Oops, start battery

[sailorboy1]

I've have my boat for 7 years now and thought the start battery was a sealed battery. In fact I have been concerned that I was charging it at too high voltage because the house batteries are open cell and charge at 14.8V and I normally forget to turn the start battery switch to off. But today I looked at the start battery closer and then pulled the caps. It looks pretty murky in there and one plate waved to me as it was all uncovered. Oops

Oh well I had been saying I didn't really know how old the start battery was and that I should replace it.

[Calif.Ted]

Oh Well, 7 years isn't a bad life span for a FLA battery, actually, 7 years with no water is pretty amazing, light use saved it I suppose.

[JPA Cate]

Don't dispose of it. Water it up with distilled water, and see if it becomes happy again. It will only be the cost of the water, then, plus a fun experiment.

Ann

[sailorboy1]

I watered it, but it’s going to be replaced. A start battery is pretty cheap in the scheme of importance

[JPA Cate]

^^^^ Fair enough.

Ann

[DumnMad]

Originally Posted by sailorboy1

I watered it, but it’s going to be replaced. A start battery is pretty cheap in the scheme of importance

How big is the motor ?
Maybe you could use it as an excuse to buy a Powerall 16AH Jump Starter.

[sailorboy1]

Originally Posted by DumnMad

How big is the motor ?
Maybe you could use it as an excuse to buy a Powerall 16AH Jump Starter.

what advantage would that be over just getting a new start battery?

[DumnMad]

Originally Posted by sailorboy1

what advantage would that be over just getting a new start battery?

Its an emergency pack. Can charge cell phone and laptops when away from the boat and can start the car or boat motor if starter battery is drained. Has a good torch too so you can see what you are doing.

[sailorboy1]

Sounds no advantage

[smith8273]

The real question here is where do we list the expense in our monthly report, as we don’t want to ruffle more feathers...

[sailorboy1]

Originally Posted by smith8273

The real question here is where do we list the expense in our monthly report, as we don’t want to ruffle more feathers...

It will be listed in boat maintenance, I’m not worried about the feathers too much but wait till you all see the upcoming monthly total. It is bound to the “I can it for less” people wound it!

[a64pilot]

The battery will almost certainly recover and show good voltage, but have very little capacity. This is one case that those cheap heater battery testers would work. When you needed it, it would let you down, replacement is the smart bet.
However with Solar and a generator, do you need a separate start battery?
Just a thought.

[P3sailor]

Best to replace the battery. You can add water, charge it and it may appear to "recover" but it will let you down, eventually. If you're in warm weather and just use it for starting it may work as long as you charge it after every start and use it daily, but that's all an "IF" and it will most likely let you down when you need it the most. Don't waste your time trying to nurse it along, batteries are relatively cheap.

[sailorboy1]

Originally Posted by a64pilot

However with Solar and a generator, do you need a separate start battery?
Just a thought.

Even though in hindsight I think that start battery has had issues for over a year, which means I of course can do without it, it seems a foolish thing to try to save $100-130 on.

[BlackHeron]

7 years is a good life for a battery IMHO. As far as a lithium battery is concerned, I don't want even one of those bombs on my boat, much less a whole bank of them.