Filling flooded lead acid batts in an F32

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1

Posted by Larry Kraus (kracherlandl@…>)

Hi all,

The lead/acid batts on the F32 are in a small compartment below the
steps. Tough to add water without disconnecting and removing each batt.
Has anyone tried the Qwik-Fill system that allows remote filling of
difficult to reach batts in sailboats and RVs. Any problems?

I’m looking into AGMs or Optimas, but have to replace the voltage
regulator and the battery charger. Not inexpensive. So may stick with
the lead/acid for awhile longer.

Any thoughts…

Larry Kraus
Windsonnet F32

2

Posted by Borelmfg (borelmfg@…>)

Larry,

I used a a turkey baster with some tubing attached.

Regards,

Van

----- Original Message -----
From: Larry Kraus
To: Freedom Owners Group
Sent: Thursday, February 28, 2008 7:19 AM
Subject: [FreedomOwnersGroup] Filling flooded lead acid batts in an F32


Hi all,The lead/acid batts on the F32 are in a small compartment below the steps. Tough to add water without disconnecting and removing each batt. Has anyone tried the Qwik-Fill system that allows remote filling of difficult to reach batts in sailboats and RVs. Any problems?I’m looking into AGMs or Optimas, but have to replace the voltage regulator and the battery charger. Not inexpensive. So may stick with the lead/acid for awhile longer.Any thoughts…Larry KrausWindsonnet F32

3

Posted by Sward (swardfullsail@…>)
I use a small watering can with a long spoutBorelmfg <borelmfg@…> wrote: Larry, I used a a turkey baster with some tubing attached. Regards, Van ----- Original Message ----- From: Larry Kraus To: Freedom Owners Group Sent: Thursday, February 28, 2008 7:19 AM Subject: [FreedomOwnersGroup] Filling flooded lead acid batts in an F32 Hi all,The lead/acid batts on the F32 are in a small compartment below the steps. Tough to add water without disconnecting and removing each batt. Has anyone tried the Qwik-Fill system that allows remote filling of difficult to reach batts in sailboats and RVs. Any problems?I’m looking into AGMs or Optimas, but have to replace the
voltage regulator and the battery charger. Not inexpensive. So may stick with the lead/acid for awhile longer.Any thoughts…Larry KrausWindsonnet F32 “Life is a Reach, then you Jibe” SWARD

4

Posted by sgaber@…> (sgaber@…>)

The Optima batteries I’ve seen in catalogs don’t have much capacity – like 75
ampo-hours is the largest I saw on their web site. These are good for starting
batteries, but for a house back, you’ll probably need greater capacity. They’re
also pretty expeinsive, like $280 for a 55-AH deep cycle Optima.

By comparison, a Lifeline AGM Group 31 battery with 105 Amp Hours is $224. Tat
is still pretty steep if you need 2 or 3 of them. I’d like to have AGMs on my
boat and will one of these days. Right now I have a pair of Delco Deep Cycle
Group 31 sealed lead-acid batteries that don’t need any water added. They
cost, if I remember correctly, $115 each. WIth those, I have 210 amp hours,
which is sufficient for my boat’s pretty simple electrical system. They’ve been
on my boat here in Florida for almost 3 years without any problems. I suspect
they’ll last another 2 years.

If I needed more capacity, I’d consider a 4D or an 8D battery. An 8D would have
245 AH, but it would cost $450 and weigh 160 pounds. A 4D would give me 200AH,
would cost $380 and weigh 126 pounds.

There’s something to be said for not getting a battery that you can’t lift
yourself. A Group 31 battery weighs 65 pounds. I can get one of those on boad by
myself, which I couldn’t do with a 4d or an 8D. So three Group 31s like mine
would give me 315 Amp Hours. If I keep my boat, I will upgrade to 3 Group 31
AGMs when my wet cell batteries give out.

Steve Gaber
Sanderling, 1967 C-31 #77
Oldsmar, FL


---- Larry Kraus <kracherlandl@…> wrote:

Hi all,

The lead/acid batts on the F32 are in a small compartment below the
steps. Tough to add water without disconnecting and removing each batt.
Has anyone tried the Qwik-Fill system that allows remote filling of
difficult to reach batts in sailboats and RVs. Any problems?

