Battery Question

C

curt

Member
Joined
Oct 29, 2009
Messages
21
Fluid Motion Model
C-24 C SE
Hull Identification Number
fmlt2107g708
Vessel Name
tugger
Both the house battery and the AC batteries are the standard type(same as the starting battery) and NOT the deep cycle type, which I thought were used for those batteries being discharged and then recharged. Why are they not the deep cycle types??
Curt (21ec)
 
Someone screwed up!
captd
 
Keep your depth of discharge at less than 50% and the non deep cycle batteries will last just fine..
In addition, add one or two house batteries in a second bank with a switch and have the best of both worlds - lots of amp-hours and long battery life... I'm installing a pair of golf cart batteries in the starboard lazarette (cockpit)... Levitation is at the canvas shop whilst I am currently glassing up a plywood battery holder to install in the lazarette...
(amusingly, as I type this the spell checker keeps insisting that I replace 'lazarette' with 'Nazareth'... hmmm, there are times I could do without any help)
 
Please excuse my ignorance. How do I find the spell check?

Gene
 
I could be wrong, but I don't think there's spell check here.

The previous poster may be writing his responses in a Word document, which does have spell check, and then copying them into the window of these messages.
 
Spell checkers are built in to most current browsers. Safari (from Apple) and Firefox (from Mozilla) are available free for current Windows and Mac operating systems. I think Internet Explorer (IE) requires a plug-in, which shouldn't be hard to find.

Gene, I don't know what operating system or browser you're using. If it's Safari you can turn spellcheck on/off under the Edit menu. If it's Firefox, it's under Firefox > Preferences > advanced > General.

If you're using IE, I'd suggest grabbing a better free browser. The more current your operating system, the better your selection. I recommend Safari or Firefox. The default for both is Spell Checking is on.

Cheers,

Bruce
 
HI MR. LEVITATION, PLEASE EXCUSE my lack of knowledge as well. when you say ''house batterys'', what do you mean. i haven't bought my ranger 21 yet,so i'm reading all the posts hoping to gain insight when i 'spec' my little girl out. so kindly excuse me. thanks, kenny (JULY IS MY USERNAME).
 
Hi Kenny,
Well, most of these boats have an engine cranking battery which is separate from the battery(s) for the radio, cabin lights, etc..
The battery set that is not (normally) used for cranking the engine is referred to as 'house batteries' - as a shorthand form of saying, 'the batteries not normally used for cranking'... There may or may-not be a switch to put the house batteries onto the engine circuit for cranking if the engine battery is discharged...

As the boats get shorter it is more common to have a single battery (or pair of batteries in parallel) for both engine cranking and running the sounder, lights etc... My 14 foot runabout has a single battery for engine, radio, lights...

In my boat I have a pair of Group 27 batteries as the house batteries, another Group 27 as a cranking battery, and another as the anchor winch battery... There are switches to keep the house battery and cranking battery separated or to put them in parallel...

Group # is a measure of battery physical size, and the bigger the battery the more amp-hours it has - usually... SO a Group 31 is bigger than a 27, and a 21 is smaller than a 27, etc...

As I noted, I am adding a pair of 6V golf cart batteries (in series for 12v) in the starboard lazarette... I have a switch to separate them from the house bank, so that I will have two sets of house batteries so I can limit discharge on a bank to 50% and then switch to the other bank... If I have said anything confusing, don't hesitate to ask for clarification..

cheers...
 
Another bit on house batteries: They're usually the "deep cycle" type, designed to put out relatively low amounts of current (amps) for a long time. Starting batteries OTOH are designed to put out lots of amps for a short time. Starting batteries are rated in "cranking amps" (CCA or MCA) - how fast can they put out current. Deep cycle battery capacity is generally rated in "amp hours" (AH) - how much current can they put out for how long.

How much deep cycle (AH) capacity you need in your house battery bank depends on the devices you run when your engine is off and you are not plugged into shore power or generator for charging, and on how long you run them. Cruisers need lights, pumps, refrigerator, etc while at anchor, for instance. In our case the refrigerator and anchor light are the largest consumers. A large inverter can draw lots of amps when it's running. If you spend little time running electrical devices with no charging source, or if those devices use little current, you may need little deep cycle capacity.

To decide more precisely how much deep cycle capacity you need, take the amp draw of each device you run with no charging source, multiply it by the time you expect it to be running between recharges, and you have an estimate of the AH that device will consume. Add these up and you have your total AH requirement. Multiply this number by 3 or 4, and that's how big your house bank AH capacity should be.

The more cruising with overnights you do, the more amps your devices draw, and the more time you spend at anchor, the more important it is to get this right.
 
Regarding batteries and the R21 EC... I have been experimenting with having two additional portable batteries aboard (purchased at WalMart, they have handles, jumper cables, and cigarette lighter type receptacles. I also purchased a 7 watt solar panel that can be easily attached to the batteries for charging when not at the marina. There is just enough room in the storage cabinet under the helm seat for one of these batteries. I then rewired the outlet ahead of the throttle console to that battery. I like the set up because it adds additional amp hours for operating accessories without draining my house battery. I keep the second battery in reserve and am thinking I might install a second back up bilge that would operate off that battery which could be kept above deck in the storage compartment under the rear seat. I suspect there are many of you more seasoned mariners who might have thoughts or ideas for improvements on this set up and I would appreciate any comments.

Texas Steve
 
Thanks all for your imput re the deep cycle batteries...my 21ec came from the factory with AC installed and NO deep cycle batteries. I would think that the factory would have put in the deep cycle along with the AC unit unless there was a reason for not doing so, such as screwing up the charging/isolator system by mixing different types. Any thoughts on this? Andrew?????

Curt
 
Texas Steve,
I would be careful about putting batteries in the pilothouse. Flooded (wet cell) batteries produce a gas when being charged that is explosive, poisonous and corrosive and must be vented to the outside. AGM and Gel batteries do not have this problem. All batteries connected to the boat's battery charger must be of the same type. You cannot mix flooded and AGM batteries, for instance.
Also, the Coast Guard requires all batteries to be tied down so they cannot tip over in bad weather.

Rick Proffer
Therapist II - R21EC (In production)
 
Rick:

Thanks for the input. These batteries are totally sealed and any charging is done outside the pilothouse. I would still be curious to know if I am in violation of Coast Guard regulations. I guess I can ask at the lake.
 
You must log in or register to reply here.

  • Tugnuts.com is the community hub for Ranger Tug, Cutwater, and Solara owners. Since its inception in 2008, the Tugnuts forum has grown into an active and thriving community of more than 9,000 members. It serves as both a meeting place for the best boating community online, and an invaluable archive of information.

  • User menu
Back
Top