Bob:

I'm using four 6 volt 225 amp-hour golf cart batteries in
series-Parallel for the house bank. Heavy indeed (260 pounds, 130 on
each side). But the boat weights 10,000 lbs, so it isn't a problem. And
it is hard to beat the characteristics of the golf cart batteries - 1000
charge/discharge cycles, ability to handle deep discharge (80%), and
relatively cheap.
--=20
Larry Bradley =20
Orleans (Ottawa) Canada=20

On Sat, 2014-02-08 at 13:04 -0700, Bob Axtell wrote:

> On 2/8/2014 12:30 PM, Larry Bradley wrote:
> > Jim:
> >
> > I originally was going to use a DC-to- DC converter to charge the start
> > battery, but that struck me as over-kill. Actually, the way I use the
> > boat (we live aboard it all summer), the engine doesn't get used too
> > much. I use a 185 watt solar panel to charge the house batteries, and
> > can also charge the start from them if I chose. If we are in a marina, =
I
> > can use the battery charger to take care of both batteries.
> >
> > But occasionally we do travel under power for a few hours, and that's
> > when I'd like to have the start battery charged from the alternator.
> >
> > I've got a few ideas from this group on how to proceed.
> Wow, Larry, 185w is enough to use for a household?
>=20
> You need to get separate deep-cycle batteries for the boat, such as NiMH=
=20
> for the household duties. SLA batteries are too heavy for a boat. SLA=20
> batteries are prone to fail after 18 months or so; NiMH batteries will=20
> last 5 yrs or more; some Prius autos have gone 8-9 years without needing=
=20
> replacement.
>=20
> While lithium-based battery packs hold more charge per weight, they are=20
> more expensive than NiMH, and they catch fire easily- when they do, they=
=20
> are difficult to extinguish. I try to stay away from lithium as much as=20
> possible.
>=20
> --Bob A
>=20
> --=20
>=20
> The only place success comes before work is in the dictionary.
>=20
> VINCE LOMBARDI
>=20
--=20
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