342 House Batteries

Hamdog

I'm pretty sure what the answer is going to be but here goes.

We were out on the lake last weekend for only one night. From about 3:00 pm on Friday until about 5:00 pm on Saturday. Ran the generator for about 20 minute in the morning charging the batteries. Sometime Saturday afternoon, I had zero battery power. The meter was flat dead. No reading. I fired up the generator for about 30 minutes and we were fine but we came in shortly after that. This has never happened before but this is the 5th season on the Group 31 house batteries. The only thing different is my wife says the "Mood Lights" were accidently left on. These are the recessed lights around the forward bunk.

So am I toast and need new house batteries or could those lights pull that much juice?

Thanks.

Black_Diamond

The mood lights are power hogs. Running the house batteries to zero probably killed them sadly. They do not recover from that. At 5 years you did well. Probably replacement time.

Hamdog

Thanks BD. Kinda what I was thinking. We had a good run. Absolutely never had a house battery issue the whole 4 point something seasons. We are going out this weekend so I guess we will know for sure. I will post how the batteries hold up after a good charge.

Black_Diamond

I'd check the water level in them too

OldDogNewTrix

Isn't there a safety that shuts down the 12v system when they get to 10.5 volts? Or is it the fridges that shut down at that voltage? That would then make sense that the lights could drain it down to zero?

Black_Diamond

The frig might shut off as low voltage would be a killer.  The lights, radio, etc would just keep pulling amps until the battery died.  I know on mine, the mood lights pull considerable power..someday I'll swap them to LED types and solve that problem, low on the list though.

Hamdog

They are sealed so no water level to check. I will let you guys know how the batteries do this weekend after being sucked to nothing. First thing I noticed was the toilet was only a weak flush.

Cableguy Greg

If you are looking for new ones, Sam's Club has Group 31 AGM batteries for around $180 each. They are made in the USA by East Penn, the maker of Deka batteries. I just put 2 in my boat and I am very happy with them so far.

craigswardmtb

I second that on the SAMs club Duracell agm's. I have two this season and so far so good.

Hamdog

Do you guys know if my stock battery charger will work with the AGM's? Would I need to change the charging setting or something like that?

Hamdog

Well the House batteries performed perfectly this weekend!! They actually seemed to hold up even better than before. Hopefully I can get another season or two from these. One of my dockmates said drawing your house battery completely down will not ruin it. Said that was old school thinking and modern batteries are much better. I have no clue. Just did one night out so hopefully they will still be good on the hook for a longer period.

Thanks.

Dream_Inn

Hopefully they hold up Ham! I know that it will shorten the life doing that often. I tend to get five years, so you are doing well either way.

Michael T

When you do change your batteries series 31 AGMs are THE way to go. A battery charger by Intellipower or Charles is not expensive at all and will handle any type of battery. BTW  make sure your new AGM house batteries are wired in parallel correctly to double your reserve minutes. MT