technologies?  IOW, can you get just as good 
>>>service from conventional flooded-cell as the more expensive 
>>>alternatives IF you maintain them properly?  But if you're a slacker 
>>>about maintaining them, spend the bucks on AGM (or whatever).
>>>
>>>Cheers!
>>>
>>>John Lock
>>>~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
>>>s/v Pandion - '79 Rhodes 22
>>>Lake Sinclair, GA
>>>~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
>>>
>>>__________________________________________________
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>>>
>>>
>>> 
>>>
>>>    
>>>      
>>>
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>>  
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>>
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