| T.R | Title | User | Personal
Name | Date | Lines |
|---|
| 595.1 | Save your money | SUBSYS::CHESTER | | Mon Jan 22 1990 17:34 | 9 |
| Lead acid cell don't freeze either if they are charged. Check into the
recharge current rating and what happens if you overcharge them.
The ones I have seem outgas and blow out a small plug in each cell.
Then they either don't work or are not leakproof. Seems a lot
of money to have the battery work under water. They maybe worth the
money if you are at a mooring without shorepower but if you
are mostly at the dock buy a good deep cycle battery put the
money into a good charger (converter).
|
| 595.2 | conventional is probably enough | THRUST::BERENS | Alan Berens | Mon Jan 22 1990 17:57 | 19 |
| re .0:
Was the water distilled or sea water? Sea water is quite conductive -- I
don't think that you could use a battery submerged in sea water unless
the electrical connections were totally waterproof.
The biggest advantage of the gel-type batteries is that they will
withstand complete discharge without damage (any conventional lead-acid
battery will be destroyed by complete discharging more than a few
times) and won't spill acid if turned on their side. This last is very
important for offshore cruising sailboats which are occasionally knocked
down (rolled 90 or more degrees). Not too important for a powerboat.
As -.1 mentions, gel-type batteries do have a different charging
characteristic that must be considered. If you are really intersted,
contact Ample Power or Cruising Equipment (both in Seattle) who sell
sophisticated 12v yacht power systems. Be prepared to spend many
dollars. Conventional deep-cycle batteries are probably adequate unless
you have some really special requirements.
|
| 595.3 | Jump Start Spin Around! | PACKER::GIBSON | DTN225-5193 | Tue Jan 23 1990 09:38 | 17 |
| A couple of months ago the Boating Product News, had a write up about
the Prevailer Batteries. It seems that they are the best thing on the
market today. According to the test specs they will outlast
conventional lead acid types by quite a bit if you have heavy charge
discharge cycles. The prices are not all that bad when you compare them
to equitable batteries like a Surrette. I will most likly by a couple
myself when my Surrette's die. But they have been known to last 15 years
so it may be a while.
I would think they would be a prudent investment for someone who runs a
lot of electric gear on their boat.
I wonder when the patent rights expire and other companies start to
produce them? That will drive the prices down.
Walt
|
| 595.4 | Surrette Batteries | SALEM::GILMAN | | Fri Sep 20 1991 12:16 | 11 |
| I have heard that Surrette batteries are THE marine deep cycle battery
to buy. Does anybody have any experience with this brand of battery?
I have owned a few over the years and have used them in both my camper
and boat with excellent results from them. If you want to buy this
brand battery at factory prices rather than the inflated marine dealer
prices you can contact and buy the batteries from the factory as I did
for about half the retail price. The factory is in Tilton, N.H. and
the phone number can be found through information.
Jeff
|