GL: Battery-inverter-charger questions

[tbehan6468 at aol.com]

I just had my boat redone - 

The boat has twin engines, had an old charger and two battery banks, each consisting of one 8D battery. Also had a dedicated group 24 for the generator.
Here's what I got:

1 new starting bank consisting of 2 group 27 batteries. This gives me 1500 amps, which is a little more then the 8D with the added benefit 
that I will no longer need to have a chiro on standby whenever I need to lift them out for replacement. 


1 new bank consisting of 6 golf cart batteries for the house bank.


Xantrex Freedom 20 (2000 watt inverter + 100 amp charger). Defender had the best price.
Blue Seas Combiner
The Combiner tied together the two banks and was then connected to the main output from the new charger. The Freedom echo charger 
was then hooked up to the generator battery.

Here's the prices I found for golf cart batteries:

Trojans delivered from a local golf cart company - 6 for $550. Don't know for sure if that was tax included, etc.
Local Interstate battery store - $93 each if I buy at least two.
Costco - $79 + $6.50 each in disposal fees, etc.
Sams - $67 each + $9.00 in fees.

Both the Costco and Sams batteries are made by Johnson Controls (who apparently make most of the batteries sold in auto stores, Sears, etc)
I will be getting the Sams batteries. If they last 2/3 as long as the Trojans I come out even.




Tim Behan

1983 36' Monk




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