I’m looking into AGMs or Optimas, but have to replace the voltage
regulator and the battery charger. Not inexpensive. So may stick with
the lead/acid for awhile longer.

Any thoughts…

Larry Kraus
Windsonnet F32

–

5

Posted by hglad39 (svspartan@…>)

I recently up graded to 4 group 31 AGMs. Life Lines seem to be the gold
standard and their cost reflects it. I chose the Deka AGM made by East
Penn fit my budget alot easier. East Penn has been in the battery
business for many years and is the maker of many of the private lables
found in marine stores.

No, don’t own any stock or have any options just like to save a buck.

Howard G

— In FreedomOwnersGroup@yahoogroups.com, <sgaber@…> wrote:

The Optima batteries I’ve seen in catalogs don’t have much capacity –
like 75 ampo-hours is the largest I saw on their web site. These are
good for starting batteries, but for a house back, you’ll probably need
greater capacity. They’re also pretty expeinsive, like $280 for a 55-AH
deep cycle Optima.

By comparison, a Lifeline AGM Group 31 battery with 105 Amp Hours is
$224. Tat is still pretty steep if you need 2 or 3 of them. I’d like to
have AGMs on my boat and will one of these days. Right now I have a pair
of Delco Deep Cycle Group 31 sealed lead-acid batteries that don’t need
any water added. They cost, if I remember correctly, $115 each. WIth
those, I have 210 amp hours, which is sufficient for my boat’s pretty
simple electrical system. They’ve been on my boat here in Florida for
almost 3 years without any problems. I suspect they’ll last another 2
years.

If I needed more capacity, I’d consider a 4D or an 8D battery. An 8D
would have 245 AH, but it would cost $450 and weigh 160 pounds. A 4D
would give me 200AH, would cost $380 and weigh 126 pounds.

There’s something to be said for not getting a battery that you can’t
lift yourself. A Group 31 battery weighs 65 pounds. I can get one of
those on boad by myself, which I couldn’t do with a 4d or an 8D. So
three Group 31s like mine would give me 315 Amp Hours. If I keep my
boat, I will upgrade to 3 Group 31 AGMs when my wet cell batteries give
out.

Steve Gaber
Sanderling, 1967 C-31 #77
Oldsmar, FL

---- Larry Kraus kracherlandl@… wrote:

Hi all,

The lead/acid batts on the F32 are in a small compartment below the
steps. Tough to add water without disconnecting and removing each
batt.
Has anyone tried the Qwik-Fill system that allows remote filling of
difficult to reach batts in sailboats and RVs. Any problems?

I’m looking into AGMs or Optimas, but have to replace the voltage
regulator and the battery charger. Not inexpensive. So may stick
with
the lead/acid for awhile longer.

Any thoughts…

Larry Kraus
Windsonnet F32

–

6

Posted by rick_simonds (rick_simonds@…>)

— In FreedomOwnersGroup@yahoogroups.com, Larry Kraus
<kracherlandl@…> wrote:

Hi all,

The lead/acid batts on the F32 are in a small compartment below the
steps. Tough to add water without disconnecting and removing each
batt.
Has anyone tried the Qwik-Fill system that allows remote filling of
difficult to reach batts in sailboats and RVs. Any problems?

I’m looking into AGMs or Optimas, but have to replace the voltage
regulator and the battery charger. Not inexpensive. So may stick
with
the lead/acid for awhile longer.

Any thoughts…

Larry Kraus
Windsonnet F32

Price/performance-wise, I don’t see how you can beat standard, no-
name, cheap, wet-cell golf cart batteries. Yes, you still have to
check the water in them but they are inexpensive and explicitly
designed for deep cycling. They’re tough. With only ordinary care
they last a very long time. My last set lasted 8 years.

