ranger58sb
Guru
Our oldest bank of 3x Group 31 AGM batteries is coming into its 10th season, and while it still acts normally and nominal resting voltage is still in the area of 12.6+v, I’m beginning to plan for its eventual replacement. I’d like to hear someone compare costs of a Lithium-based system, just to be sure I’m not misunderstanding the current market. I have read almost all the Lithium-related threads here, but they often wander so much I haven’t been able to pin down relevant details that would specifically apply to our situation.
So I’m planning to replace those 3x G31s with 4x 6V golf cart batteries, using Lifeline’s GPL-4CTs as a target for discussion. That would increase capacity on that bank from 300 Ah to 440 Ah, and that’s pretty much what I can fit in the same general area. (Not yet sure if I can fit the taller 6CTs, which would give a total of 600 Ah; not sure I can handle the extra weight, either.) I’m also planning to add an inverter/charger on that bank; the target for discussion is ProMariner’s TruePower CombiPS, 2000W pure sine wave inverter and 70-amp charger.
What I’d like to know is what a comparable (Ah) Lithium-based system would cost, what components would be necessary to make it all work (special charger, special controllers, whatever?) and roughly how much space it would take.
Background: Our boat has two large-ish battery banks of 300 Ah each, plus one small Group 34 battery to start the genset. Each of the two large banks starts one of the main engines, runs approx. half the house load (including one fridge on each bank), and powers additional bridge functions (electrics -- nav lights and so forth -- on the newer G31 bank, and a fairly large electronics suite on the older G31 bank being replaced).
We have a parallel switch, so if one main bank is depleted, we can tie both together to get an engine going (minimum 1250 CCA or 1560 MCA required). Lifeline advises the 4x 4CTs would be fine for this application. And then we have the genset, too. And jumper cables.
The charger is a 3-bank 40-amp “smart” (enough) system. We have no inverter now.
The overall setup is a little less conventional, but it’s simple and it works well enough for us. I do not want to change the basic setup. I’m happy with the AGMs, and I don’t particularly want to change that either unless Lithium offers an affordable advantage.
We often anchor out, but usually only for 1-5 days at a time max, and then we’re back at the dock and on shore power. More often than that, we’re marina hopping, or even more likely doing some mixture. When anchored, an hour or a bit more of generator time in morning and evening keeps the batteries charged, and we have an electric galley so we’d be running the genset to cook at those times anyway.
We don’t particularly NEED an inverter just now, but I’m planning ahead for when we have more leisure time and can stay out longer and might want some quiet access to small appliances. I believe adding additional charging capability, given that our current 40-amp charger is already tad small for our current capacity. An inverter/charger seems to speak to both of those. I have identified an area it can be installed, approx. 3 feet from the bank in question.
So what would it take in parts and $$ to replicate an approx. 440 Ah system using Lithium batteries (of some sort) ??
-Chris
So I’m planning to replace those 3x G31s with 4x 6V golf cart batteries, using Lifeline’s GPL-4CTs as a target for discussion. That would increase capacity on that bank from 300 Ah to 440 Ah, and that’s pretty much what I can fit in the same general area. (Not yet sure if I can fit the taller 6CTs, which would give a total of 600 Ah; not sure I can handle the extra weight, either.) I’m also planning to add an inverter/charger on that bank; the target for discussion is ProMariner’s TruePower CombiPS, 2000W pure sine wave inverter and 70-amp charger.
What I’d like to know is what a comparable (Ah) Lithium-based system would cost, what components would be necessary to make it all work (special charger, special controllers, whatever?) and roughly how much space it would take.
Background: Our boat has two large-ish battery banks of 300 Ah each, plus one small Group 34 battery to start the genset. Each of the two large banks starts one of the main engines, runs approx. half the house load (including one fridge on each bank), and powers additional bridge functions (electrics -- nav lights and so forth -- on the newer G31 bank, and a fairly large electronics suite on the older G31 bank being replaced).
We have a parallel switch, so if one main bank is depleted, we can tie both together to get an engine going (minimum 1250 CCA or 1560 MCA required). Lifeline advises the 4x 4CTs would be fine for this application. And then we have the genset, too. And jumper cables.
The charger is a 3-bank 40-amp “smart” (enough) system. We have no inverter now.
The overall setup is a little less conventional, but it’s simple and it works well enough for us. I do not want to change the basic setup. I’m happy with the AGMs, and I don’t particularly want to change that either unless Lithium offers an affordable advantage.
We often anchor out, but usually only for 1-5 days at a time max, and then we’re back at the dock and on shore power. More often than that, we’re marina hopping, or even more likely doing some mixture. When anchored, an hour or a bit more of generator time in morning and evening keeps the batteries charged, and we have an electric galley so we’d be running the genset to cook at those times anyway.
We don’t particularly NEED an inverter just now, but I’m planning ahead for when we have more leisure time and can stay out longer and might want some quiet access to small appliances. I believe adding additional charging capability, given that our current 40-amp charger is already tad small for our current capacity. An inverter/charger seems to speak to both of those. I have identified an area it can be installed, approx. 3 feet from the bank in question.
So what would it take in parts and $$ to replicate an approx. 440 Ah system using Lithium batteries (of some sort) ??
-Chris
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