My 10 year old (unsealed) led acid 8D starting battery rated at 155CCA finally gave up today. Should I replace it with another led acid 8D or go with AGM instead? My setup has two deep cycle 8D led acid sealed house batteries which work well for my needs at anchor and one 8D starting battery. I need good, strong and reliable starting battery that will start my DD 6-71s. During fall/winter when tied up for long time I always heat up engines with block heaters before starting them up, and during spring/summer my DDs start right up without heating. I am happy buying replacement led acid 8D starting battery, but wanted to know if there are lighter (in weight) and as equally reliable and powerful alternatives.
I may be restricted to led acid because of my battery charger/inverter as I do not think it is smart enough to recognize two different types and charge them respectively, which I will have to check with the manufacturer...
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11-18-2024 02:55 AM #1
Starting battery type recommendation
M/V BONAZZA
1980 Hatteras
37 Convertible
Hull# - 405
Twin DD 6-71NA
Vancouver, Canada
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Re: Starting battery type recommendation
You are paying for the weight when you buy a battery. The heavier battery has more lead, which means more amps generally speaking. Case size is meaningless as the plates are sized vertically so cheaper batteries of a given case size just have shorter plates, hence lighter. Can't go wrong with high quality flooded lead acid batteries.
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Re: Starting battery type recommendation
You may be amazed on your over kill for your starting amps. (1550 available / 650? required)
Of course, more available the better, helps us all feel better but required is probably half (or less) of what you are offering your 6-71.
These later years after much abuse to my back, I have found 4D batteries to work very well. Even one or two G31s for just starting batteries.
The charging profiles of flooded batteries and AGM batteries is close.
Sometimes the trusted old charger will do just fine with some AGM batteries.
Finding the charger specs and the battery mfg specs can help in your battery shopping. Yes, some AGM specs differ between models.Last edited by Captain Ralph; 11-18-2024 at 10:14 PM.
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11-18-2024 11:34 PM #4
Re: Starting battery type recommendation
Thabks for the feedback and suggestions.
I also checked the manual for my Xantrex Freedom Marine 20 Charger/Inverter and while it says it can charge deep cycle and starting wet cell, gel 1 & 2 and AGM batteries, but as inverter it is intended only for deep cycle house batteries and not for starting batteries.
I have typical Hatteras setup where one battery serves as house battery and is used for starting Starboard engine, while other battery is used for staring the Port engine. I never use the toggle switch to switch staring Starboard engine from staring battery which I should have as staring DDs with deep cycle batteries is not good either.
This time however, i forgot to switch off the inverter on the Xantrex control panel and, despite being hooked to shore AC power, I have drawn from both deep cycle and staring battery, the later being older one and it cooked with all six cells dry on top.
In addition to using toggle switch to draw current for both engines from staring battery only, I think , if possible, I need changes to my setup so my inverter only draws from house/deep cycle batteries, or not use the inverter at all.
I only use the inverter on quiet mornings at anchor to boil water for my coffee while others are sleeping so I do not start the generator.
My Xantrex charger is 15 years old but works well and I do not want to replace it if not needed. I'm sure that newer ones have more controls and are able to separate between deep cycle and starting batteries.M/V BONAZZA
1980 Hatteras
37 Convertible
Hull# - 405
Twin DD 6-71NA
Vancouver, Canada