[Rhodes22-list] Battery

[The Rhodes 22 Email List]

A few thoughts on boat batteries:

Lead acid batteries have a much shorter than normal life if left in a discharged condition, but they can sometimes be reconditioned if your charge them with a device that puts a high frequency pulse on the plates to remove the some what insoluble lead sulphates that form when discharged.  A device that I use for this is called  BatteryMinder Plus model 12117.  I also use it on my car, lawnmower, golf caddy, electric wheel barrow ,etc. batteries.  it definitely extends the life times of lead acid batteries.


As others may mention, the deep discharge marine batteries are best for a boat, but they cost more than car batteries.  If you are going to stick with the lead acid chemistry you should give the batteries a full charge at least once per month.

Another choice that I use is :
LiFePO4 Prismatic Battery: 12.8V 40Ah (512Wh, 10C Rate) - UN38.3 Passed (3.2Vx4 DGR) 
Price: $240.00 plus the price of a charger.

The advantage of this battery is that is weighs 13 lbs, so that you can remove it and charge it at home if you do not have shore power where you keep your boat. It also has a very long live time, several times that of a lead acid battery, so while the initial cost is high, the TCO is low.

a few ideas for debate.


 
Joseph A. Doucet 
2004 reconditioned Rhodes enjoying a rest for the winter



________________________________
 From: The Rhodes 22 Email List <rhodes22-list at rhodes22.org>
To: The Rhodes 22 Email List <rhodes22-list at rhodes22.org> 
Sent: Sunday, February 15, 2015 2:18 PM
Subject: Re: [Rhodes22-list] Battery
 

John:
     Though many on the list will surely respond with the detailed answer: amps, volts, drain, usage and more, I can say that your batteries, if provided by GB, are deep cycle marine batteries.  Regular car batteries will work in their place, but will not perform as well over time in a marine environment.  

    On the matter of recharging, this depends on how low your batteries have drained. If they have drained down to nothing, they will not take a recharge.  It's something to do with... uh... the electricity or something.  You'll laugh at the generic nature of this response when someone who has a deeper understanding of these technicalities writes. I just needed to feel more a part of the list than I have been lately.  (Hi everybody!)  

Joe Camps/v John
 Dawsonon the hard in Hatboro PA

      From: The Rhodes 22 Email List <rhodes22-list at rhodes22.org>
To: The Rhodes 22 Email List <rhodes22-list at rhodes22.org> 
Sent: Sunday, February 15, 2015 12:35 PM
Subject: [Rhodes22-list] Battery
  
Dear all
My Rhodes is about 2 years old now and with all the Puget Sound  clouds the solar chargers haven't been much use recently. They are near dead though last winter they kept a charge without problem. I'm assuming the charge is poor because my outboard engine lift barely raises the motor, so much so that I haven't dropped it all the way for fear
 it won't lift back up out of the water. Could someone tell me if the Rhodes has regular car batteries in it or are they marine batteries? I'm afraid I don't know the difference. Can I recharge them or do I need new? 
Thanks for your help. 

John Waldhausen
Bainbridge island 
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