[Sentoa] Battery & Charger Redesign

[Jerold Tabbott]

Five (5) years ?? Mine rarely last more than two, before failing to  
retain a full charge. Unfortunately, I don't get on my boat as much as  
I'd like, and it often sits "on charge" in its slip, so my wet cell  
batteries sometimes have dried up. Still, five years seems - to me at  
least, maybe others see such results - an awfully long lifetime for a  
marine battery.

Jerry & Diane Tabbott
Lady Diane II (26065 - 1982)
Jacksonville, Florida

On Dec 30, 2008, at 4:50 PM, David Cheyette wrote:

> I noticed the other day that my house bank (4-6v batteries) were all  
> bulging at the sides.  They are over five years old and I am told by  
> the “experts” that I better get them out of there as soon as  
> possible.  The “experts” also blamed the factory installed 40-amp  
> Xantrex Truecharge charger for the problem (note, no other problems  
> on my 8-D’s).  I figured that 5 years was getting on in age for the  
> Interstate batteries and they need replacement.
>
> They were very emphatic that I replace the charger with a much  
> better one from Newmar (at a cost north of $800), along with the  
> batteries.
>
> [Side comment:  I am installing a Magnum Inverter/Charger this  
> winter which I will use to charge the house bank].
>
> My questions are:
>
> 1.       Any opinions/experience with the Factory Installed chargers  
> in terms of them needing replacement with something better?
>
> 2.       Thinking of replacing the 6v bank with 4-12v AGM batteries  
> and charging them off the Magnum Inverter.  Then keeping the  
> existing charger with the 3 banks, for engine/thrusters/etc.    Any  
> thoughts here?
>
> Thanks in advance for input.
>
> David Cheyette
> Maisy 37-100
> Seattle, WA
>
>
> _______________________________________________
> Sentoa mailing list
> Sentoa at lists.samurai.com
> http://lists.samurai.com/mailman/listinfo/sentoa

-------------- next part --------------
An HTML attachment was scrubbed...
URL: http://lists.samurai.com/pipermail/sentoa/attachments/20081231/a8405576/attachment.html