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08-03-2017, 08:38
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#1
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Registered User
Join Date: Dec 2011
Location: Caribbean
Boat: Leopard 38
Posts: 146
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Need actual advice on Gel batteries for my boat
Hello.
Soon I need to exchange my existing house bank of gel batteries. Installed are 3 Gel Tech batteries 12V with 175A each.
Available space is 20-21" or 50-54 cm in length. Height 9-11" or 23-29cm. Width 8-9" or 22cm.
Would love to get some news where to buy them economically in the US or Caribe.
Every advice is greatly appreciated.
Thanks
Alex
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08-03-2017, 08:44
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#2
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Registered User
Join Date: Apr 2010
Location: Shoreline, CT and Portmouth Harbor
Boat: Standfast 33, building a 65 ft Wooden Schooner
Posts: 636
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Re: Need actual advice on Gel batteries for my boat
defender is probably your cheapest option, but if you are in the carribean then shipping may outweigh the savings for the product. I would look as local as you can, maybe st Thomas if you can get there.
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08-03-2017, 09:00
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#3
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Registered User
Join Date: Mar 2016
Location: Ottawa, Canada
Boat: Jeanneau 409
Posts: 246
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Re: Need actual advice on Gel batteries for my boat
Have you considered the Firefly carbon foam batteries?
I have 7 of them and they are fantastic. A nice happy medium between AGM and Lithium
__________________
2015 Jeanneau Sun Odyssey 409 - 3 Cabin / 2 Head, Shoal Keel, Furling Main, Performance Genoa 135% with Tracks, Folding Prop, Bow Thruster, Air Conditioning, B&G Zeus2 Chartplotter, B&G Autopilot, B&G 4G Radar, B&G ForwardScan Sonar.
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08-03-2017, 09:02
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#4
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cruiser
Join Date: Jan 2017
Boat: Retired from CF
Posts: 13,317
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Re: Need actual advice on Gel batteries for my boat
Yes, very rare to hear of anyone still wanting Gel?
I thought their advantages turned out to be illusory.
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08-03-2017, 09:09
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#5
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Registered User
Join Date: Dec 2011
Location: Caribbean
Boat: Leopard 38
Posts: 146
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Re: Need actual advice on Gel batteries for my boat
Thank you. Never heard.
Do you have a link and a price for me?
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08-03-2017, 09:10
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#6
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Registered User
Join Date: Dec 2011
Location: Caribbean
Boat: Leopard 38
Posts: 146
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Re: Need actual advice on Gel batteries for my boat
Why?
I'm very happy with gel batts. In my forklift for 10 years now and 6 on my boat. Plus zero maintenance.
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08-03-2017, 09:15
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#7
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Registered User
Join Date: Mar 2016
Location: Ottawa, Canada
Boat: Jeanneau 409
Posts: 246
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Re: Need actual advice on Gel batteries for my boat
Quote:
Originally Posted by ak5609
Thank you. Never heard.
Do you have a link and a price for me?
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https://www.coastalclimatecontrol.co...e-battery.html
__________________
2015 Jeanneau Sun Odyssey 409 - 3 Cabin / 2 Head, Shoal Keel, Furling Main, Performance Genoa 135% with Tracks, Folding Prop, Bow Thruster, Air Conditioning, B&G Zeus2 Chartplotter, B&G Autopilot, B&G 4G Radar, B&G ForwardScan Sonar.
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08-03-2017, 09:23
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#8
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cruiser
Join Date: Jan 2017
Boat: Retired from CF
Posts: 13,317
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Re: Need actual advice on Gel batteries for my boat
Quote:
Originally Posted by ak5609
Why?
I'm very happy with gel batts. In my forklift for 10 years now and 6 on my boat. Plus zero maintenance.
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Forklift charging and usage cycles have little to do with mobile/marine "house bank" patterns.
Slow charge rates, lower voltages or damaged.
Fewer effective cycles, shorter life
Do not hold up well in hot engine rooms, gel cell electrolyte does evaporate over time.
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08-03-2017, 09:25
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#9
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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: Need actual advice on Gel batteries for my boat
I was under the impression that Gels were among the longest lasting of all battery types, however they are not tolerant of abuse
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08-03-2017, 09:30
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#10
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Registered User
Join Date: Mar 2013
Location: East of the river CT
Boat: Oday Mariner 19 , Four Winns Marquis 16 OB, Kingfisher III
Posts: 657
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Re: Need actual advice on Gel batteries for my boat
Gels work well if everything is set up well for them. They are not as bolt in as agm (they require lower voltages.) but they can outlast AGM when properly setup. They also seem to do better with being partially charged and dragged lower then AGM's do. On the other hand they can not be charged as quickly as AGM's.
