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Damsel in distress-53 Hatteras 32v system ?s

Discussion in 'Hatteras Yacht' started by HollyonVirtue, Mar 24, 2015.

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  1. HollyonVirtue, Mar 24, 2015
    #1
    HollyonVirtue

    HollyonVirtue New Member

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    Hi everyone-I am at my wit's end. I'm a former part time liveaboard where help was good. Can't find an electrician locally who understands the old (1984) 32V system, and I can't pretend to. Lightning strike caused replacement of many things, including the Sentry original equipment battery charger. It was replaced with a Charles 9000, and my new batteries lasted less than two years. I was suspicious from the get go as the Charles is a continuous run, and the Sentry cycled. A call to Charles told me to have the charging system connected to a yard timer. Really? On a yacht? Because filling those cells is such a miserable job, I would like to go AGM, and a 58 LRC owner told me about Full River batteries. Electrician tells me that my current charger will not be compatible, and he can't locate a charger that will.
    What can I, what should I do to have a better solution than simply replacing those giant 8D's yet again? If I HAVE to go that route, do the suggested hydration systems work? Thank you from the bottom of my desperate heart!
  2. NYCAP123, Mar 24, 2015
    #2
    NYCAP123

    NYCAP123 Senior Member

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    Welcome Hollyonvirtue,
    I feel your pain. I captain a 1981 56' for the past couple years, and the electrical systems have been my biggest learning curve. Between popping breakers on my AC side and figuring out how to work with the 32v DC. Your situation is beyond my knowledge, but I know who you need to talk with. I'm sending you a PM with his info.
  3. SeaEric, Mar 24, 2015
    #3
    SeaEric

    SeaEric YF Historian

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    I'm confused. You say you have a 32v system yet you say you have "giant 8D" batteries? That doesn't sound right.
  4. dennismc, Mar 25, 2015
    #4
    dennismc

    dennismc Senior Member

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    Maybe a mod to 36 v and the charger won't do it..
  5. Capt J, Mar 25, 2015
    #5
    Capt J

    Capt J Senior Member

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    Ok, the Charles 9000 is for lead acid batteries only. Also they only come in a 30 or 40 amp version depending on the model you have. 10-13.3 amps per bank is not a whole lot of charging power if you are living aboard, so I can see it running non stop or almost non stop. Although the 58' YF I used to run had a 35 amp 32volt charger and it kept up mostly. I think your boat has 2 32 volt banks and then a 12 volt bank for the generator battery and electronics.

    That being said, you should have 8 volt batteries, not 8D's although they are close to the same size as 8D's. Contact Charles, but you might be able to use AGM batteries with that charger, but not sure, they don't last much longer than lead acid, but you don't have to add water to them. Adding water is a pain, but you can knock it out on that boat in about 1-1.5 hours on that boat if you have the right water bottle with a shutoff valve. With 8 volt batteries, your options are somewhat limited.

    Sentry makes a 32 volt charger and can be used for gel cel batteries or lead acid. I would go with a 60amp charger if you do upgrade.
  6. ranger58sb, Mar 25, 2015
    #6
    ranger58sb

    ranger58sb Senior member

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    Looks like Fullriver offers chargers, too (according to a press release in their About Us link), so it would seem a likely place to look for something compatible with their 8V batteries.

    Our oldest 12V AGM bank is coming into its 10th season now; presuming an appropriate charging regime, AGMs should work at least as well as FLAs.

    The Trojan and BHS (batteryhydration.com) watering systems both seem to get decent reviews on other fora...

    -Chris
  7. Capt Ralph, Mar 25, 2015
    #7
    Capt Ralph

    Capt Ralph Senior Member

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    Flooded cell and AGM batteries take near the same charge profile. An older flooded battery charger will work fine on an AGM battery. Gell and exoctic batteries need different profiles.
    However, 8V batteries in AGM is expensive, big tall golf cart batteries. May not fit in the usual battery box or designed areas.
    We still use the old 13" 8V x 4 and still check our batteries the old fashion way, on hands & knees with cocktail in hand.
    There are auto water systems out there, but it is good to look things over a few times a year.
    I still have Raritan Converter chargers and they run 24x7. e-bay is my friend.
    I'm not sure why there is a problem running your charles charger 24x7. It is an automatic charger.
    If you're living on the boat like us, lights, pumps and heads get used constantly. The charger is always working.

    Looks like you're in PV. Were in Ortega (west Jax). We speak 32Vdc, PM me if we can be of any help.

