Any two years reviews for Firefly batteries?

[john61ct]

Can't see what you're responding to.

If you mean getting to 100%, no, sure they do.

If you mean stopping at 90% then yes, no AGM does.

[Suijin]

Only had my Fireflies for two months but the charge acceptance makes me giddy. My old Lifeline bank would only take 40amps from the alt but the Fireflies take 65 and it stays up there much longer. I’m getting significantly more bang per gallon of diesel burned, when I need to do it.

Of course the Lifeline bank was getting tired but I dint remember them taking more than 50 amps even when new.

[Suijin]

Originally Posted by johnmort

as far as I have read about AGM batteries you do not equalize them

You can equalize Lifelines and perhaps some other brands. In fact they specifically recommend it.

[thinwater]

I hope this is obvious:


The difference in reconditioning (or equalizing) protecole is due to the fact that wet cells tend to stratify vertically, and they can be stirred by recharging hard enough to break out some of the water to H2. The bubbles cause deep mixing. AGMs, Gels, and Fireflies have stabilized electrolyte and thus neither stratify in the same way nor can be mixed in the same way by generating gas. But that is not to say that sulfation cannot be reduced and to some extent, reversed, by taking them to a high state of charge.


The simplest approach is to read the manual.


My most resent boat came with AGMs that I though had been trashed by chronic undercharging (outboard, no solar, no shore power). They didn't hold a charge well and did not like to come up. I was pleasantly surprised when consistent charging with solar to a high SOC largely revived them. It took a few months, but I think they now have several more years in them.

[john61ct]

Originally Posted by Suijin

You can equalize Lifelines and perhaps some other brands.

Nope, only Lifeline still recommends equalizing.

The others (Odyssey, Northstar, Full River) have "similar" reconditioning protocols, except higher voltages - which I consider the definition of "equalizing" - are not involved.

Follow the detailed specs published by the mfg for your specific model batts.

[admiralslater]

Well we are about to find out about the robustness of th FF Batteries. 7 weeks ago I asked a friend to shut off the solar panels on our Outremer which has five FFs as the house bank . Unbeknownst to me we had a very small load present (improper installation) and the batteries went flat not just a little flat but the link10 did not read flat . I also have the AC side in pieces so the battery charger was not available. I tuned the pannels back on and about 3 hours later the meter sprang into life . I turned off the main battery disconnect and let it do its thing . There were no loads present so psoc cycles. Grenada has had a run of cloudy and rainy weather and the boat is facing north south with the pannels on the north end . Yesterday I was seeing 12 .8 volts and today the link10 gave me the fully charged sign . I have not loaded the circuits yet so don’t know what the batteries will be like .
If they come through this they will be worth every penny

[Jim Cate]

AS: please let us all know how this comes out... a real world crash test!

Thanks,

Jim

[Trackskinz]

I am contemplating replacing my old AGMs with FF.
My question is: I currently have about 370 Ah of AGM, which, if they would stay up would be enough. If 3 FFs G31 are 110 ea, should the 330 be plenty since the FF discharge more deeply? Honestly, maybe even just 2

[Trackskinz]

And on a related note, long story but my alternator does not have an actual regulator (adjustable rheostat type device) on my 55 amp alternator. Would something like a Balmar be configured to work with what amounts to an automotive alternator? The one that is supposed to be used with my alternator only puts out 13.6V.

[john61ct]

yes most stock alts can be modded at an alt shop to accept a Balmar MC-614

[john61ct]

FF **can** be dropped to low SoC, but the shortened longevity is still major, just not quite as extreme as regular AGM.

If you want an extended lifespan you still should only do so in exigent circumstances, best to stay above 40-60% in normal operations.

Unavoidable PSOC situations are where FF really are cost justified.

[admiralslater]

With FF batteries it is critical to customize voltages so an external regulator is needed and and a programable BC and solar regulator as well . For me I had know battert charger ,and the solar controllers where to small . So upgrades where needed any way

[mlydon]

Hey Admiral, how did the reanimating go?

Matt

[admiralslater]

Originally Posted by mlydon

Hey Admiral, how did the reanimating go?

Matt

The jury is still out as , I have not used the batteries since the the discovery of the problem . They are on charge with solar ,and probably wont get a work out until mid January. I emailed Bruce Schwab and the folks there thought that I might be ok as they had done similar tests. One interesting thing was that they suggested jamming the juice into as hard as possible ,not sure why but that is what they said . For those that are interested my power leak was an incorrectly installed 614. The isolator was wired permanently excited,something that we did not notice as I had never turned off the pannels before.
Stay tuned

[jkleins]

Originally Posted by john61ct

FF **can** be dropped to low SoC, but the shortened longevity is still major, just not quite as extreme as regular AGM.

If you want an extended lifespan you still should only do so in exigent circumstances, best to stay above 40-60% in normal operations.

Unavoidable PSOC situations are where FF really are cost justified.

What evidence do you have for this? I routinely drop mine below your “recommended” levels without any sign of decreased capacity as do many on this forum that have Fireflys. Do you have any reports that corroborate this? If you do please publish them as they would be interesting to see and add new information to the what is currently available.

Jim