__________________
mysite: Colinism.com
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08-03-2017, 09:32
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#11
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cruiser
Join Date: Jan 2017
Boat: Retired from CF
Posts: 13,317
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Re: Need actual advice on Gel batteries for my boat
Quote:
Originally Posted by ak5609
Thank you. Never heard.
Do you have a link and a price for me?
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Firefly wants 14.2-14.6V charging, 14.4 is ideal also 13.2V for longevity.
Check if your charge sources match that, if so they are excellent, best lead-based for handling situations where you can't get up to 100% full very frequently.
$500+ per 100 AH, much cheaper than LFP.
Otherwise just go "back" to FLA 6v GC2s, <$100 per 100AH, likely will last longer than your gels did.
If you CAN get to true 100% every cycle, or at least weekly, then lots more choices in between, worth spending more on premium FLA or AGM if you need sealed.
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08-03-2017, 09:32
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#12
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Registered User
Join Date: Dec 2011
Location: Caribbean
Boat: Leopard 38
Posts: 146
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Re: Need actual advice on Gel batteries for my boat
I disagree as I am satisfied. Charging cycle on my boat (5 solar panels total 960W) perfect. Age 6+ years and still ok. No wear out visible. Stored on my catamaran in a well circulated compartment which is not hot at all.
Do you have a recommendation if gel is not your first choice. I'm always happy to get other Infos.
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08-03-2017, 09:46
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#13
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Registered User
Join Date: Mar 2013
Location: East of the river CT
Boat: Oday Mariner 19 , Four Winns Marquis 16 OB, Kingfisher III
Posts: 657
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Re: Need actual advice on Gel batteries for my boat
Quote:
Originally Posted by john61ct
Forklift charging and usage cycles have little to do with mobile/marine "house bank" patterns.
Slow charge rates, lower voltages or damaged.
Fewer effective cycles, shorter life
Do not hold up well in hot engine rooms, gel cell electrolyte does evaporate over time.
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I have found them to have a higher cycle life then AGM in my experience. I believe the manufactures published data shows the same. The banks I have experience with were almost completely charged with solar so quick charge times were not a huge concern.
__________________
mysite: Colinism.com
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08-03-2017, 10:07
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#14
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cruiser
Join Date: Jan 2017
Boat: Retired from CF
Posts: 13,317
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Re: Need actual advice on Gel batteries for my boat
Quote:
Originally Posted by ak5609
I disagree as I am satisfied. Charging cycle on my boat (5 solar panels total 960W) perfect. Age 6+ years and still ok. No wear out visible. Stored on my catamaran in a well circulated compartment which is not hot at all.
Do you have a recommendation if gel is not your first choice. I'm always happy to get other Infos.
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If everything is fine for your setup, get another round of gel.
As I said, getting back to true 100% frequently is key, along with proper matching between the bank mfg specs and charge sources' V/A inputs. Adjustable on both makes these choices easier.
Given that, top-notch vendors like Rolls/Surette, Odyssey, Northstar, Concorde/Lifeline, Trojan, in about that order IMO.
I prefer FLA, to be able to calibrate SoC metering with a hydrometer.
But if that's not important to you, AGM will mount sideways or tighter locations and accept fast-charging higher amps, at a higher cost per $100AH.
Buying locally, eliminating shipping charges, and maybe trusted support if needed, makes a huge difference to the value equation.
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08-03-2017, 11:41
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#15
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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: Need actual advice on Gel batteries for my boat
Quote:
Originally Posted by ak5609
Soon I need to exchange my existing house bank of gel batteries. Installed are 3 Gel Tech batteries 12V with 175A each.
Available space is 20-21" or 50-54 cm in length. Height 9-11" or 23-29cm. Width 8-9" or 22cm.
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Google on Gel Tech batteries suggests yours are "8G4D", 20.75"L x 8.5"W x 10"H, 183 Ah. Or at least that's a current Gel Tech product approximating what you've got.
Google can probably find several dealers, and from that you could maybe work out best shipping costs. Or maybe any brand of gel 4Ds would work for you, especially if you can find something local.
Quick charging info on the Jamsetown Distributors page says charge to at least 13.8V and no more than 14.1V... so if yours have worked well, perhaps that suggests your charging system is well-balanced for those batteries. (How long have they lasted for you?)
FWIW, Jamestown's price is $608.96/each. If you have flexibility with your charging system, maybe compare with any other 4Ds (FLA, AGM, etc.) in case something equally useful can be available locally at decent cost.
-Chris
__________________
Chesapeake Bay, USA.
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