puffcard wrote:
If you want a quick fix. Replace the Group 27, with two 12V Golf Cart batteries. They give you 155 AH each, for 310 AH bank. They have the same footprint as a Group 31, just taller. They fit with a squeeze and you use existing cabling. That's what we use and does us fine. We have 200 amp solar, no wind. Never run the motor for charging.
The 30 amp charger would be fine for them, getting on the light side for a 400-500ahr
Interesting Idea. That is a smaller bank than what I was thinking, but the simplicity of it is nice and it's a better use of space under the nav station seat because a group 31 battery is wider than the GC2 6 volt batteries. We don't have a ton of loads on the boat, but I'm primarily concerned regarding refrigeration, and we are looking at a DC powered water maker from Rainman, but that wouldn't get run every day. However, if you ran the motor or made water while the engine was running along with solar, it would probably be okay.
I tried to find the 155AH batteries and I could only find either the Trojan T1275 or the Crown CR-GC150 both of which are only 150AH. Is there a different battery you are thinking of or are these the right ones? I also like the idea that I could easily add a 3rd battery to get the bank up to ~450AH without needing to make huge modifications to the locker.
I'm still trying to finalize on Flooded Lead Acid vs AGM's, but I think the flooded ones are winning at this point. Thought about Lithium, but the amount of upgrades and cost of the batteries was over the top and would basically almost pay for a watermaker.
I'm also planning to supplement the battery bank, with a portable power packs from Suoaki to charge laptops etc.