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Correction that was AGM 8D 255AH at $334 each. Gee too many hours at the
computer and I get numbers was out of wack.
> -----Original Message-----
> From:
> [mailto:]On Behalf Of
> Flying_Cloud
> Sent: Thursday, August 19, 1999 7:49 PM
> To:
> Subject: RE: lv-ab: Battery Charging: How Charge Large House Bank?
>
>
> I have a similiar setup; and my responses reflect on how I'm doing it. I
> have a Lehman as well (135hp); Heart 2500 (just upgraded to the new 3000);
> Link2000r (Cruising Equip upgraded it for me free of charge); Balmar 200
> amp; Had 4 gel cells 8Ds (banks 7 and 8 years old so upgraded to AGMs).
> Here are my thoughts.
>
> Why are you going with golf cart batteries? Regular lead acids can only
> absorb 25% the rated amp hour capacity; gel cells 75%; and AGMs 100% of
> capacity (AGMs can take twice as many deep cycles as gels which
> is way more
> than reg lead acids). Also AGMs are 155 amp/hr per 8D which is 55 more
> amp/hr than a gel 8D. (I paid $134 per 8D) Going with regular lead acid
> rather defeats the purpose of going with a high output alternator because
> they cannot absorb the amp the high-output the alternator puts
> out. If you
> are insistent on going with the golf cart batteries - save
> yourself a lot of
> money - and put a smaller capacity alternator on it.
>
> I have a Lehman 135 (almost the same as the 120) and I had (because the
> engine is out of the boat right now) mounted the Balmar 200 amp
> alternator -
> only I use only one belt. I checked with my mechanic at the time of
> purchase and he seemed to think this would be okay - just that I will go
> through the belt a bit faster (since I never gone through one - seemed
> reasonable to me). I have only done an overnight passage since then so I
> have no real data to support the mechanics advise. You know how it goes -
> there are more opinions that you know what.
>
> Delco make a 140 amp which is single belt driven as well, as I'm
> sure other
> manufacturers do too. I had one of those too. Actually in
> practicality, the
> 140 amp alternator was sufficient for my draw on a 54 footer -
> even with the
> 3/4 hp ac refrigeration running on top of the stereo and all the cruising
> load etc. (the partial flooding is the reason for its demise).
>
> Question re the alternator on the genset: I presume you were only talking
> about doing this if you could not put the high output alternator on the
> engine. I I see no reason why you have to buy another charger -
> go with the
> alternator on your engine even it's a bit smaller than you'd like - for be
> my advise. As for an alternator on the genset - why have one? - when the
> engine is not running why not use the generator to run the Heart 175 amp
> battery charger on the inverter to do the work? This is what I've been
> doing.
>
> Anyway you can add this to your list of opinions.
>
> Sandra
>
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