I have had (4) Group 31 Firefly Oasis carbon-foam AGM batteries (in parallel) on board Rainy Days for nearly five years now and I love them. They can cycle deeper than conventional batteries and have a greater cycle life. In performance, they are between Lithium and conventional AGMs. They are still rather heavy and expensive ($500 each) but very reliable.
In addition, I do not have them broken into two banks like many people do. I have 340 watts of good quality flexible solar panels and very good MPPT controllers. We are year-round cruisers. You may think that the maintenance is minimal on flooded cells but it would be added to all the other boat maintenance I have to do. I don’t know why no one has mentioned these in the discussion of batteries. Bob There is no way that I would use flooded cells while this technology is available. Also, batteries, in my opinion, are not a place to go cheap. Bob Boyer s/v Rainy Days C&C Landfall 38 (Hull # 230) (Presently in Baltimore for the summer) blog: dainyrays.blogspot.com email: dainyr...@icloud.com > On Sep 24, 2019, at 12:47 PM, Marek Dziedzic via CnC-List > <cnc-list@cnc-list.com> wrote: > > Paul, > > in your calculations, you can assume 30% of usable capacity of a normal > flooded battery (from 50% SoC to 80% SoC), which would shift the calculations > a bit towards the Lithium batteries. The problem is that you would need a > completely new charging system, which would throw the calculations in the > opposite direction. > > Another consideration is weight. The LiFe batteries would be (roughly) 1/4 of > the flooded. > > And yet another dimension – usability, or maintainability. The flooded > batteries are very easy to maintain, most people know (or should) how to use > them and even if we murder them occasionally (more often than we want to > admit), they are cheap to replace. I think, this is the biggest advantage and > the reason why LiFe are not gaining enough momentum. Maybe we need to give > them a few years... > > Marek > 1994 C270 Legato > Ottawa, ON > > From: Dreuge via CnC-List > Sent: Tuesday, September 24, 2019 10:03 > To: cnc-list@cnc-list.com > Cc: Dreuge > Subject: Re: Stus-List Flooded Batteries > > While I have been looking into LiFe batteries, I still think Trojan T105 > provide the best bang for the buck. Cost have come down a little for lithium > batteries, and with industry leaders like Trojan now selling these > batteries(already at better $/AH), I’m expecting reasonable price drops in > the coming years. > > For example, a pair of T105 provides 115 usable AH (50% of 230AH @ 12V) for > total price of $280. The Trojan Trillium TR 12.8 110 provides 100 useable > AH (90% of 110AH @ 12V) for a price just over $1,000. If I had to replace > my house bank today, I would go with 4 Trojan T105. Worst case they would > last 4-5yrs but likely longer. In 5 years, one should not be surprised to > see lithium prices drop by more than 25% (i.e. a cost saving of about $550 or > the cost of the 4 Trojans). > > I know folks who highly recommend the Sam’s Club GC2 Duracell batteries. > While I’m a fan of the Trojan quality, at $90/battery or $360 for 215 usable > AH (50% of 430 AH), the Sam’s Club option is worth looking at especially if > one is considering going with LiFe batteries later rather than sooner. To be > fair, if I was full time cruising, I would weigh the sooner rather than the > later. > > just my two bits, > Paul > - > Paul E. > 1981 C&C Landfall 38 > S/V Johanna Rose > Fort Walton Beach, FL > > http://svjohannarose.blogspot.com/ > >> On Sep 23, 2019, at 8:16 PM, cnc-list-requ...@cnc-list.com wrote: >> >>> On 9/22/2019 10:28 PM, Peter Cowenhoven via CnC-List wrote: >>> >>> Anyone still use flooded batteries. Looking to replace 3 weak batteries >>> that are causing engine startng issues. >>> >>> >>> >>> Are the AGM or Gel batteries worth the $$ s. >>> >>> >>> >>> Thanks in advance. >>> >>> >>> >>> Peter Cowenhoven >>> >>> Branford CT >>> >>> Landfall 35 > > > _______________________________________________ > > Thanks everyone for supporting this list with your contributions. Each and > every one is greatly appreciated. If you want to support the list - use > PayPal to send contribution -- https://www.paypal.me/stumurray >
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