It's true that the space available for batteries is different, and adding more capacity will be more difficult for Curtis. (And even on the 38, the locker under my quarter berth was big enough for all 5 batteries in my 2 banks - though not deep enough for the GC5 batteries I had wanted to install - but I had to modify the access in order to use all the space in the locker.)
But the requirement for capacity will be driven by use and systems, not the size of the boat. If cruising full time, Curtis's Admiral will want refrigeration (instead of eating only canned food. She will want to take a shower, so a water heater and a pressure water system. His first attempt to navigate at night in a fog will make him want radar. Playing with the big boats in the Gulf Stream off the Florida Coast will make him want AIS. It's pernicious. The power requirement just keeps growing and growing. I bet it even happens to Lynn and Larry Pardey. Rick From: CnC-List [mailto:cnc-list-boun...@cnc-list.com] On Behalf Of Gary Nylander Sent: Wednesday, December 18, 2013 10:56 AM To: cnc-list@cnc-list.com Subject: Re: Stus-List Battery charger recommendations? Rick, I seem to remember that Curtis has a 30. He couldn't have near the needs you do on your 38 or he would be all batteries in that smaller boat. Gary ----- Original Message ----- From: Rick Brass <mailto:rickbr...@earthlink.net> To: cnc-list@cnc-list.com Sent: Tuesday, December 17, 2013 7:45 PM Subject: Re: Stus-List Battery charger recommendations? Curtis; At the risk of being presumptuous, I think you have the cart before the horse. If your intent is extended cruising - particularly offshore cruising where you will not be using your engine for power (and to recharge the batteries) every day - you will first need to think about the systems you have on board and how much power they will draw. Refrigeration is a major draw. Radar? Autopilot? What instruments? What lights? Power for entertainment like radio or TV? Small things like a 12 v electric coffee maker or a microwave draw a shocking amount of power out of your batteries. Once you know how many amp hours you will use on average, you can figure out how many additional batteries you need, what type, and where to put them. My average consumption right now is under 100 amp-hours/day. But I plan to run refrigeration (45 more AH) and to anchor out for extended periods. So my house bank is 4 deep cycle group 27 batteries with 460 AH capacity. That gives 230 usable AH (50% discharge) and should let me go for 2 days between charges. In addition I have a group 29 marine starting battery as a second bank, and a deep cycle group 24 under the v-berth to power the head and the anchor windlass. The 400+ AH house bank dictates at least a 40amp, multi bank charger. I have an older Xantrex 40+ wired to the house and starting bank. There is a solar charger for the group 24 battery that is OK for now, but I plan to install an ACR that will top up the charge on that battery when I'm hooked to shore power or running the engine. To put 100 AH into my house bank by running the engine (with a 45 amp alternator installed) will take at least 3 hours of run time - which is OK when I'm traveling on the ICW but not acceptable when at anchor. SO I plan to install a bank of solar panels over the Bimini, and maybe a wind generator as well, to maintain the batteries at anchor. As you can see, the process starts with determining how much power you will be using each day, and that will depend on what systems you have installed for cruising. You said you had an "OEM" battery charger installed. Probably not really OEM, but the question is: is it still working? If it is, spend your money on the other systems you will be installing, and the additional batteries, and worry about a new (probably more efficient) charger in 2017 or so. Rick Brass Washington, NC From: CnC-List [mailto:cnc-list-boun...@cnc-list.com] On Behalf Of Curtis Sent: Tuesday, December 17, 2013 1:16 PM To: cnc-list@cnc-list.com Subject: Re: Stus-List Battery charger recommendations? I picked up the one noted above to maintain the battery's. In my first post I was trying to explain I needed something to keep the batt's charged while sailing ever couple of weeks. "For Now" In 2018 We hope to shove off for some extended cruising. I will need to install a Good expensive on board fixed mount bank charger. This is what I was hoping to get advice on. the Good one that will give me a charge on all my batt's when I come in from off shore. Sorry for the confusion. On Tue, Dec 17, 2013 at 12:52 PM, Josh Muckley <muckl...@gmail.com> wrote: Evidently, we all misunderstood the question. The battery minder is advertised to provide a "de-sufating" pulse charge to prevent loss of capacity. This is fine and may or may not add value for your purpose. Had any of us realized that you simply wanted to keep the batteries from self discharging during winter storage you would have received drastically different answers. For ultra cheap $20 you can find 2amp smart chargers that cycle to prevent over charging. If conditioning or de-sufating was the goal then I would have possibly recommended a higher power portable unit with a conditioning feature. 10-40amps, 3 stage, and conditioning mode, $50-100. Stanley, Schumacher, Vector all have similar units available at the big box, auto, and boat stores. I'm not convinced that the battery minder has a more effective de-sulfating feature than any of the others. Many people prefer to occasionally visit the boat to top up the batteries. This eliminates the risks of overcharge, electical fire, and galvanic corrosion. What type of charger did you already have? What was wrong with using it? Josh Muckley On Dec 17, 2013 10:29 AM, "Curtis" <cpt.b...@gmail.com> wrote: Battery Tender Plus 12v 1.25 Amp 3 Stage Smart Charger BT-021-0128 Sorry I posted the wrong model. Wal-mart $66.48 On Tue, Dec 17, 2013 at 9:59 AM, Bill Bina <billb...@sbcglobal.net> wrote: Hopefully you can return it. You need a 12 volt charger, not an 8 volt charger. You also need substantially more than 1.25 amps. This thing will barely charge an 8 volt motorcycle battery. Bill Bina On 12/17/2013 9:47 AM, Curtis wrote: After much study and review I purchased a portable charger last night Battery Tender Plus 8v 1.25 Amp 3 Stage Smart Charger BT8v021-0152 This is a very popular 8 volt unit for battery storage. The Battery Tender Plus is a 1.25 amp battery charger designed to fully charge a battery and maintain it at proper storage voltage without the damaging effects caused by trickle chargers. The E-Z quick disconnect harness (1 of each ring ends and alligator clips included) allows you to leave the charger wiring attached to the battery while operating the vehicle. Battery Tender Plus will not overcharge or boil battery when connected long term. I hope it will keep them topped off when I'm not there. _______________________________________________ This List is provided by the C&C Photo Album http://www.cncphotoalbum.com CnC-List@cnc-list.com -- "Sailors, with their built in sense of order, service and discipline, should really be running the world." - Nicholas Monsarrat _______________________________________________ This List is provided by the C&C Photo Album http://www.cncphotoalbum.com CnC-List@cnc-list.com _______________________________________________ This List is provided by the C&C Photo Album http://www.cncphotoalbum.com CnC-List@cnc-list.com -- "Sailors, with their built in sense of order, service and discipline, should really be running the world." - Nicholas Monsarrat _____ _______________________________________________ This List is provided by the C&C Photo Album http://www.cncphotoalbum.com CnC-List@cnc-list.com
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