Deep Cycle Lead Acid Battery Life Span

[kyleservicetech]

Originally Posted by solentlife

I agree that Puekerts Law is valid and surprises many - but what I amd many opther boaters I know consider is that USEFUL capacity reduces .. the actual capacity of the battery doesn't suddenly disappear ... If not pushed too hard ... the battery recovers somewhat and can then supply again but it would then be advisable to greatly reduce demand. Bit like that winters dayu when car wouldn't start ... battery gives out ... you go back to car 10mins later and battery turns it over again.


Nigel

Yeah, the actual capacity of the battery doesn't suddenly disappear under high discharge currents where the battery is discharged in an hour or three. But, from my experience, run the battery down 30 times like this, and your poor lead acid battery has lost most of its capabilities.

[solentlife]

Originally Posted by kyleservicetech

Yeah, the actual capacity of the battery doesn't suddenly disappear under high discharge currents where the battery is discharged in an hour or three. But, from my experience, run the battery down 30 times like this, and your poor lead acid battery has lost most of its capabilities.

Which is why in many previous threads on here and RCG - I've tried hard to persuade people not to waste hard earned money on them. Go to any boat yard and you see them round every garbage bin ... cause new boaters don't know any better.

I posted this many times and I think most have ignored ... but it is based on a lifetimes boating ... and also my 'other job' as Yacht Surveyor ...

There are two battery sources I recc'd :

Cheapest by far : Scrap yard where crashed cars / trucks end up. They have pefectly good traction batterys in small to huge sizes. Priced so cheap even if only last a year - worth it. Yes they are traction / starter batterys - so discharge is limited to 50% capacity ... BUT they can take the high amp loads and not suffer. My boat has a set that are now near 5 yrs old just replaced with new ... guess what - BOTH sets are fine. I only changed because of the longer crossings away from Land I do when cruising to Sweden.
Why Scrap Yard ? Most of the batterys are in good condition with often only a short life before car was totaled. Just because car was smashed - doesn't mean battery was ...

Second and with G'tee : Specialist dealers who supply trucking co's with the batterys to start diesels but also power the hydrauilic tail-lifts. Now if they can do that - they aint gonna be problem for our needs !!

You can leave the collar and tie sales people alone who generally don't have a clue about it and use the above two ... bet you get better, cheaper results.

I rest my case m'lud !

Nigel

[solentlife]

Originally Posted by kyleservicetech

Yup
Posting #1 of this thread shows my version of the alternator setup: It needs a little bigger engine though, its output is limited at 40 Amps with the 3.5 HP Briggs engine.
http://www.wattflyer.com/forums/showthread.php?t=63918

FYI, with the engine/alternator setup, you don't need the heavy standard car battery with the alternator. These alternators have three phase windings, and with a three phase AC rectifier that's built in to them, their output voltage is fairly clean. All they need is a cheap lead acid battery like those used in riding lawnmowers.

Also, checked with a club member that's the head of one of the local national brand auto service centers. He indicated it is NOT a good idea to run an alternator without a battery connected. On a significant fraction of the alternators out there, some can have their electronics wiped out by running without a battery. Have to agree, some of the alternators found at the local Farm and Fleet store had warning labels on the alternator shipping cartons indicating to absolutely do NOT run the alternator without a battery connected.

The ;problem comes from breaking the circuit when alternator is running ... it blows the rectifiers and board at back of alternator. This is why all boats with changeover switches for battery banks have MAKE BEFORE BREAK changers ...

You can in fact START UP an alternator without a battery connected ... most will not come to harm as there is no excite current to get alternator supplying. BUT disconnect one when running - that is death to one.

So manufacturers play safe by saying do not run without.

Nigel

[solentlife]

Originally Posted by CHELLIE

Hi Denny If you have a bunch of Lead Acid batteries, Get a Desulfator, they work great, and will help to make a lead acid battery last up to 10 years, most lead acid batteries only last up to about 3 years before they get plugged up, And its Made in the USA .......

Take care with Deep Cycle - they have thick soft plates and do not like such treatment ...

The RV world is full of sad stories of laid up vans / boats etc. and dead batterys due to Desulfators and other gizmos that are supposed to extend life. Used with care and in proper time - yes they are useful. But humans are not like that - they know better, use not so carefully ... result - dead battery... or at least a dead cell !

