Batteries

[wshelton]

I know there is alot of information on the forum about batteries, however I would appreciate hearing about a simple fix. I have 2 banks of 12 volt 8D batteries. and DD671Ns. I have an invertor and use it for the ice makers when running the mains primarily. I am going to replace one bank which are the starting batteries that includes the power plant, and maybe one on the other bank batteries which are for the house (the other battery is fairly new). What brand and amp hours etc. I have now interest in switching to 6 volt and all that bit. I like the kiss approach. Your remarks will be appreciated. TKS.

 

[outbound]

i have used interstate 8 d's on a pair of 6-71 n's they last five to six years and cost about $125.00. good luck

 

[ADaily3224]

I would like to add to this question.

I just launched and had a flat battery. It's in a horrible place, the outside of the Stb. engine, great. Anyway I called to order a new 8D and was asked if I wanted a 4D, no one had asked me this before. I asked for the dimensions, it seems it's a bit bigger then the 8D, which I always thought were the biggest. I don't want to end up with a battery that won't fit the box. I'm starting to think I got some bad information. Any thoughts here?

Thanks Tony D
88 36 Sedan
3116 Cat Diesels

 

[Nick]

The 4D is a physically smaller battery and the ratings are different. I just picked an Interstate 8D heavy duty battery for starting and house service including a 1000Watt inverter and found the specs on the following web page:
http://www.ibsa.com/www_2001/content/products/product_marine.asp.

Check the cranking requirements for the cats. There are lots of threads on batteries and better setups than the outboard 8D and 4D locations. The batteries require gorillas to move them around. Mine are in the cockpit under a hatch and accessible.

The 8D heavy duty Interstate battery was $200.

Nick

 

[SKYCHENEY]

We had a 49 Gulfstar MY with 4D's. They are smaller than 8D's, but 2 of them on each of our 350hp 8v54TA Perkins cranked them over without a problem. I think they were about the same length and height as an 8D, but much narrower; and lighter.

 

[Traveler 45C]

One bank of two group 27’s with the proper CCA’s will start both of your mains. You don’t need the 8D’s for that.

 

[DickB]

Will:

I made this switch-over several years ago. You don't mention if your house batteries are deep cycle. If not, you might consider using the good one and purchasing a new 8D as your start batteries. Parallel both together and use for both engines.

As I recall from past research, three 6V deep-cycle batteries occupy about the same space as an 8D. Thus, you may have enough room in your boxes for three 6V batteries in each (for a total of six) to replace the house sys. My catalog shows a list price for Dyno 6V of $91, about half the price of an 8D. The best part is they weigh only 66 lbs compared to aboutl 150 lbs for an 8D.

 

[ADaily3224]

Thanks for all the helpful information:

I ended up buying the deep cycle 8D Commercial Interstate. It's going to be so much fun getting it in. I have a couple midgets who can get behind the Stbd. engine and push it over the shaft coupling at the rear of the engine. I hate a dead battery. Anyway it's what was in there originally, probably for good reason. By the way the 4 D was considerably smaller. Even with the dead battery the parallel switch spun both engines over nicely.
Tony D

 

[jim rosenthal]

See some earlier posts....three GRoup 24 12v will fill an 8D case perfectly and supply a lot more cranking amps than one 8D. They are easier to change. The downside is that you need jumpers, and there are more cells to watch. Use starting batteries for starting, and deep cycle batteries for house loads.