Something is wrong if the panels are kicking 16V into the bank. Is there an external solar regulator or is it built into the panel? Either way, you may want to invest $30 or so on a new reg. Did exactly what you describe on the house/starting bank.
John On Oct 1, 2014, at 3:34 PM, Petar Horvatic via CnC-List <cnc-list@cnc-list.com> wrote: > Did you notice serious AH loss? That’s too bad. Batteries are getting > expensive, solar panels are getting cheap. So you can extend deep cycle > battery life by cycling them at higher % capacity . Like 100-75% as opposed > to dipping down to 50% or whatever your preferred discharge level might be. > But I combined my house banks into one. 4xTrojan AGM group 31. I have a > small wallmart starting battery that does just that drives the starter motor. > > I was always told that AGMs get killed by high voltage. But I didn’t notice > that as my solar panels often drive them up to 16V. Their internal > resistance is very low so they don’t heat up much during charge or > voercharge. > Hope you get better luck this time. > > Petar Horvatic > Sundowner > 76 C&C 38MkII > Newport, RI > > > > > > From: honeysail...@gmail.com [mailto:honeysail...@gmail.com] On Behalf Of > Jack Fitzgerald > Sent: Wednesday, October 01, 2014 2:42 PM > To: Petar Horvatic > Subject: Re: Stus-List Boat Batteries > > Hello Petar > > Yes, I have the complete Ample Power System including the energy monitor. > When I complained to Port Supply (West Marine's wholesale division) our > account rep quietly indicated that they were having issues with the house > brand AGM batteries and refunded 60% of the purchase price. I replaced all 6 > batteries with deep cycle gel batteries and so far no issues. I can run all > of our electronics and refrigeration for 48 hours straight on 1 bank before I > have to switch banks. > > I use AGM batteries in my airplane and well as in 2 HD motorcycles and > couldn't be happier, but the 6 purchased for my sail boat were a major > disappointment. > > Prior to the AGMs I used Rolls wet cell batteries and the lasted for well > over 10 years. > > FYI - We have owner our 1974 C&C 39 TM since 1975 so needless to say I have > been through a number of batteries and charging systems since '75 and the > only disappointment was the durn AGM batteries > > Jack Fitzgerald > HONEY > US12788 > C&C 39 TM > Savannah, GA > > > > On Wed, Oct 1, 2014 at 2:33 PM, Petar Horvatic <phorv...@gmail.com> wrote: > Jack do you have an Ah meter, or battery monitor? > That sounds like well over 1000$ investment in batteries. You can > accidentally kill any battery bank in a short span if you don’t know what’s > coming and what’s coming out. You could have had a leak or a charging source > malfunction. Battery monitors, the ones that show accumulated Ah are > essential in knowing what you’re are doing to your batteries. > > > Petar Horvatic > Sundowner > 76 C&C 38MkII > Newport, RI > > > > > > From: CnC-List [mailto:cnc-list-boun...@cnc-list.com] On Behalf Of Jack > Fitzgerald via CnC-List > Sent: Wednesday, October 01, 2014 11:41 AM > To: Della Barba, Joe; C&CList > Subject: Re: Stus-List Boat Batteries > > Same here with the AGM batteries. I installed 2 x 27 & 4 x 31 West Marine DC > AGM and they were toast within 30 months. One of 6 would still hold a charge > at the end. Back to gel for Honey in 2010 and no issues whatsoever and that > is even after issues with the Ample Power alternator and it's diodes & > rectifier bridge failure > > Jack Fitzgerald > HONEY > US12788 > C&C 39TM > > > > > On Wed, Oct 1, 2014 at 11:11 AM, Della Barba, Joe via CnC-List > <cnc-list@cnc-list.com> wrote: > I switched back to gel. I had too many issues with AGM batteries and golf > carts don’t fit my battery locker. > If you do want AGMs, the sweet spot is Group 31s. Truckers use them for > running stuff while parked, so they get produced in large quantities. The > cheapest 31 is a DuraCell labeled 31 at Sams Club that is really a Deka with > a new sticker on it. The best AGMs, IMHO, are Lifeline and Odyssey. Lifeline > is very expensive, but Odyssey makes the Sears Diehard Platinum AGM line for > less money. > Golf carts are still the cheapest if you don’t race offshore and can use wet > cells. > > Joe Della Barba > Coquina > C&C 35 MK I > > _______________________________________________ > This List is provided by the C&C Photo Album > > Email address: > CnC-List@cnc-list.com > To change your list preferences, including unsubscribing -- go bottom of page > at: > http://cnc-list.com/mailman/listinfo/cnc-list_cnc-list.com > > > > _______________________________________________ > This List is provided by the C&C Photo Album > > Email address: > CnC-List@cnc-list.com > To change your list preferences, including unsubscribing -- go bottom of page > at: > http://cnc-list.com/mailman/listinfo/cnc-list_cnc-list.com
_______________________________________________ This List is provided by the C&C Photo Album Email address: CnC-List@cnc-list.com To change your list preferences, including unsubscribing -- go bottom of page at: http://cnc-list.com/mailman/listinfo/cnc-list_cnc-list.com
