Batteries for 380 DA

[Dasch Boat]

Jedi, Good luck with whatever decision you make. I guess I changed mine just in time with Irene bearing down on us this weekend, I'm sure we will be having power outages and with all the wind and rain that is forecast I will need my bilge pumps to be on call.

 

[grayzone]

has any one tried 6 cells in a 380da

 

[northern]

We have two group 27 deep cycle for start batteries on each engine. The port engine batteries never are used for 12 volt house power. The 12 volt starboard are used to start the engine and run the 12 volt systems. When they get tired I shift them to the port side and they are fine for starting the engine. I then get 2 new batteries for the starboard side. The starboard batteries get tired in 3 to 4 years. So I manage to get 6 plus years out of the batteries.
We have 10 six volt batteries for house power and they are 7 years old. Think they are getting tired but still test OK on load tester.

 

[boughtabouy]

dc380 - did you mean gel or AGM?...No charger changing if you go to AGMs. Their charging specs are about the same as wet cells...

Dasch - I know we don't have the same boats, but my port bank powers the house and starts the port engine, my stbd bank powers bilge pumps, stereo memory and part of my helm as well as starting the genny and stbd engine. I have two grp 31 wet cells (cranking batteries) on the stbd side and two Sears Platinum Diehard deep cycle AGMs (grp 31s) on the port side for house loads. On cool nights I can anchor all night and power the house (including two refrigerators) and still crank the port engine the next day. Those AGMs are great. Warmer weather we run the genny, so battery life is not a concern.

Sea Salt's comments make it sound like your banks are exactly the opposite from my 340. Keep in mind, helm loads will not be high when you are not underway, so you could start by changing to deep cycles (AGM or wet - your preference) for your house side (stbd) first.

The Diehard Platinum AGMS are about $250 each for grp 31s - and as someone mentioned earlier - do not mix battery types on the same bank and always replace both at the same time...sometimes the Optima AGMs are on sale at Autozone or Advance - I think someone got them for around $100 each with a coupon. I believe the Optima "Blue Top" is their deep cycle model...

I have the same setup as Dasch, but Group 31's. Two banks, one bank of two in series for each engine - and both power the house also. Switched from flooded to Diehard Platinum AGM's a few years ago, and WHAT A DREAM! No more topping off. Ton's of CCA. The Diehards are much better than the Optima's, when comparing specs. I highly recommend them. Push Sears for a deal when buying multiples. I think I got them for the same price as the Optima's. Kevin

 

[grayzone]

I added a blue sea 7712 switch so that when were parked we can draw on both port & starboard batteries.

When charging with the genny(they stay above 12 volts with 1 hour in the morning and 1 hour at night) when engines are running we always turn it off.

Works well just have to remember your using all of your starting batteries.I also have 2 extra charged batteries from my bow thruster if need if we ever killed them dead.