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26-09-2014, 05:23
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#1
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S/V rubber ducky
Join Date: Jul 2007
Location: heading "south"
Boat: Hunter 410
Posts: 20,362
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Installed Battery Capacity
I fight the urge to increase my battery capacity all the time. I don't know why it even occurs to me to do this since I normally am above 80% SOC at worst and mostly above 90% SOC. Even a couple of years ago when I was trying track down battery charging problems my house bank was above 50% so it isn't like I don't have enough capacity. So maybe this just a misplaced "bigger is better" thing.
But I wonder how my battery capacity compares. So on my 43' cruising type boat I have 460AH rated house batteries, and this has been more than enough.
How about everyone else (do the poll also please) (never mind as I didn't click the poll box and apparently can not add via edit)
This is rated AH, not usable AH.
__________________
Don't ask a bunch of unknown forum people if it is OK to do something on YOUR boat. It is your boat, do what you want!
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26-09-2014, 05:25
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#2
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Nearly an old salt
Join Date: Jun 2009
Location: Lefkas Marina ,Greece
Boat: Bavaria 36
Posts: 22,801
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Re: Installed Battery Capacity
I have a lot of urges too , I keep them in check by reading dull technical spec sheets, never fails to work.
dave
__________________
Interested in smart boat technology, networking and all things tech
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26-09-2014, 05:38
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#3
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Moderator and Certifiable Refitter
Join Date: Jan 2008
Location: South of 43 S, Australia
Boat: C.L.O.D.
Posts: 20,241
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Re: Installed Battery Capacity
I'm low end - 150 AH
And I don't worry about fighting the urges...
__________________
All men dream: but not equally. Those who dream by night in the dusty recesses of their minds wake in the day to find it was vanity: but the dreamers of the day are dangereous men, for they may act their dreams with open eyes, to make it possible. T.E. Lawrence
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26-09-2014, 05:44
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#4
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Marine Service Provider
Join Date: Jan 2007
Location: Maine
Boat: CS-36T - Cupecoy
Posts: 3,197
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Re: Installed Battery Capacity
IMHO the real question should be:
What is your actual installed amp hour capacity now not what was it is rated for when new...? Far too few boaters physically test their banks to know this number and this leads to erroneous assumptions of capacity and batteries that tend to cliff dive later in life....
Approx 90% of the batteries that run through my shop, for physical capacity testing, are not even at 85% of their rated capacity let alone 100%.
This I can only assume is why batteries tend to do okay for a few years then fall off a cliff... If more boaters tested capacity, and then adjusted usable capacity down, as the batteries aged, I suspect we would see average bank life move up....
I see far to many owners with four or five year old banks and an Ah counter still programmed for the "as new" Ah capacity....
Me, I am 400Ah's & 130 pounds of battery bank on a 36 footer, and 80% of it is fully usable capacity, not 35%...
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26-09-2014, 10:33
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#5
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Registered User
Join Date: Aug 2012
Location: Maryland, USA
Boat: 58' Sedan Bridge
Posts: 5,418
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Re: Installed Battery Capacity
Quote:
Originally Posted by sailorboy1
But I wonder how my battery capacity compares. So on my 43' cruising type boat I have 460AH rated house batteries, and this has been more than enough.
How about everyone else
This is rated AH, not usable AH.
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42' boat, 600 Ah capacity (when new) divided into two separate start/house/bridge banks. (Doesn't count separate genset strating battery.)
Sufficient so far (and we rarely stress either bank), charging 2x/day as we do breakfast and dinner cooking.
Our starboard bank takes the bigger hit -- with bridge electronics -- so my intention is to slightly increase that bank when we eventually need new batteries on that side. Partly influenced by having enough physical space to increase that footprint a bit... otherwise, I'd leave well enough alone.
-Chris
__________________
Chesapeake Bay, USA.
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26-09-2014, 10:41
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#6
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Moderator Emeritus
Join Date: May 2008
Location: Fort Lauderdale, FL
Boat: 48 Wauquiez Pilot Saloon
Posts: 5,975
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Re: Installed Battery Capacity
22' = 80 Ah
33' = 420 Ah
48' = 980 Ah
__________________
In the harsh marine environment, something is always in need of repair...
Mai Tai's fix everything...
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26-09-2014, 10:48
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#7
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Registered User
Join Date: Aug 2009
Location: between the devil and the deep blue sea
Boat: a sailing boat
Posts: 20,420
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Re: Installed Battery Capacity
We have some 100 Ah in a small boat. It is well enough. She came with 240 Ah.
I consider 400 to 600 Ah about the norm for most mid size boats.
As long as you have enough charging capacity to easily fill up the tank, there is no upper limit other than the weight.
b.
