How big is yours?

flapbreaker · Posted: Sun Jan 28, 2007 1:05 am Post subject: How big is yours?

Ok, I figured I would get a few strange looks with that title. Laughing

Anyway, I did a search and didn't come up with an answer. I was wondering what capacity house battery other Brat's are running. I have a 55 amp hour optima for my house battery. I have a feeling it might be to small. Embarrased

Dreamer · Posted: Sun Jan 28, 2007 1:19 am Post subject:

Surely, size doesn't matter to C-Brats! Dreamer has two 55AH AGM Optimas for the engines and two 275AH Lifeline AGM house batteries. Only downside is the 300# weight of the house batteries. More power is good! More power for the inverter, computer, Wallas, lights, and all that other stuff we find we can't live without.

rogerbum · Posted: Sun Jan 28, 2007 11:09 am Post subject: Re: How big is yours?

flapbreaker · Posted: Sun Jan 28, 2007 5:12 pm Post subject:

Ok, I didn't get to many responses. I'm currently thinking of combining my two optima's in parralel to use for the house battery and then buying a new battery for the starting. Any issues with that? I have an onboard charger that would go to each bank. I suppose there's no issues charging different capacity batteries.

thataway · Posted: Sun Jan 28, 2007 6:56 pm Post subject:

If you are using the Optimas (house) on the charger, I would go with another Optima for the engine start. No problem with parallel of the two batteries for house. But when you parallel, it is best that the batteries be the same age, type and capacity. You may also want to look at either an ACR or other way of charging both sets when running the engine--don't know how you do it now.

Incidently the C Dory 22 had two medium sized (about 6o amp hours) group 24 batteries. The TC 255 has two group 27 (100 amp hours each) starting batteries, one group 27 (100 amp hours) and two group 31 (110 amp hours each) house batteries. These are managed by both ACR's for engine charging and switches so that any one or combination can be used for engine starting and for house use. I also carry a U 1 AGM battery fully charged as a "backup"--that can start any marine engine or be transported to use with a protable bilge pump etc in case of emergency on any other boat. We always had plenty of power on the CD 22--and obviously even with refigeration, have plenty of power on the TC 255. I guess it is best said that one learns to manage with what batteries he or she has.