DavidJ
regular
Reged: 15/06/2001
Posts: 2489
Loc: home Brum, boat Costa Brava
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115Ah Bosch Marine batteries £85 incl VAT (they are the liquid type not gel) bought 2 months ago from Costco....you will need a mate with a card though. You can join as a member of the public for about £30 (I think) so you could be a few quid in if you stock up on wine and beer as well.
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www.jensenworld.co.uk
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jfm
regular
Reged: 16/05/2001
Posts: 7818
Loc: London/Antibes
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How does the generator charge the batteries" - the gen provides 230v to the battery charger, just as the shorepower does, and that charges the batteries.
Chris, I've nothing much to add to what is written above by wiggo et al but do you have a DC ammeter on your elec panel? If yes, see what current is being drawn from the batteries, to check that it is indeed the few amps that wiggo predicts. There may be other "electrical overheads" (like 2 dozen little indicator bulbs in your elec panel, voltage stabilisers, other things left on, etc) that leak away the battery charge.
If your current draw is only a couple of amps and 4-5 when the fridge is on, you do need new batteries. And if they are that hard to get at, get gel ones for sure cos you will never manage to keep wet ones topped up
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KevB
regular
Reged: 04/07/2001
Posts: 5511
Loc: London
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Hi Chris,
Sorry didn't get to see your boat at the festival, I came round on Monday not thinking that everyone would be back at work!!!
As for your batteries. During my last service in March I had the domestics checked and was told they were fine... Two weeks later one was completely dead the other would only hold a charge for a few hours. So the moral of the story is - people who test batteries don't know what they are on about. Or, people who test batteries destroy them when they stick the tester across the terminals. Take your pick 
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Nirvana
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ChrisKaye
regular
Reged: 26/08/2004
Posts: 597
Loc: Wiltshire
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Hi John, thanks for that, I will check what the current draw is on the ammeter next time I'm down there (I am sure it was only about the 4/5amps Wiggo mentioned). I've got the guy going down to fit me 2 new batteries (biggest that will fit in the boxes) so will report back next time I'm down on the boat. Older son (14) will be doing the topping up !!! so I can stick with normal batteries and not the really pricey gello ones
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Trundlebug
regular
Reged: 04/01/2007
Posts: 98
Loc: River Trent
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An alternative battery supplier is Towsure.
www.towsure.com
Only £74.00 for a 110Ah Leisure battery - including VAT. No membership to pay either!
Has anyone used that EDTA+ stuff? I'm always wary of magic potions & snake oil
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DavidJ
regular
Reged: 15/06/2001
Posts: 2489
Loc: home Brum, boat Costa Brava
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Just a point which I discovered when I was buying batteries for mine, there are different terminal configurations which if you get it wrong may give you the agro of making up new cables. Some have +ve on the right, some on the left.
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www.jensenworld.co.uk
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Hurricane
regular
Reged: 11/11/2005
Posts: 1686
Loc: Sant Carles de la Rąpita
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This thread raises another problem.
What about the battery that starts the generator?
This is our second mobo and both seem to rely on the generator charging its own battery but this isnt any good if the generator isnt used very much.
The main engine batteries and the service batteries always seem to have good staged battery chargers for use when leaving the boat for long periods - thus keeping the batteries in "tip top" condition.
But for the generator battery, what do people do when the boat is left for any length of time.
On the old boat, I used to disconnect the generator battery and hook it up to a small trickle charger if I hadnt used the generator much.
Is this necessary or do people throw the generator battery away after a couple of seasons missuse.
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leadersail
regular
Reged: 30/11/2005
Posts: 156
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Quote:
Has anyone used that EDTA+ stuff? I'm always wary of magic potions & snake oil
http://www.courtiestown.co.uk/batteries/shop.htm
I have no connection with the company.
I have used it on several batteries.
Yes it worked for me.
Very easy to use, a lot easier than changing batteries.
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Best not take this post too seriously, I'm only here on my Doctor's advice as part of an ANGER MANAGEMENT THERAPY.
Edited by leadersail (24/06/2008 15:11)
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