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pdxsailordiver · 23-09-2011, 17:22

T 105 were the only ones that fit. Alternator charges house bank of 4 t105. I left the 1/2 switch for the house bank so I can isolate each bank if I need to. I just leave it on ALL. I put in a Echo charge to charge the starter battery. I have 2 50 watt solar panels with an charge controller ( Morningstar). No Refer and all lights are LED's. Worked great all summer.
Next I plan to up grade my alternator to a 100A.

s/v 'Faith' · 23-09-2011, 18:04

I love my good 'ole flooded lead acid Trojans (105's).

Been on a lot of other boats (deliveries) lately. Those fancy AGM's don't seem at all worth the money to me.... most seem to die young.

The worst are those stupid gel cells.... man those things are temperamental.

Anyone using the vent caps that (kinda) transform their batteries into
maint-free? I have read about them, and (coincidentally) just topped up my batteries today... was thinking about those caps that capture the water that evaporates / boils.

sailcruiser · 23-09-2011, 18:09

Quote:

Originally Posted by pdxsailordiver

T 105 were the only ones that fit. Alternator charges house bank of 4 t105. I left the 1/2 switch for the house bank so I can isolate each bank if I need to. I just leave it on ALL. I put in a Echo charge to charge the starter battery. I have 2 50 watt solar panels with an charge controller ( Morningstar). No Refer and all lights are LED's. Worked great all summer.
Next I plan to up grade my alternator to a 100A.

You don't isolate your start battery if under sail? (assuming this is a sailboat described above). If not may I ask why? Am redoing our charging and battery situation this winter. SC

DeepFrz · 23-09-2011, 18:21

Sounds like you have an echo charge of some sort to charge your start battery. If you have room for the 125's that is good as it gives you the most energy density per sq. ft. Trojan are good batteries but like Zee others have posted that they have had good service from Costco golf cart batteries.

pdxsailordiver · 25-09-2011, 16:14

Quote:

Originally Posted by sailcruiser

You don't isolate your start battery if under sail? (assuming this is a sailboat described above). If not may I ask why? Am redoing our charging and battery situation this winter. SC

Yelp I isolate my start battery. I use anecho charge. Alternator feeds house bank and echo charge keeps start battery up. I have a on/off switch for start battery that I never use.

farotherside · 26-09-2011, 12:38

Quote:

Originally Posted by pdxsailordiver

Yelp I isolate my start battery. I use anecho charge. Alternator feeds house bank and echo charge keeps start battery up.

ditto this; I use a Blue Sea heavy-duty charging relay. all charge sources go to my house bank, and my starter battery is paralleled in whenever the house bank voltage is over 13v.