Batteries Went Dead Overnight - Beginner

[skipmac]

Originally Posted by a64pilot

You actually made my point. Your cooler pulls as much if not more Amps than my fridge, but does it 24 /7 while my fridge runs depending on temp about 50% percent of the time, it's 14 cu ft with half being freezer set at around -5F.
So my freezer is way larger, but is cooled to -5 on a 90 degree day on less electricity, while a Peltier cooler will cool to 60F.
A 30 degree temperature differential is in my opinion, little cooling, I'm looking for at least three times that Delta.
60 degrees isn't cold enough to keep food, and 60 degree beer? Maybe in England
I had one of those coolers years ago, then determined a regular cooler with ice in in, actually kept things cool, while the electric Coleman didn't.


Sent from my iPad Pro using Cruisers Sailing Forum

We bought a couple of these, a small and a medium size to use on the ski boat on summer outings. On a 90 degree day you're lucky if you can get to 60, almost pointless and it sucked batteries down pretty fast. Went back to my basic Igloo and ice.

[jwcolby54]

Originally Posted by skipmac

We bought a couple of these, a small and a medium size to use on the ski boat on summer outings. On a 90 degree day you're lucky if you can get to 60, almost pointless and it sucked batteries down pretty fast. Went back to my basic Igloo and ice.

Good for you! I'm happy that you are happy!.

[mcarling]

Some people here consider me a heretic, but my opinion is that we're now past the era when it made any sense to install any sort of lead acid batteries on a boat for any purpose.

I won't buy anything other than LiFePO4 batteries. The overwhelming majority of posters here who have used LiFePO4 batteries write that they wouldn't go back to lead acid.

[Salty Mike]

I was looking at these but don't need any right now so some of Y'all need to try them out and report back.

Lithium Cells - Lithium Storage Inc. | Lithium Storage Inc.

[Stu Jackson]

Originally Posted by mcarling

Some people here consider me a heretic, but my opinion is that we're now past the era when it made any sense to install any sort of lead acid batteries on a boat for any purpose.

I won't buy anything other than LiFePO4 batteries. The overwhelming majority of posters here who have used LiFePO4 batteries write that they wouldn't go back to lead acid.

Heretic?!? Nawh...

"...any sense...?" Given the post right above this one (mine ) cost may well be a factor in any boating decision making process. Other than getting the "for sure" wrong stuff and wondering why it costs three times to fix a dumb mistake.

[Salty Mike]

[Terra Nova]

Originally Posted by jwcolby54

...Block ice keeps my ice box and it's contents around 47 degrees...A Peltier cooler serves a purpose, keeping all of my drinks and such (milk actually) cold...

Milk must be maintained at 45* or below.

[senormechanico]

Originally Posted by Capt_Flrp

Newer starting batteries don't "normally" recover after being completely discharged. Good luck.

Slightly OT, but not really:

My wife's one year old car battery (seven year warranty) sold by a well known tire and auto service chain wouldn't start the other morning.

Before I jumped the car I measured the battery. It measured only 2.4 volts with no load. After the jump, she did her shopping etc with no problem.
It's still a mystery why it discharged overnight.
I helped her unload the car the night before and the auto off headlights were shining brightly when she shut off the engine in the garage.
The switch was definitely in the auto shutoff position, but we didn't wait to see if they extinguished.

Imho, we dodged a bullet by charging it up right away.
Now, it seems perfectly normal. Go figure.

[senormechanico]

For the lithium argument above, put me in the "I'd NEVER GO BACK TO LEAD" list.

Happy with mine for several years now. Definitely a game changer and I didn't go nuts with disconnects etc.

[ramblinrod]

Originally Posted by mcarling

Some people here consider me a heretic, but my opinion is that we're now past the era when it made any sense to install any sort of lead acid batteries on a boat for any purpose.

I won't buy anything other than LiFePO4 batteries. The overwhelming majority of posters here who have used LiFePO4 batteries write that they wouldn't go back to lead acid.

I am glad you are happy with your decision, and you have found others of like mind.

But I completely disagree with your position that standard lead acid batteries have no place in the boating community. I believe they will continue to be the defacto standard for quite some time to come, based on:

1. Familiarity
2. Existing System Compatibility
3. Cost
4. Satisfaction with Past Performance
5. Ease of Replacement

Ramblin Rod
Marine Service Provider
About Sheen Marine

[sailorboy1]

I feel there are very few things that are as good a deal on a cruising boat once you consider use/abuse/cost than 6V golf cart batteries in a house bank.

[reed1v]

Originally Posted by Terra Nova

Because of the surfeit of extremely poor quality China-made imports, it seems only prudent to avoid them as much as possible.

I remember well when folks said the same thing about Japanese goods back in the 1950s. Times do change, and a closed mind does not.

[sailorboy1]

Originally Posted by reed1v

I remember well when folks said the same thing about Japanese goods back in the 1950s. Times do change, and a closed mind does not.

1950s hell, they were still saying this into the 80s.

[Curious Sailor]

Originally Posted by a64pilot

Some of those peltier coolers I believe suck a few amps, yet do little actual cooling.

I agree! Give me a block of ice any day!

[skipmac]

Originally Posted by ramblinrod

I am glad you are happy with your decision, and you have found others of like mind.

But I completely disagree with your position that standard lead acid batteries have no place in the boating community. I believe they will continue to be the defacto standard for quite some time to come, based on:

1. Familiarity
2. Existing System Compatibility
3. Cost
4. Satisfaction with Past Performance
5. Ease of Replacement

Ramblin Rod
Marine Service Provider
About Sheen Marine

Agree with all the above. I believe the argument has been made that over the lifetime of the batteries LiFePO are less expensive than FLA batteries. However there is a significant, up front cost to realize that savings and, if you screw up a set of LiFePO batteries the savings become a really big loss.

Add the complexity and knowledge required to correctly install, configure and set up a LiFePO system and lead acid is looking even better. I have a degree in EE and still the attention needed for the initial installation looks pretty demanding and tedious to me.

The advantages of LiFePO are undeniable but at a cost that I am not yet willing to make.