Hmm -- cracking amps -- I have to admit, I'd never considered the power required to crack a cast iron diesel block, if that's what you meant. ;-)
Sorry, Phil, had to "crack" that joke! Hope it made you chuckle, at least, since it was at your expense. :) Phil is right, though -- we just don't need as many cold cranking amps. Car: 4, 6, or 8 cylinders (usually) and your battery matters most when it's 20º below zero, compared to perhaps 60 degrees in chilly sailing weather and 2 cylinders with small displacement in our little diesels. IMHO if I were to have to replace my starting battery "on the cheap" I'd definitely go with an inexpensive car battery. As it was, back when I bought my AGMs, I was a little more flush and was willing to spend the dough to "do it right" in the interest of the long view. Best wishes, David On Thu, Aug 26, 2010 at 6:10 PM, Phil Agur <[email protected]> wrote: > > > And cracking amps on our diesels is very small compared to your typical, > “I have more horsepower than sense power boats.” Therefore you have the > option of using a deep cycle instead of the starter battery for a drag boat. > This construction option lets them survive recharge neglect a better than a > starting battery. > > > > *Phil Agur* *s/v** Wing > Tip*<http://www.catalina27.org/public_pages/profile270.htm> > C270 LE #184 MMSI 366901790 > > > > *From:* [email protected] [mailto:[email protected]] *On Behalf Of > *David Savlin > *Sent:* Thursday, August 26, 2010 11:02 AM > *To:* [email protected] > *Subject:* Re: [IC27A] Battery? > > > > > > I personally favor "marine" so I don't have to clean the battery posts of > oxidation each season. I also chose AGM because they are maintenance free, > have slightly more capacity, AND won't spill acid all over the boat if they > tip over in a knock-down hard enough to break battery box mounts. I read > somewhere you can punch a hole in the side of an AGM battery and they won't > leak! > > > > Otherwise, well, heck, Ralph is right. Cold cranking amps is the key when > starting up a diesel. Them glow plugs suck down a lot of juice! > > > > David > > On Thu, Aug 26, 2010 at 12:58 PM, Ralph Ahseln <[email protected]> > wrote: > > > > Ken, > > > > The simple answer is .. Yes. > > > > The discussion of batteries is an On Going and sometimes gets rather silly. > > There are differences in construction and slight differences in chemistry > in Cells (batteries), of course, but in general, All you really need is a > battery with sufficient Crank Power. That is, enough to turn the engine over > in the conditions you experience. > > It's all a matter of AMPERES.. > > Enough Amperes !! > > > > Words like "Marine", "Power", and "Outdoor Use" are really only > Advertizing Buzz words. > > And don't get caught up in the Blah Blah of "What is better ....Flooded, > Gel or AGM.. > > They are ALL lead Acid cells but are only of a different construction than > the tried and true "Car" battery. > > A lot of information OF and ABOUT Lead Acid batteries can be found on...the > following LINK.. > > http://www.batterystuff.com/tutorial_battery.html > > > > Get a good old inexpensive Car battery.. and be happy, > > > > UW > > Ralph Ahseln > > "Oblio" > > Lying: Portland OR > > > > > > > > *From:* [email protected] > > *Sent:* Thursday, August 26, 2010 10:28 AM > > *To:* [email protected] > > *Subject:* [IC27A] Battery? > > > > > > I need to replace the starter battery for my Universal 5411 inboard diesel. > Question: is a normal automotive battery adequate? I'm assuming it is less > expensive than the "marine" batteries sold at boating supply stores. Does > that "marine" designation really signify anything? Because this is for > starting a diesel, are there any special requirements there? > > Thanks very much for your help! > > Ken > > > > >
