Great Lakes
Well-Known Member
- Oct 11, 2016
- 1,444
- Boat Info
- 2008 - Formula 400ss
- Engines
- Volvo Penta D6-350
How's this? Seems reasonable, better than West Marine, at least.
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There is no lack of maintenance. They need to be maintained just like a flooded wet cell. If you don't they won't last as long as a flooded battery. If you get 7 years now, you probably are doing it right and you won't do better. They are not cost effective. BTDT, and now I only use AGMs on my jetski, where they get jossled around real bad.Not offended at all. Simply for the lack of maintenance on them. I've always understood they were the best option.
Talk to me
Kinda figured they were flooded batteries, but what did you mean when you said they started to leak?
That guy would be fun at partiesThis guy does a great you tube series comparing the cost/benefit of Lead Acid vs. AGM vs. Lithium (). For my 340, I have one maintenance free group 31 for each engine and the generator. I added 2 L16 6V Lead Acids for the house bank. They have did not last very long, but I am to blame for that. I'm switching to 2 L16 FullRiver AGMs. I will update on how they perform going forward.
Based on everything I've read, Lithium still doesn't come close on the cost per kw/hr. You're better off going with Lead Acid or AGM unless you have money to burn. I ultimately decided to go with AGM this time around because they're less messy and the installation options are greater because they can be installed on their side.
The analysis done in the video is specific to a solar application and based upon a rigid charge and discharge protocol. RV and especially marine battery systems are vastly different in in charge and discharge regiments (frequency and mass). The comparative batteries used in the video are not really applicable for marine as they are energy banks specific for land based systems. Albeit, with enough work and investment one can install anything on a boat. The important factor we face in a marine environment is weight/energy density* Energy density/volume = weight/volume for a given equal energy density of a battery bank. This factor, cost aside, sways us to the lithium technology. Secondly, marine systems are critical on voltage operating range and cannot deal with any significant voltage drops such as the video describes in allowing a lead acid bank routinely operate at less than 11 volts consequently the boat must recharge more often than a fixed solar based system. Remember in our marine systems we have demands for 12V or 24V direct current, not just inverted AC power as the video is centered around. The video is rather mute on the time for absorption charging in a lead acid battery bank and the real benefit that lithium brings to how long we must run the alternators or generator to properly charge a lead acid bank to float; but again the video is about a residential solar system. As to the failure point on the Battery Management System (BMS) that the video presents; I would agree that first a robust system must be designed around the battery support systems and certain cautions must be provided but no data is given on BMS failures, none..... Actually, the BMS provided by the major lithium battery manufacturers (MasterVolt, Battleborn) have MTBF which lends little concern however I'm in the camp of a BMS for each battery rather than one for the entire bank (MasterVolt) as in a bank of 4 Lithium batteries a failure of one BMS can be tolerated; you do need to know it failed however which could be a problem. So, there is technical reason and good economic reason that the big blue water boats are being built with lithium battery banks. So, in summary I fully agree with the data in the videos (both parts) however there are factors in our marine environment that change much of the rationale.This guy does a great you tube series comparing the cost/benefit of Lead Acid vs. AGM vs. Lithium (). For my 340, I have one maintenance free group 31 for each engine and the generator. I added 2 L16 6V Lead Acids for the house bank. They have did not last very long, but I am to blame for that. I'm switching to 2 L16 FullRiver AGMs. I will update on how they perform going forward.
Based on everything I've read, Lithium still doesn't come close on the cost per kw/hr. You're better off going with Lead Acid or AGM unless you have money to burn. I ultimately decided to go with AGM this time around because they're less messy and the installation options are greater because they can be installed on their side.
Your batteries started to leak?
I'm hoping this works for me too. 4x$220https://shop.advanceautoparts.com/p/diehard-marine-marine-battery-group-size-27m-675-cca-27hm/10890145-P?searchTerm=diehard group 27
List is $99 but I talked the manager into a 20% discount because was buying 5 so $80 apiece...
Where did you buy them?The battery thing is over analyzed imo. I switched to these because I wanted no touchy batteries. Hated the add water thing with lead acid.With a good charger they will last 7 yrs+. Proper charging is key! That makes them a good value for me. Lithium is dam cool but at almost 1k a clip my boat bucks are better used elsewhere. I'm just a weekend worrier though.
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Sam's club. $179. They usually go on sale in the spring for $159Where did you buy them?
A word of warning regarding lithium - the charging system must be designed around the batteries. They are not plug and play. Consideration for protection of the alternators as well as a dedicated lithium specific charger is required. The lithium technology is however safe but needs to be implemented correctly.
Tom