    ,rc
    Last edited: Mar 25, 2015
  8. HollyonVirtue, Mar 25, 2015
    #8
    HollyonVirtue

    HollyonVirtue New Member

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    Thanks, everyone. To clarify, I lived aboard in a marina, connected to shore power. And I was told they are 8D's, but I wouldn't know an 8D from Santa. I was told that I use 8 8V 8D batteries. What is in there now is Deka. Steve at Sam's suggests Rolls or Interstate. He said to absolutely NOT go up to 36V.
    Another question-I have been working on this since August. Seriously. The batteries that are in there are completely dry and she is connected to shore power. I keep the charger breaker on as the bilge pumps are 32V. How bad is this? Last electrician told me not to worry, but it is constantly on my mind.
  9. RER, Mar 25, 2015
    #9
    RER

    RER Senior Member

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    Get a new electrician. Dry batteries among other things can cause the battery charger to fail. You need new batteries ...and not 8D's ...Steve at Sam's is right.
  10. Capt Ralph, Mar 25, 2015
    #10
    Capt Ralph

    Capt Ralph Senior Member

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    Dry batteries are also dangerous. Stop at your grocery store, pick up 8 to 10 gallons of distilled (NOT spring) water.
    Put your gloves, junk long sleeve shirt, thrashed long pants, and safety glasses on and slowly add water back to the batteries. Fill them till the water is about 1/2 to 3/4 inch below the top. Bath well when you're done and keep the old clothes separate from anything until you can rinse them.
    8 volt batteries will have 4 fill caps on them. 12 volt (& 8Ds) will have 6 caps on them.
    The tech may have meant 8 inch 8 volt like a golf cart, we use 13 inch 8 volt batteries for house and starting.

    If I read your location correctly, I think that Zip is PV, south Jax beach?
  11. saltysenior, Mar 25, 2015
    #11
    saltysenior

    saltysenior Senior Member

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    wear eye protection and have water to flush with nearby..
    .........you can also home make your own fashion jeans (the expensive ones w/ the holes in 'em) while tending to your batteries..
  12. TeKeela, Mar 25, 2015
    #12
    TeKeela

    TeKeela Member

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    Switch to 24v. You need batteries, now is the time, get a 24v charger and change your alternators on the mains. The 32v builds in your lights will still work though a bit dimmer, until you get around to replacing them, change your bilge pumps, done. I gather you don't leave the dock often as you currently require shorepower, so you could even wait on your starters if there are budgetary concerns.

    Then you can get some group 31 batteries, easier to handle, sealed, everything gets better.
  13. Capt J, Mar 25, 2015
    #13
    Capt J

    Capt J Senior Member

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    Ummmmm you'd also have to change toilet pumps, freshwater pump, bilge blowers, and a myriad of other 32 volt items on that boat to switch it to 24 volts.
  14. TeKeela, Mar 25, 2015
    #14
    TeKeela

    TeKeela Member

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    Thank you, I sat there looking before I clicked Post Reply and could not remember what I forgot. It had been so long since I did the switch I forgot about the other things! Thanks. I was waiting for someone to correct me. That said, it's just a matter of time. And again I expect she sits on the dock to blowers can wait too. And we ran a 220v water pump as a primary, dc backup, maybe she does too. But it has to happen at some point. I'm the tear it apart and get it over with mindset. I hate the torture.
  15. olderboater, Mar 25, 2015
    #15
    olderboater

    olderboater Senior Member

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    People have been saying that for a very long time. One day they'll be right perhaps, but I suspect it may still be decades and only when all the 32's are extremely old. The other point is that even if it has to happen, perhaps not under the OP's time of ownership.
  16. Capt Ralph, Mar 25, 2015
    #16
    Capt Ralph

    Capt Ralph Senior Member

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    As I have mentioned on many other threads, there is nothing wrong with 32v systems as long as you understand what you have. Pre planning your spares saves many headaches and a lot of money.
    Even if you have a 24Vdc system, Understanding and logistics is always a good plan.
  17. Capt Ralph, Mar 25, 2015
    #17
    Capt Ralph

    Capt Ralph Senior Member

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    Can you kids imagine, 48Vdc systems are still out there. Haven't realized such a thing existed till an old surveyor filled me in on this. He called it 50 volt system but I queried him and it's really 48Vdc.
    Not common around the states but up north and Pacific rim.
  18. TeKeela, Mar 25, 2015
    #18
    TeKeela

    TeKeela Member

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    To each their own, I prefer upgrades and less headache. More time above decks than below.
  19. Capt Ralph, Mar 25, 2015
    #19
    Capt Ralph

    Capt Ralph Senior Member

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    Oh, Two stroke diesels have to die also I have heard. Naw, as long as there is a demand, there will be supply. Shop, spare & plan.
  20. ranger58sb, Mar 26, 2015
    #20
    ranger58sb

    ranger58sb Senior member

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    I could see where it might simply have been a "fail-yuh to commun-cate." Electrician might not have had full facts and might have made some assumptions about the rest of the system... and Holly might not have completely understood what she was being told and maybe didn't know which ancillary facts were important to tell the electrician...

    Just a thought...

    In any case, Holly now has better background:
    - immediate watering instructions (in case current 8Vs are salvageable)
    - understanding it's 8V -- not 8D
    - pointers to automatic hydration systems
    - leads on AGM alternatives

    -Chris
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