batteries not holding charge?

[Xplicitlnck]

Ouch buned me there lol so what your saying is a marine generator is the same as throwing a honda genny on my swim platform.

Seriously thanks for straightening that out for me

 

[dwna1a]

Me too...I thought they were jell

 

[tdschafer]

You guys have stumbled on to one of my (some would say many) pet peeves. Sometimes things that are said here, while in good intention, are misleading or outright wrong. This in turn leads to a mass of people who disseminate wrong information and new folks who come here looking for answers get the wrong idea.

Attaching the word GEL to a battery that is AGM (Absorbed Glass Mat) can cause mass hysteria (just like in attack of the killer tomatoes) as then suddenly, everyone has to run out and buy new chargers...so they think.

Simply put, AGM = Lead Acid. Any charger that will charge lead acid batteries will work with an AGM battery (but we do have the catch all statement, check with the manufacturer to be sure) Gel Cells are a completely different can of gummy worms.

Rant over.

But AGM & GEL both have 3 letters in them. Certainly they must somehow be the same?


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Todd

 

[dwna1a]

Can I get a AGM for my Honda genny for my swim platform?.... In blue?

 

[dwna1a]

Now back to the battery issue, I switched all of mine to blue tops last year. They weigh less, less maintaince, and are more rugged. Let us know how things turn out

 

[tdschafer]

Damn, just like that we are back on topic!
Anyway, thanks for the clarification Scott. I really didn't know what the difference was before your first "Clarification"!


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Todd

 

[Steve Craig]

Don't forget, none of us really buy batteries. We only rent them.

 

[Xplicitlnck]

Well changed out the batteries and the volt guages jumped right up to 12.5. They have been in my basement since. Oct with no trickle o charger attached. I was pretty impressed. Then I turned on the genny jumped to 14 then on shore power alsogot 14. Shut everything down went back to 12.5 then fiered the engines and back to 14.5.. I think im good with the battery issue. Now to the next isssue. Starboard heat exchanger is leaking...small hairline crack on the bottom side. Wtf cant catch a break now I have to find a rad shop to fix it so I can get to my expensive weekend slip rental thursday morning.

 

[Xplicitlnck]

Ok update on the problem I thought I fixed. It's not the batteries. Stupid me had the genny running while checking the voltage. I put a mm on the starboard alternator today after noticing voltage drop again and the alternator is putting out 00000 so I ordered 2new alternators. My question is what should my voltage be with the engines running? (I think somebody said around 14.5) what should the voltage be with the genny running and battery charger on? And what should it be with the battery charger on connected to shore power?
Now another question. If I'm cruising with the genny on are my alternators charging the batteries or is the genny or both? Ok one more does the port alternator charge port bank and starboard alternator charge starboard bank or are they somehow combined and spread over both banks?

 

[dpmulvey]

I have never had good luck with Deka batteries, they go bad very quickly. If the blue tops that you are referring to are Optima's, they are AGM not GEL.

FOR GOD'S SAKE PEOPLE!!! QUIT REFERRING TO OPTIMA's AS GEL, THEY ARE AGM AND IT MAKES A HUGE DIFFERENCE! GET IT STRAIGHT!!!!!!!!!!

AGM batteries can be charged with a normal charger as they are the same as lead acid. GEL batteries require a special charger specifically to handle their unique properties. You do not need a special charger for AGM batteries.

For the record, my Optima Blue Tops (D31M, I have 4 installed) have been going strong for five seasons now, they are a hell of good battery.

The massive praise about Optimas has subsided in the last couple of years. I had them in my Regal and could not kill them. I don't know if the QA standards differ from plant to plant, but the ratings are all over the map. The Sears Diehard Platinum is close in price and boaters I know who have had both swear by the Diehard.

I have no affiliation w Sears.