Nigel

[solentlife]

Originally Posted by CHELLIE

No Snake oil Here I have brought back batteries from the dead with these, Sulfation is a big issue with lead acid batteries, these devices blast the sulfation off with pulses of electricity, the US Military uses them too, They work and work well.

http://www.chargingchargers.com/tuto...sulfation.html
PulseTech Desulfation Technology

Lab and field tests by individuals, companies and government agencies around the world have proven that Pulse Technology works. It is literally the most effective method available for ensuring lead-acid battery performance, increasing battery efficiency and reducing battery-related costs. In 1995, PulseTech™ applied their technology to a full line of innovative and unique products designed to make batteries stronger so they will work harder and last longer than ever before. Today, they offer over 60 products designed to help you reduce battery-related problems and costs. While we don’t carry all 60 products in stock, we have access to them.
To get an idea of exactly how important pulse technology is to the performance of all your vehicles, consider this: The main cause of vehicle failure is battery failure due to sulfation buildup on the battery plates. And Pulse Technology prevents sulfation buildup. In most cases, your battery is still good. You just can't reach the energy inside. That means you have to buy another battery even though the one you have may still be usable. PulseTech products help prevent this problem.

Oh Chellie ...... I never thought I'd see the day you'd cut and paste sales blurb ...

What you posted is designed to SELL the item ... there is no actual factual studies ... it's like the Skin Rejuvenators all women think does good .. Tested by some mythical Institute in Switzerland !

Oh Chellie ...

[solentlife]

Originally Posted by kyleservicetech

Being raised on a farm many many years ago, my dad had an Oliver 88 diesel tractor, first diesel tractor in the neighborhood. When our neighbors found out about the 88's diesel engine's fuel economy, especially under light loads, a lot of them followed suit.

Problem is, after two years of running, that 88 got very hard to start. I drove it into town for a check over. The diesel mechanic asked "What were you running in this thing? Tractor Fuel?" (Back then tractor fuel was a low grade of gasoline for farm use. Diesel fuel was 17 cents a gallon, tractor fuel a few cents cheaper.)

Of course we were running tractor fuel, and it cost $600 to fix the fuel injectors. Back in 1957, $600 was a LOT of money.

Back to the present days, last summer our RC club started running jet fuel in our diesel powered lawnmower. I warned them about the lack of injector lubrication in jet fuel. Turns out you can buy a special oil for this purpose to mix with various fuels. Jet fuel has noticeably less horsepower than regular diesel fuel with our lawnmower.

So far, so good.

Before people start on this road ... please note that I own a Petrochem lab and blended for many years over 150,000 tons of Diesel, 100,000 tons Gasoline ... including Bio versions EVERY MONTH. We still have supplies of winterising agents and various including LUBRICITY agent ..

The lack of lubricating quality in Kerosine - (Jet Fuel) - is due to the DRY nature and lack of Sulphur. Later Ultra Low Sulphur Diesel had same problems and is why Lubricity agents were devised to reduce problems. Winter grade diesel requires even more Lubricity agent due to the high % volume of Kerosine added along with CFPP and other agents to prevent clogging of fuel lines, pumps, filters and injectors.

Onto Bio-diesel - most diesel engines have had their injection pumps altered to correct the destruction of seals by the FAME, Fatty Acid Methyl Esther - which is the Biofuel component. Mercedes was one of the worst cases ! In fact they for long time wrote in their manuals specifically to not use Biofuels ... shame that Biofuel was already in all diesel pumps as an addition ... B5, B8, B10 etc.

Oh - I also up until recently was advisor to various bodies incl CA and RYA in UK on fuel matters ... incl. Micro-Bio contamination of Diesels / Luibs etc.
Anyone bored yet ?

Nigel

[solentlife]

Originally Posted by LowThudd

Biodiesel has higher lubricity than standard diesel fuel. Syndiesel is even better(but pricey), and can be ordered through the standard mail as it has a very high flash point. These days, tractor fuel, or off highway diesel(red dye) is as good or better than what is in the highway fuel pumps. I have heard of people running jet av fuel mixed with tranny fluid to up the lubricity, in fact a few good mechanics I knew were doing this.

Interested where you get this from ....... Bio in fact inhibits additives work in fuels. It also makes it hard to detect the ppm water content - as Bio is hygroscopic ... its acidic ... it gums up injectors, pumps ...

I blend the e ... so I think I might know !!

Nigel

[solentlife]

Originally Posted by CHELLIE

Incase of a melt down, you have a gas station on just about every power pole that has a transformer, shoot a hole in the transformer, get a long wood pole, funnel and garden hose, about 15 gallons of mineral oil in each transformer LOL, Denny is going to love this one make sure the power is Turned Off

quite often a derivative of Diala B or similar ... use at your risk ! It's so light it's death as a lubricant. Unless of course your transformers have changed to a different version ...