Batteries
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SteppingStone
- 1st mate
- Posts: 31
- Joined: Sun May 09, 2004 10:19 am
Batteries
Has anyone had any experience with Gell Cells instead of Wet Cell batteries? Roger Wood
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Lady of the Lake
- Site Admin
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- Location: Punta Gorda, FL (36015)
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Roger,
I use them on my PDQ36. I also used them exclusively on my Endeavour 37. No refilling cells, handle vibration and heeling much better, handle deep discharge better. But they require a different charging voltage. New setting on my solar regulator and a new setting on my shore charger. Have not figured how to regulate the charge from the Yamahas so I send the charge to a single wet cell and then use a battery combiner to combine the batteries during charge and split during discharge. The combiner I use can be found at http://www.yandina.com (he builds the same unit under the WestMarine label) and has a limiting feature to limit voltage to gel cells at 14.1V. Check the 'net for lots of good info. Also yandina.com has good info too.
I use them on my PDQ36. I also used them exclusively on my Endeavour 37. No refilling cells, handle vibration and heeling much better, handle deep discharge better. But they require a different charging voltage. New setting on my solar regulator and a new setting on my shore charger. Have not figured how to regulate the charge from the Yamahas so I send the charge to a single wet cell and then use a battery combiner to combine the batteries during charge and split during discharge. The combiner I use can be found at http://www.yandina.com (he builds the same unit under the WestMarine label) and has a limiting feature to limit voltage to gel cells at 14.1V. Check the 'net for lots of good info. Also yandina.com has good info too.
Sam and Gina Densler
s/v Lady of the Lake
PDQ36 Hull #15
Punta Gorda, FL
s/v Lady of the Lake
PDQ36 Hull #15
Punta Gorda, FL
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Marc Gershel
- admiral
- Posts: 204
- Joined: Sat May 08, 2004 1:58 am
- Location: Philadelphia.Pa 36021
Hi, I've had the same Gelcells since i bought my boat in 1997. I have 4- 6volt that are charged through my iverter. I set the proper charging voltage on the inverter, and since then I have't had to do anything. I have a genset & AC cold plate cold refr, so the batts. never really get low.
I also have 1-12volt gellcell dedicated to the genset, which is recharged by the generator. So far, they appear to be as strong as the day I put them in. After a winter in in the boat, they've hardly gone down.
I hope I have't jinxed myself by praising them too much. LOL
Marc
I also have 1-12volt gellcell dedicated to the genset, which is recharged by the generator. So far, they appear to be as strong as the day I put them in. After a winter in in the boat, they've hardly gone down.
I hope I have't jinxed myself by praising them too much. LOL
Marc
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Marc Gershel
- admiral
- Posts: 204
- Joined: Sat May 08, 2004 1:58 am
- Location: Philadelphia.Pa 36021
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SteppingStone
- 1st mate
- Posts: 31
- Joined: Sun May 09, 2004 10:19 am
Gell Batteries
What should the charging voltage be set at?.. Roger Wood
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Marc Gershel
- admiral
- Posts: 204
- Joined: Sat May 08, 2004 1:58 am
- Location: Philadelphia.Pa 36021
Hi Roger,
I use two 4D gell cells (West Marine by Penn). One installed 1995 and the other in 1997. Still going strong (knock on wood) but I am careful to never overcharge over 14.2V or take them below about 50%. I usually run them in parallel all the time for a combined capacity of 360AH. When they are fully charged and I need to run the outboards, I turn on a 150watt lamp run thru my Heart inverter. This "soaks up" the outboard output without overcharging the batteries. Love the batteries!
Chet
Allezcat 36010
I use two 4D gell cells (West Marine by Penn). One installed 1995 and the other in 1997. Still going strong (knock on wood) but I am careful to never overcharge over 14.2V or take them below about 50%. I usually run them in parallel all the time for a combined capacity of 360AH. When they are fully charged and I need to run the outboards, I turn on a 150watt lamp run thru my Heart inverter. This "soaks up" the outboard output without overcharging the batteries. Love the batteries!
Chet
Allezcat 36010