Golf cart batteries have about the same footprint as standard-size
batteries but they are taller. I’m not sure they’ll fit under the
steps (2 GC batteries and a separate start battery will probably
just fit) but on my F32 I moved my house batteries from under
the steps to the aft-most compartment under the seat in the settee. 4
golf cart batteries fit in there very easily, 2 in series then the 2
series groups in parallel. From memory, it is about 220 AH and it
costs about $180. Lifting 4 individual batteries one at a time is a
whole lot easier than trying to lift a 4D or 8D battery.

It’s still difficult to get to the tops to fill them. I use a
flashlight, a mirror and a squeeze bulb thingy. It’s a twice-a-year
PITA. I’ve been very tempted to install a Qwick-Fill system but that
task hasn’t hit the top of the list yet. If you do it, please post
your impressions and results. That’s a “someday” job on my list.

Rick
Tallahassee

7

Posted by Sward (swardfullsail@…>)
Hello all, I don’t think this is the answer to this question, but I will tell you what I did with my batteries. As I liveaboard my 32 and need good and extra voltage, I replaced my house bank with golfcart batteries, Trogan 105’s-4 of them-each 6 volt to make 2 12 volt batteries. I had someone take the door off the battery compartment under the stairs and he made space for the 4th battery over the access panel on the floor, lined up the three sideways and made a nice cover for that space. The batteries are reasonably easy to fill, but as I said, I use a watering can with long spout to fill them. I have also moved my starting batteries to the compartment next to the engine where the house bank was when I bought the boat. That system works well for me. I have been on a mooring all winter in Marathon, FL and with solar panels they are charging well. Having a wonderful time here-Highly recommend it. Very friendly cruiser community. “Life is a Reach, then you Jibe” Sward s/v "Dream On"rick_simonds <rick_simonds@…> wrote: — In FreedomOwnersGroup@yahoogroups.com, Larry Kraus <kracherlandl@…> wrote:>> Hi all,> > The lead/acid batts on the F32 are in a small compartment below
the > steps. Tough to add water without disconnecting and removing each batt. > Has anyone tried the Qwik-Fill system that allows remote filling of > difficult to reach batts in sailboats and RVs. Any problems?> > I’m looking into AGMs or Optimas, but have to replace the voltage > regulator and the battery charger. Not inexpensive. So may stick with > the lead/acid for awhile longer.> > Any thoughts…> > Larry Kraus> Windsonnet F32>Price/performance-wise, I don’t see how you can beat standard, no-name, cheap, wet-cell golf cart batteries. Yes, you still have to check the water in them but they are inexpensive and explicitly designed for deep cycling. They’re tough. With only ordinary care they last a very long time. My last set lasted 8 years.Golf cart batteries have about the same footprint as standard-size batteries but they are
taller. I’m not sure they’ll fit under the steps (2 GC batteries and a separate start battery will probably just fit) but on my F32 I moved my house batteries from under the steps to the aft-most compartment under the seat in the settee. 4 golf cart batteries fit in there very easily, 2 in series then the 2 series groups in parallel. From memory, it is about 220 AH and it costs about $180. Lifting 4 individual batteries one at a time is a whole lot easier than trying to lift a 4D or 8D battery.It’s still difficult to get to the tops to fill them. I use a flashlight, a mirror and a squeeze bulb thingy. It’s a twice-a-year PITA. I’ve been very tempted to install a Qwick-Fill system but that task hasn’t hit the top of the list yet. If you do it, please post your impressions and results. That’s a “someday” job on my list. RickTallahassee

8

Posted by Scott Forgey (jsforgey@…>)


I use the turkey baster and a small
measuring cup and a mirror to get the right amount.

Then a beer recover from the ordeal.

Scott Forgey
21362 Summertrace Circle
Boca Raton, FL 33428

561.445.5179
skype: sforgey1

“Nothing
is ever wrong in the universe, there is only what’s missing!”

W. Erhard






From: FreedomOwnersGroup@yahoogroups.com
[mailto:FreedomOwnersGroup@yahoogroups.com] On
Behalf Of Borelmfg
Sent: Thursday, February 28, 2008
10:56 AM
To:
FreedomOwnersGroup@yahoogroups.com
Subject: Re: [FreedomOwnersGroup]
Filling flooded lead acid batts in an F32





Larry,

\



I used a a turkey baster with some tubing attached.

