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Old 06-09-2013, 18:27   #1
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House bank 6 volt vs 2 volt cells

I am currently finishing up the electrical system in a custom 45' power cat and I wanted to get views on the batteries to use for the house bank.

It is a 12 volt, 900 amp hr bank, and I am planning on using Lifeline batteries,
either 6 - 300 amp hr 6 volt batteries in series- parallel or 6- 900 amp hr 2 volt batteries in series.

I would like to hear from those of you with a similar system as to what way you have built up your banks and the advantage and disadvantage of both.

Thanks in advance.
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Old 07-09-2013, 19:39   #2
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The main issue with this is the space. 2v cells fit tall narrow spaces well and 6v ones will fit flatter areas. In both cases you are on the limit of what can be comfortably handled so will you be able to crane the in with the boom, remember they will eventually need changing.
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Old 07-09-2013, 20:17   #3
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Re: House bank 6 volt vs 2 volt cells

I had 6v's for years, they took tremendous abuse, lasted a long time, are cheap, easy to install/remove and you can buy them anywhere.

My current boat came with two banks of 2v Rolls Surette's. One bank lasted only 3yrs of very light use, they came with hydro-caps that I'm now convinced are just marketng BS, are extremely difficult to remove as they lock together (and you can't just replace one bad cell) and are hideously expensive.
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Old 07-09-2013, 21:06   #4
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The Lifeline 2V are the exact same size and weight as the Lifeline 6V batteries. The 2V batteries in series is much better. The only negative is the somewhat higher cost. Go for it when the budget allows it!
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Old 08-09-2013, 05:14   #5
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Re: House bank 6 volt vs 2 volt cells

These are the type of comments I was looking for. I should have said in my question that the Lifeline 2 volt and 6 volt used the same case.

I will contact my vendor and get price and delivery of both of them and will let you know. I think the 2 volt will make a cleaner install, I just want to make sure it won't be difficult to get replacement batteries.

However, anymore insight and comment on this is welcome.
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Old 08-09-2013, 07:49   #6
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House bank 6 volt vs 2 volt cells

The rest of the electrical system on this boat might be of interest to you.

The main engine alternators were converted to use Balmar regulators and they are controlled by a Balmar Crossfielder II and charge the house battery bank. The engine batteries are charged thru a Balmar Digital Duo Charge unit.
The alternators have switches to switch the source voltage and output to the engine start batteries if there is a failure of the house bank.

We have a 3000 watt Victron inverter charger, a 5.5 kw next gen gen set, and 885 watts of solar panels with a Victron charge controller.
The inverter will run everything on the boat on the A/C loads but the air conditioning, water heater, and washer and dryer.

We also have solar water heating panels on the water heater.

The boat will have a large hardtop on the flying bridge and has plenty of space for the panels. If we wanted to, we could more than double the amount of solar on the hardtop.
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Old 08-09-2013, 07:59   #7
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Some of the system

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ID:	66805The alternator regulators and the crossfielder II . The inverter and solar charge controller. The panels. And the inverter control, battery monitor, and amp gauges for each alternator.


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Old 08-09-2013, 08:04   #8
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Regultors and Crossfielder II unit

Attached the wrong photo in last post.

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Old 08-09-2013, 10:09   #9
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Battery Storage area

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Old 08-09-2013, 13:51   #10
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Re: House bank 6 volt vs 2 volt cells

Quote:
Originally Posted by s/v Jedi View Post
The Lifeline 2V are the exact same size and weight as the Lifeline 6V batteries. The 2V batteries in series is much better. The only negative is the somewhat higher cost. Go for it when the budget allows it!
AT retail the 6 volt is $411.00
the 2 volt is $436.00

And like I said, that is at retail.
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Old 08-09-2013, 14:12   #11
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Re: House bank 6 volt vs 2 volt cells

Quote:
Originally Posted by Capt Hugh Wilde View Post
AT retail the 6 volt is $411.00
the 2 volt is $436.00

And like I said, that is at retail.
Six 2V Cells = 660Ah = $2616.00

Six 6V Cells = 660Ah = $2466.00

Not a huge difference..... With the 2V cells you will only have series connections then a + & - take off at each end. With series/parallel you will have many more connections..
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Old 08-09-2013, 14:18   #12
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Re: House bank 6 volt vs 2 volt cells

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Originally Posted by Maine Sail View Post
Six 2V Cells = 660Ah = $2616.00

Six 6V Cells = 660Ah = $2466.00

Not a huge difference..... With the 2V cells you will only have series connections then a + & - take off at each end. With series/parallel you will have many more connections..

6- GPL-6CT - 6 volt - 300 Ah each = 900 Ah 12 vdc bank
6- GPL-6CT-2v - 2 VOLT - 900 Ah each = 900 Ah 12 vdc bank

If I shop them right I bet it will be less than $100 between them for the bank and alot less connections to make and worry about.
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Old 08-09-2013, 15:30   #13
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What about failure modes? 6 2v cells. You loose one and your done. 6 6v cells you loose one and you're still in business.


Where will you be sailing? Anywhere remote I would think about how to recover from a failure.
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Old 08-09-2013, 17:38   #14
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Re: House bank 6 volt vs 2 volt cells

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What about failure modes? 6 2v cells. You loose one and your done. 6 6v cells you loose one and you're still in business.


Where will you be sailing? Anywhere remote I would think about how to recover from a failure.
I have thought about that. She will range far and wide, but the system is set up to use one of the engine start banks as a back-up, and she does have a gen set.

With the 6 volts, you could take the set with the bad battery out of the mix and still have power [ 600 Ah ] , so that is an advantage.

I also think getting 6 volt replacements could be easier as well.

There is merit to both ways, and I am trying to weigh all the options before committing to one or the other.
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Old 09-09-2013, 04:34   #15
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House bank 6 volt vs 2 volt cells

Any more input from you all?
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