Starter battery

[Curryhouse]

For those with an inboard diesel:

Looks like I need to replace the old starter battery that was in Periwinkle when I bought her. Can't find any specs on the battery apart from brand - Supercharge Allrounder. Engine is a Yanmar 1GM10. Would like to know what type/AH/size others have fitted. Thanks in advance.

Cheers, Neil

[Dolphin]

I'll find out what size my batteries are. Felicite has 2. It's a good idea if you get one the same size as your car battery, you can swap them over, recharge them etc. That's if your car battery is similar. That might not work if you drive aTesla.

[Curryhouse]

Thank you. A good suggestion on trying to keep commonality with car. Out of interest, where are the batteries located in Felicite?

[Dolphin]

Batteries are under the quarter berth.

[lockie]

The requirements for these little diesels are not great since the starters pull less than 100A, which is bugger all for most starter-type batteries.

Second-hand deep-cycle UPS batteries have happily started my 2GM for many years. Although not designed for engine starting, the low current and short duration does not trouble them, and they have the advantage of true deep-cycle design for house use. They are cheap at generally about a dollar per Amp-hour. Google "used UPS battery" or something similar.

Cheers, Graeme

[Curryhouse]

Thanks Greg. Mine also. I'd like to house it in a battery box but based on the current battery dimensions and the space where the battery is located, that doesn't seem to be an option.

Thanks Graeme. Will definitely follow-up on a used battery as an option.

Cheers.

[Dolphin]

Gday Neil. My batteries are in a battery box.
I think from memory they are 48Ah., but don't quote me.

[Curryhouse]

Hi Greg, I managed to peel back some added tape on my battery that concealed the battery ident info. Turns out it is a 110AH battery. Based on your battery size (won't hold you to it), a 110AH battery may be an overkill. Also, after googling starter battery for an 1GM10, I came across sizes ranging from 50AH to 70AH. So I think that I'll look for a battery that is smaller in AH and physical size that will still meet my starter and minimal domestic power requirements and hopefully will fit in a battery box in the current battery location.

[Miker]

I don't have a starter battery, the outboard is a pull start

What I do have is a 120AH Gel battery for all the house lights, water pump and auto-tiller. In hindsight, due to the weight of the large battery, I should have fitted two smaller batteries in series. When I get the fridge set up, I will install a separate battery for that as well, so it can run long term on solar and stored power and not have it jeopardised by other requirements.

For a start battery, don't necessarily look at Amp Hours, look at Cold Cranking amps. The more the better, but for a small diesel, usually it's not too high, unless it's hard to start.

[Curryhouse]

Thanks Miker. Didn't take much notice before of CCA in the description of a battery but will in the future.