\



Regards,

\



Van



----- Original Message -----


From: Larry
Kraus


To: Freedom Owners Group


Sent: Thursday, February
28, 2008 7:19 AM


Subject: [FreedomOwnersGroup]
Filling flooded lead acid batts in an F32

\



Hi all,

The lead/acid batts on the F32 are in a small compartment below the
steps. Tough to add water without disconnecting and removing each batt.
Has anyone tried the Qwik-Fill system that allows remote filling of
difficult to reach batts in sailboats and RVs. Any problems?

I’m looking into AGMs or Optimas, but have to replace the voltage
regulator and the battery charger. Not inexpensive. So may stick with
the lead/acid for awhile longer.

Any thoughts…

Larry Kraus
Windsonnet F32






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9

Posted by katorpus (jrb@…>)

Your friendly neighborhood EMS crew or a local hospital or ER or
whatever should be willing to provide you (free) an empty IV
bag…say “normal saline”…with the tubing attached. They are made
out of some king of vinyl.

These come in a variety of sizes, but 1 liter is common. That’s a lot
of water unless you’re neglecting your batteries too long.

Rinse it out, then cut the “top” corner off of the bag, leaving
the “hanger tab” in case you need both hands.

Fill the bag with distilled water through the hole in the top corner,
snake the tubing (cut to appropriate length) into the battery cell,
and open the thumbwheel valve to permit full flow (the valve is part
of the IV bag and tubing setup). Refill and repeat as necessary.

When you’re done, just roll it all up and stick it in a ziploc bag
for next time. As long as you don’t leave it out in the sun, it will
hold up for a LONG time before you need a new one.


My batteries are (evidently) a little more accessible than yours…I
fill them with a spring water bottle with the “sports cap” that opens
by push-pull, squeezing the bottle to eject the distilled water.

I don’t actually use distilled water anymore. I have a reverse
osmosis water cooler at my house and I just fill up an empty 1 gallon
jug from there…no minerals to affect the battery plates.


— In FreedomOwnersGroup@yahoogroups.com, “Scott Forgey”
<jsforgey@…> wrote:

I use the turkey baster and a small measuring cup and a mirror to
get the
right amount.

Then a beer recover from the ordeal.

Scott Forgey

21362 Summertrace Circle

Boca Raton, FL 33428

561.445.5179

skype: sforgey1

“Nothing is ever wrong in the universe, there is only what’s
missing!”

                 W. Erhard

From: FreedomOwnersGroup@yahoogroups.com
[mailto:FreedomOwnersGroup@yahoogroups.com] On Behalf Of Borelmfg
Sent: Thursday, February 28, 2008 10:56 AM
To: FreedomOwnersGroup@yahoogroups.com
Subject: Re: [FreedomOwnersGroup] Filling flooded lead acid batts
in an F32

Larry,

I used a a turkey baster with some tubing attached.

Regards,

Van

----- Original Message -----

From: HYPERLINK "mailto:kracherlandl@…"Larry Kraus

To: HYPERLINK "mailto:FreedomOwnersGroup@yahoogroups.com"Freedom
Owners
Group

Sent: Thursday, February 28, 2008 7:19 AM

Subject: [FreedomOwnersGroup-] Filling flooded lead acid batts in
an F32

Hi all,

The lead/acid batts on the F32 are in a small compartment below the
steps. Tough to add water without disconnecting and removing each
batt.
Has anyone tried the Qwik-Fill system that allows remote filling of
difficult to reach batts in sailboats and RVs. Any problems?

I’m looking into AGMs or Optimas, but have to replace the voltage
regulator and the battery charger. Not inexpensive. So may stick
with
the lead/acid for awhile longer.

Any thoughts…

Larry Kraus
Windsonnet F32

No virus found in this incoming message.
Checked by AVG Free Edition.
Version: 7.5.516 / Virus Database: 269.21.1/1303 - Release Date:
2/28/2008
12:14 PM

No virus found in this outgoing message.
Checked by AVG Free Edition.
Version: 7.5.516 / Virus Database: 269.21.1/1303 - Release Date:
2/28/2008
12:14 PM