T&T: 8D Batteries

[Steve Sipe]

I replaced the house bank of 2 8-D's last year with 6 Golf carts. I'm 
very pleased with the switch, I now have a 650AH bank in the same 
footprint as the 400AH bank I replaced. The golf carts were a tight fit, 
but they dropped into the same battery box with no modification. The 
cover sits about 3/4" higher, but it is not a problem. The box is 
located in a corner of the engine room, behind a condensing unit, 
between the genset and the fuel tank, so there is no access other than 
up & over the condensing unit. It was a half day job to swap out the 
batteries, with much rigging, planking, grunting & many bad words. I'd 
never put 8-D's back. I can't see why anyone bothers with the monsters.

Steve Sipe
Solo 4303 "Maerin"
Upper Chesapeake