Dual Battery w/pic’s, verbose

[cpg]

that may be a bit of a stretch, I am not sure how a

So the discharged lifeline in the boat was able to take every bit that that alternator could put out. left it hooked up for about 20 min wile I cleaned up from the day working on the boat and it had caught up a bit and was still in the mid 13's, When the alt is not at max load should be in the mid 14's (14.4/14.5 V )

have never depleted the batteries in the 80 to experience this before.


QUOTE]

Are your batteries resting at 12.8? After about a year I have had no problem with the second battery I recieved. In the morning it is always at 12.8 even after sitting a few days. I was worried about not charging them to spec with the Toy alternator but it seems to be doing fine.

 

[ktmracer01]

thats a great write up! should be a useful tool for anyone looking at doing a dual battery setup

 

[RavenTai]

Are your batteries resting at 12.8? After about a year I have had no problem with the second battery I received. In the morning it is always at 12.8 even after sitting a few days. I was worried about not charging them to spec with the Toy alternator but it seems to be doing fine.

Just went and checked, resting for 13 hours,
12.85 aux
12.61 main
14.57 charging
.001 from + to + post with relay closed

That main is low, need to look into that

 

[Mlachica]

I had an intermittent alternator problem for a wile but after getting that fixed all has been well for the past 2.5 years.

Out of curiosity, what was your intermittent problem?


Also on a sidenote, be mindful if using the lifeline group 27's in the factory locations. I had a friend that installed two of them and the one on the passenger side was oriented with the positive post closest to the fender. He also used the brass bolt to bolt down a connection. There is less vertical clearance closer to the fender and the top of the positive post was intermittently making contact with the hood. He rotated the battery and it solved the problem. Just an fyi. Hopefully I'll be installing my aux lifeline tomorrow...

 

[94landcruiser]

Thanks for the perfect write up. I am looking for the GPL-27T Lifeline's you posted and the cheapest I have found is 289.00 per. Where did you get them so inexpensively?


Thanks

 

[RavenTai]

I just dug through my 80's file twice and cannot locate the invoice but i think it was these guys

http://www.advancedpowerproducts.com/

or at least I was considering buying them from there as a I have a print out of their web page in the file.

sorry it was 3 years ago.

I do remember that the guys I ordered from were tight with lifeline, possibly their main distributor, they had two warehouses one in California and another in the south east (South Carolina? Tennessee?) there was a considerable shipping price diffrence between the two,

 

[94landcruiser]

Thanks. I called the numbers near Phoenix on their site this afternoon one wants 320 per the other said they would call back and never did.

 

[dfmorse]

Batteries AGM charging notes

09-12-07 01:24 PM
bugsnbikes According to the Lifeline website--the AGMs like to be "smart charged" or step charged. Whats your take on the 80 alternators voltage charging and how it will ultimately effect the AGMs battery life?

I have spoken with one Marine Supplier who claims they simply use an ACR to isolate batteries and bulk charge the house bank directly off the alternator with good results. But im a bit confused given what the Lifeline website states about charging issues with AGMs and the need for smart charging.

bugsnbikes;

Its my personal opinion that the below mentioned "Ultimizer", or other computer controlled high current 10-25 amp charger is required for proper maintenance of AGM type batteries. I wouldn't hesitate to use the Ultimizer on other AGM type batteries.

If u go with the Odyssey series, u will need the Ultimizer charger to keep these batteries in top condition. This charger is brand new and designed for the Odyssey series of batteries; and is one sweet gadget.

http://www.batterymart.com/p-odyssey-ultimizer-12v-25a-battery-charger.html


The voltage on these batteries is around 12.8 volts for 100% full charge. 80% is around 12.6 volts. Gell AGM batts require PM, say every 6 months. A standard charger will not bring these batts to full capacity. The Odyssey batts require the correct charge algorithm; and the right charger does this.

The standard alternator will not do these batteries justice; its only designed to charge a standard lead acid battery, so u need to do Periodic Maintenance on the gell batteries to keep them in top shape. Many people get rid of the AGM's because they are not performing properly; but u can bring them back to life with the right charger.

The way to test these batts (Odyssey, AGM) is to charge them on the right charger and then measure the voltage [the Ultimizer does all this] and see if the voltage holds at 12.81 volts over a few days time. If the battery only stays charged to , say, 12.5 volts (75-80%), then it is losing its capacity and is on the way out. I'm doing this at this time and my 8 year old MAIN battery is only holding at 12.5 volts; time for a replacement.



http://homepage.mac.com/dfmorse/BattProj2/page1.html

...

 

[cpg]

bugsnbikes;

Its my personal opinion that the below mentioned "Ultimizer", or other computer controlled high current 10-25 amp charger is required for proper maintenance of AGM type batteries. I wouldn't hesitate to use the Ultimizer on other AGM type batteries.

If u go with the Odyssey series, u will need the Ultimizer charger to keep these batteries in top condition. This charger is brand new and designed for the Odyssey series of batteries; and is one sweet gadget.

http://www.batterymart.com/p-odyssey-ultimizer-12v-25a-battery-charger.html


The voltage on these batteries is around 12.8 volts for 100% full charge. 80% is around 12.6 volts. Gell AGM batts require PM, say every 6 months. A standard charger will not bring these batts to full capacity. The Odyssey batts require the correct charge algorithm; and the right charger does this.

The standard alternator will not do these batteries justice; its only designed to charge a standard lead acid battery, so u need to do Periodic Maintenance on the gell batteries to keep them in top shape. Many people get rid of the AGM's because they are not performing properly; but u can bring them back to life with the right charger.

The way to test these batts (Odyssey, AGM) is to charge them on the right charger and then measure the voltage [the Ultimizer does all this] and see if the voltage holds at 12.81 volts over a few days time. If the battery only stays charged to , say, 12.5 volts (75-80%), then it is losing its capacity and is on the way out. I'm doing this at this time and my 8 year old MAIN battery is only holding at 12.5 volts; time for a replacement.



http://homepage.mac.com/dfmorse/BattProj2/page1.html

...

Did you try a equalizing charge? I think 15.5 volts for 8 or so hours? Sounds like your AGM may need to give that a try.

 

[treerootCO]

Post #3 Tools:

1/0 Crimper, #3 Swage-It-Tool from Aircraft Spruce this could probably be found cheaper elsewhere, they have a retail store near me and so I got it there

Is that the #3 on the site that mentions, "NO . 3 SWAGE- IT - P/N 12-12100 $36.50
For use with sleeves for 1/8", 5/32", 3/16" and 1/4" cable . Same design as No. 2 tool but larger. Size: 3/4" x 1-1/2" x 14". Wt. 3-1/2 lbs."?

 

[RavenTai]

yep that is the one,


here is a picture of the #3

pretty simple tool.