Marine Batteries

Battery Business Marine Power Solution Testimonial

"My wife and I have a 12-metre catamaran that we spend a lot of time on.

We tried a number of power solutions and all of them failed --- expensively. Battery Business was recommended to us.

Clive Weatherhead came aboard and spent the time necessary to understand not only our ship and its (ridiculously complex) systems, but also us and our lifestyle.

He convinced us to install a large solar array, change the battery management arrangement, and to make a considerable investment in lithium batteries.

He also provided a remarkably detailed written guarantee that the system would do what he said it would do. The upshot is a system that powers what is virtually a three-bedroom apartment with minimum use of our generator and a weight saving of a half-tonne.

In a number of areas, we were breaking new ground and at the outset it did not all work as advertised. So Clive came back, and back, and back. He did not for a moment make us feel like this was an imposition on him.

Eventually, he discovered an anomaly that could only be rectified by installing two more top-end lithium batteries at a retail cost of about $5,000. I offered to go him halves or better but he insisted on the enhancement at NIL expense to us.

I can say with conviction that Clive does what he says he will do. His pricing was fair to begin with and there has never had to be mention of our guarantee. Battery Business has a lifetime customer and dead-set advocate in me."

Graham Bauer

A few words about Marine Batteries generally

• Car batteries are NOT boat batteries
  Marine batteries are built to withstand marine conditions – the cells, the construction and even the basic design should be different.
   
• Starting (aka "cranking") batteries are for starting
  They like to deliver a burst of power and then be recharged by the alternator. They are not designed to be deep-cycled, so if you like to run appliances, lights etc without the motor or something else recharging the battery, or if your bilge-pump operates whenever it needs to, a starting battery isn’t the right choice.
   
• Starting batteries shouldn’t ever be run flat
  If it happens 3 or 4 times, the battery is on its way out. The only question is “how soon?”
   
• Serviceable (flooded) batteries can last very well...
  ...as can maintenance-free, absorbed glass mat and gel batteries. A lot depends on the quality of charger, and the way the battery is used.
   
• Amongst deep-cycle batteries, gels can generally be cycled to a lower state of charge than AGMs or “wet” batteries
  This means that a gel with less amps can still deliver the same amount of use as a larger capacity traditional battery between charges
   
• Gels and AGMs can tolerate a non-vertical lifestyle...
  ...and can be laid on their side if space dictates. Standard “flooded” and maintenance free batteries need to be upright nearly all the time
   
• Gel batteries like to be charged at 13.8 volts or lower
  AGMs like 14.4 volts or lower. If your boat's charging system was designed to deliver a higher voltage, have a chat with us before choosing a gel or AGM battery, because the charging system may "cook" the batteries.
   
• Batteries with high cold-cranking amps (CCA) are good for starting engines
  Deep cycle batteries often have lower CCA figures but are happy to be discharged (cycled). It’s a compromise, sometimes, if you just use one battery, but there are good compromises about.
   
• A battery manufacturer can get higher CCA out of a battery by using thinner plates in the cells
  This gives more surface area exposed to acid. Thinner plates = a less robust battery (see the first three points above).
   
• The world is full of great ideas to get better battery performance
  We've heard of people using cranking batteries for deep cycle because "they seem to charge quicker", through to all sorts of things being dropped into battery cells to "improve" the electrolyte - here there be dragons!
   
• The right battery or batteries for your boat is a great long-term investment
  Ask anyone who has been stranded at sea or had a flat battery on a beautiful Saturday morning.