Battery service near Ft Pierce FL

[Down East]

Hello all - hoping to get some advice or local knowledge.
I bought a boat in Ft Pierce that has been on the hard for at least a couple of years.
There are 3 battery banks (dedicated start, main & bow bank for windlass/Bthruster).
The main bank is a set of 3 Intimidator 245Ah AGM’s 8A8D that were flat when I got to the boat.
I know AGM’s don’t like to sit discharged, but I’m hoping there is a good battery shop in the area I can take them to for evaluation/reconditioning?
This bank is connected to a Prosine 2.0 inverter/charger - I wouldn’t mind trying something myself, but have many other projects before I can get her launched and heading north (have to travel from Maine to work on the boat, so time is precious).

[skipmac]

My guess is the AGMs are almost certainly toast. You can do a very easy, quick evaluation without devoting much time. Just plug in and charge the batteries and see if they

1. Hold a charge when you turn off the charger. Do this with no electrical loads and watch over a time period. Maybe charge them a few days, turn off charger and loads one afternoon and check voltage the next morning. Not sure exactly the resting voltage of AGMs but should be around 12.6-12.8V range.

2. If they hold voltage then, without turning on the charger turn on a few loads and see how long they run before the batteries die.

[Vasco]

Originally Posted by skipmac

My guess is the AGMs are almost certainly toast. You can do a very easy, quick evaluation without devoting much time. Just plug in and charge the batteries and see if they

1. Hold a charge when you turn off the charger. Do this with no electrical loads and watch over a time period. Maybe charge them a few days, turn off charger and loads one afternoon and check voltage the next morning. Not sure exactly the resting voltage of AGMs but should be around 12.6-12.8V range.

2. If they hold voltage then, without turning on the charger turn on a few loads and see how long they run before the batteries die.

Indian River Batteries

[Down East]

Thanks Skipmac - I was at the boat last week and charged them for a couple of days, they were in absorption mode taking 20-30 amps.
Didn’t have a chance to check them after charging, so I’ll check that once I go back.

Has anyone run their AGM’s through an equalization cycle(s)?
My old boat has Lifelines that say they can handle it (and my Prosine does have an equalization function)

[skipmac]

Originally Posted by Down East

Thanks Skipmac - I was at the boat last week and charged them for a couple of days, they were in absorption mode taking 20-30 amps.
Didn’t have a chance to check them after charging, so I’ll check that once I go back.

This is as I mentioned a quick and dirty test and will mainly determine if the batteries are dead or close to it. If you could set up a burn test that would tell you much more about their condition. Not a lot of work but would require you to be around for several hours.

[AZUS]

Yves Deneault
Trinity Marine Electric, Inc.
7757 SW Ellipse Way
Stuart

772 631-5723 (Phone)
Did my electric upgrades and my AGM's

[DrDelmas]

St Lucie tire and Battery, don’t let the name throw you off

[Russ]

davearnoldmarine@gmail.com
(772) 359-8837
Dave Arnold

Right there in Ft Pierce. 4+ reliable

Russ

[Capt. Dick D]

Down East, if the boat is at Harbortown, I would call Dave Arnold. If at Cracker Boy Dave can help you there plus Cracker Boy can recommend appropriate vendors. I've personally had Dave Arnold work on my battery systems on two or three occasions. Excellent work and reasonable price.

[Down East]

Thanks all for the great advice and contacts - these are great and will be awesome help!

[skipgundlach]

St. Lucie Tire and Battery has service personnel, many branches but main one in FTP, Deka, East Penn and others
Florida Marine Diesel in Fort Pierce, FL - (772) 466-3027 - Trojan, among others, also a service shop, near Harbortown and Crackerboy

[George DuBose]

my Optima Series 31 yellow tops were flattened a couple of times, so I was thinking about equalization. I learned that the technique for equalizing AGMs is different than for the other styles. I bought a BatteryMinder pulsating charger and left three of the batteries on charge (trickle) for a year and then installed them again. So far I have used them for 10 years.

Last summer they did seem to drop their voltage more quickly than before, but I have a Dometic fridge, electronics, autopilot, etc. running when underway.

The good news is that the SuperWind 350 can keep everything charged when sailing.

[Jibeman]

I have used St Lucie battery and Tire. They were good and Understand marine batteries.

[Capt. Hack]

AGM's must be tricked into takeing a charge. Yes it sounds funny but you hook
a full charged 12volt to the dead one in parallel and then hook up the charger. Once it gets over 1/2 to 3/4 charge the old one may take a charge and hold it .
I have done this and it worked . A tec told me about it and I think there is a you tube on it. good luck

[Scrimshaw4]

Yes, you can equalize them. They have to be fully charged first. I think the equalize voltage is around 15.65, but check with a Proline dealer.