|
Post by iancymru on Apr 3, 2019 17:41:22 GMT
Looking to replace my factory fit house batteries on a SO33i. I have sealed lead acids 2 x 80Ah house and 1 x 80Ah start battery they are all the same type Exide dual purpose. Im limited with space for storing and looking to replace with similar size AGMs Im just wondering if I have to do anything to the battery charger or alternator if changing to AGMs. Also have a 60W solar panel via a viltron mppt charger which keeps the current batteries topped up.
|
|
|
Post by jdl01 on Apr 3, 2019 23:17:27 GMT
Trevor will cringe at the simplicity of my reply, but yes there are different charging cycles and settings between lead acid and agm batteries..most current chargers have a multi setting switch to match your battery choice. Similarly, if you have a smart regulator, it will require resetting when you change battery types.
|
|
|
Post by iancymru on Apr 4, 2019 8:33:03 GMT
Cheers jd01 Simple is good I just checked charger after your post and as you say it has multi setting switch and according to manual boost charge for both sealed lead acid and AGM 14.4V but absorption charge 13.8V for SLA and 13.6V for AGM (dependant on type) which changed I assume by the switches. So far so good I wondering about the alternator now and if the start battery and house batteries have to be the same type.
|
|
|
Post by jdl01 on Apr 4, 2019 16:52:48 GMT
Yes, you should be consistent on battery type. When I first got our boat, I went cheap and only upgraded the house batteries to agm's. In three years I had burned out the lead acid starting battery because I had agm settings on my charging equipment.
|
|
|
Post by rene460 on Apr 5, 2019 2:38:22 GMT
Hi Iancymru,
All the recommendations I have seen are to have all the batteries in parallel the same type and preferably the same age. Because the engine battery is fed by the same charger, I assume this would extend to the engine start battery as well.
If your charger has separate outlets for two battery banks, they might not strictly be in parallel, but unless there are separate switches for each bank you could not adjust for a different start battery chemistry. But also consider that paralleling relay which operates when the engine is running, when that operates, the batteries are all in parallel.
I put extra house batteries under the settee bunk just by the nav table. Takes up valuable space but the replacement house batteries seemed a bit too high and unmanageable (heavy to instal and replace) to put under the berth in the aft cabin, though it would be a more convenient place once they were there.
I always find alternators and their regulators a mysterious black box, so I will leave that question to others.
I am also interested in how you get on with that 60 W panel. Not so different from ours (55 W when new about 1995). Ideal for keeping batteries charged when you are away from the boat. But do you run a refrigerator when on board? Does it keep up then? I am interested in how much different that MPPT charge controller is. I keep threatening to buy an extra panel, or just a larger replacement, but if there is a huge boost in performance with MPPT, I might nearly get by with just updating my controller.
rene460
|
|
|
Post by iancymru on Apr 5, 2019 11:52:25 GMT
Thanks Rene my charger has separate outlets to start/ house batteries but only one set of switches so to keep things simple I looking to have the same type of battery on the starter. I like the idea of having them under the cabin seat as be easy to get at and have more power. When I got the boat it had a second house battery under the bunk offset to port and managed to get a third house battery next to that one (to keep them the same I used the old start battery and put a new start battery of the same type in). So have 3 x 80Ah house batteries which seem enough for my needs without upgrading the charger/alternator. Just thought with agm batteries they would give a bit more usable power than the SLA. When I put the 60W solar on it was mainly to keep batteries topped up when not on the boat which it has done admirably and difficult to tell if the MPPT has made much difference as both kept batteries topped up. It is linked to the house batteries and a one way trickle charger between the house/start battery. www.photonicuniverse.com/en/catalog/full/332-2A-12V-DC-to-DC-battery-to-battery-trickle-charger.htmlThat said the viltron mppt charger can be linked by bluetooth to my phone and shows the history and whats going on and switches to absorption / trickle charge when required. Its definitely got me hooked on solar. I don't think the 60W panel is big enough to run the fridge unless it a sunny day as its never at the optimum angle but it allows me to use it as before I never did, basically have the fridge on and when battery volts drop switch it off let them recover as they will then put it on again. Im looking at getting more panels and swaying towards 2 x 60W on spray hood prefer 2 smaller ones than one big one as if one partly in a shadow area it does not compromise the other as a big one will lose a lot of power if it partly shaded. Lots of experience on this site to help though.
|
|
|
Post by pbunning on Apr 14, 2019 21:15:45 GMT
Ian,
If you intend to move your house batteries, make sure you also relocated the 100A fuse (at present under the aft berth near the battery charger) to a location close to the new location of the batteries.
|
|