[Rhodes22-list] Battteries

[Bill Effros]

Bud,

In my experience they will have 25% less life span the way you are doing 
it.  They will match the life guaranteed, but they won't substantially 
exceed it.  If you hook them up in parallel, and leave them that way, 
they don't provide any more current, they just maintain a larger reserve 
at all times, which seems to keep them healthier, longer.

Bill Effros



Bud wrote:
> 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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