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26-09-2014, 10:53
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#8
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Registered User
Join Date: Jan 2011
Location: Cowichan Bay, BC (Maple Bay Marina)
Posts: 9,703
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Re: Installed Battery Capacity
The battery capacity, in addition to what Maine Sail wrote, has to be compared to your daily energy budget and anticipated boat use (marina hopper all the way to anchor out), otherwise the question is meaningless.
A single 90 ah house bank survived in my Catalina 25 for 12 years (size wise), outboard engine, no alternator. No fridge, small ap, rarely used depthsounder, Loran C later on. Mostly daysails, some coastal cruises with ability to plug in every two days.
On our C34, we do anchor out almost every time we go out, has a fridge with a daily use of 100-120 ah. With a 390 ah house bank, 100 ah alternator with external regulator.
__________________
Stu Jackson
Catalina 34 #224 (1986) C34IA Secretary
Cowichan Bay, BC, SR/FK, M25, Rocna 10 (22#) (NZ model)
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26-09-2014, 10:54
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#9
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Registered User
Join Date: Aug 2013
Location: Florida
Boat: 2000 Searay 380 Sundancer
Posts: 1,087
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Re: Installed Battery Capacity
Mine has been upgraded to six 125Ah 12V batteries. This works well for my purposes.
Mine is set w/ one dedicated to starting the generator.
Yes, batteries degrade over time and usage. Factor 5-10% Ah capacity loss per year.
__________________
2000 SeaRay 380 Sundancer Mercruiser
454 MAG MPI Horizon 380hp / Westerbeke 7.0KW BCGB
many cool mods
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26-09-2014, 11:44
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#10
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Moderator Emeritus
Join Date: Oct 2013
Location: Jacksonville/ out cruising
Boat: Island Packet 38
Posts: 31,351
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Re: Installed Battery Capacity
625, but they are pretty much shot, no idea of real capacity, I'm nursing them until I can do better, really considering a LIFE-PO bank, but really don't know where to start and the threads, sort of like the anchor threads get way too involved
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26-09-2014, 12:02
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#11
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Registered User
Join Date: Sep 2012
Location: Washington State
Boat: Colvin, Saugeen Witch (Aluminum), 34'
Posts: 2,269
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Re: Installed Battery Capacity
230 AH (12V) House.
Small Fridge + lights uses less than 50A per day.
Good enough for me.
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26-09-2014, 12:10
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#12
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Moderator Emeritus
Join Date: May 2008
Location: Fort Lauderdale, FL
Boat: 48 Wauquiez Pilot Saloon
Posts: 5,975
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Re: Installed Battery Capacity
Oh man... I forgot about the 32" boat....
8 x AA = 8.4 Ah @ 500ma... But it should be noted that cruising times are limited to two to three 3-4 hour passages because rudder and sheet controls are fully electric...
I find it easiest and fairly economical to simply change out the entire house bank when they become depleted...
__________________
In the harsh marine environment, something is always in need of repair...
Mai Tai's fix everything...
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26-09-2014, 12:19
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#13
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Registered User
Join Date: Apr 2013
Location: So Cal
Boat: Catalina 387
Posts: 967
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Re: Installed Battery Capacity
Happy: maybe you should consider NiMH for the 32" boat. I'd think they're sold everywhere parts are for said same boat.
My C30 - 230Ah + a 80Ah reserve battery. Small fridge, AP. 160W solar + 50A alternator on the wheezy A4 (and no way will it ever output 50A). Plugged into shore power except when at Catalina or on a day sail. It's plenty. Can be off shore power indefinitely as long as its sunny.
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26-09-2014, 12:40
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#14
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Registered User
Join Date: Jul 2012
Boat: Tayana 58 DS
Posts: 763
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Re: Installed Battery Capacity
We have as follows:
House bank = 4 x 4d gels @ 215Ah each. But we run 24V house system. Does that count as 430Ah or 860Ah?
Yanmar starting 1x4d @ ~185Ah
FP Genset starting 1x4d @ ~185Ah
4 x Group 31 @ 125Ah each for Windlass and Bow Thruster (again, 24V -- runs off same 150A alternator/100A charger as house)
1 x Group 27 @ 90Ah for 12V electronics/vhf/some lights -- (I'm not sure whether to count this as "house" since it powers some typical "house" functions)
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26-09-2014, 13:07
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#15
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S/V rubber ducky
Join Date: Jul 2007
Location: heading "south"
Boat: Hunter 410
Posts: 20,362
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Re: Installed Battery Capacity
Quote:
Originally Posted by accomplice
We have as follows:
House bank = 4 x 4d gels @ 215Ah each. But we run 24V house system. Does that count as 430Ah or 860Ah?
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You don't know?????????? I could just tell you, but I'm not and hope you look it up.
__________________
Don't ask a bunch of unknown forum people if it is OK to do something on YOUR boat. It is your boat, do what you want!
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