Battery/Solar Arrangement Questions

[F51]

And 4 Trojan T-105s will make a nice bank. The quality is there in the Trojans, so you will get good life (if properly maintained). And you are starting off with all batteries exactly the same age. I have a 900 ah bank of eight T-105's and check them monthly for water. Twice a year I run an equalize cycle. They are going strong at 4 years--I don't expect to need replacements for a long time. BTW, the Morningstar 60 MPPT is not that much more than the 45, and allows you some more room to grow.

[a64pilot]

I will go with golf cart batteries, I don't know why Mark doesn't like them

[DDabs]

F51, thanks. I toyed with the idea of a 900AH Trojan bank a long time ago, and it seems as though I'm going to end up there. I think I may just start with 450 or possibly 675. As for the Tristar 60, the 45 will still allow me one more 140W panel, and that's all I see myself adding in the future. If I need more power I will probably go with a wind generator at that point.

a64, how's the IP? Last I heard you were just closing the deal.

[sailorboy1]

Originally Posted by F51

And 4 Trojan T-105s will make a nice bank. The quality is there in the Trojans, so you will get good life (if properly maintained).

I've never had Trojans so can not say if they are worth it. But there are many many many threads here on CF that support that all the GC2 sized 6V batteries are all pretty good. There are only a couple of manufacturers regardless of the name on the batteries.

My batteries say either Rayovac or Duracell (I can not remember), but are Dekka batteries. So if you are going down the 6V golf cart route just shop around for the best deal locally and get them instead of making yourself all crazy.

Just my opinion (and what I did).

[a64pilot]

Originally Posted by DDabs

a64, how's the IP? Last I heard you were just closing the deal.

So far, so good, actually better than I hoped. Still a million little things needs doing, but 99% of it isn't hard or expensive, just grunt work, like sanitation hoses

On the golf cart batteries, seems Sam's club usually has a good price, unless you have to have trojans that is. Shipping batteries can be expensive.

On edit, I think one of your AGM's would make a good windlass battery, I think once you price enough correctly sized wire to run you windlass off of existing batteries, you may end up with a dedicated windlass battery close to the windlass. Bet even though it's a different chemistry, it would last

[MarkJ]

Originally Posted by DDabs

Mark, ....For now I think I'm going to have to get away with three. Is 420W not enough to just run refrigeration and perhaps the electronics/autopilot for a day?

Actually, i just recalculated. You ought to be fine. Mine are 2x120 plus a 70 watt panel on the deck infront of the mast at 45 degrees to get the early morning sun.
So 420 should be ok.

My bigger problem is to increase my battery bank... Another job for this year...

[DDabs]

Originally Posted by sailorboy1

My batteries say either Rayovac or Duracell (I can not remember), but are Dekka batteries. So if you are going down the 6V golf cart route just shop around for the best deal locally and get them instead of making yourself all crazy.

Just my opinion (and what I did).

At Sam's Club online, I found Duracell 6V GC2's for ~$80 a piece... so I could have a setup of 630AH for $500. This seems like the best deal so far.

[Maine Sail]

Originally Posted by DDabs

Scott Berg, thanks, I was actually just going to post that and make sure. So for example, 6V Trojan T-105's and a 12V AGM battery are both going to be LA?

Yes.

Flooded = Flooded Lead Acid / FLA
AGM = Absorbed Glass Matt Valve Regulated Lead Acid / VRLA OR AGM VRLA
GEL= Gelled Lead Acid / GEL or GEL VRLA

[DDabs]

If I have a bank of 6 6V batteries, what kind of battery monitor do I need? Will something like the Victron work for the entire bank? Or do I need a monitor for each battery?

[sailorboy1]

Originally Posted by DDabs

If I have a bank of 6 6V batteries, what kind of battery monitor do I need? Will something like the Victron work for the entire bank? Or do I need a monitor for each battery?

depends on how you wire them

if one bank you can do it with 1 BM

I have 4 6V batteries in 2 banks, but all the ground go though a common ground wire and both banks are always combined, and I monitor it with 1 Victron monitor

the victron 600 with monitor 1 battery ground leg, doesn't matter how many batteries get fed from it

[DDabs]

Exactly what I needed to know thanks.

[DDabs]

I'm torn between the Victron:
BMV-600s Battery Monitor - e Marine Systems

or this:
Power Energy Meter w/ 100A Shunt

Which seems to measure the power generated from the panels in a day or week span, as well as displaying battery voltage.

[F51]

Originally Posted by DDabs

I'm torn between the Victron:
BMV-600s Battery Monitor - e Marine Systems

or this:
Power Energy Meter w/ 100A Shunt

Which seems to measure the power generated from the panels in a day or week span, as well as displaying battery voltage.

The Victron has a large installed user base here on CF. I cannot remember any negative comments.

The Victron is cheaper.

The PEM draws 17 times more power than the Victron.

[sailorboy1]

Originally Posted by DDabs

I'm torn between the Victron:
BMV-600s Battery Monitor - e Marine Systems

or this:
Power Energy Meter w/ 100A Shunt

Which seems to measure the power generated from the panels in a day or week span, as well as displaying battery voltage.

Well I get my power generated info from my Outback solar controller that tells me the power produced, min/max voltages, time at absorption etc. and it keeps this for a 100 days of use.

The BM is just to gett track of the condition of the battery.

You aren't planning to go though all this time and expense just to get a cheap solar controller ....................... are you

[DDabs]

I'm just not sure what I need... I ended up ordering the 3 Kyocera 140W panels, and a Tristar 45 AMP MPPT. So I am unsure of which monitor to use.