Battery life saver

[Momentum M]

A friend of mine just ordered a "battery saver" 
It's new to me and I was wondering if any of you knows about this device or used it.
Of course the web site praise them but I guess that it wouldn't be good marketting to say the contrary!!!

Link:  http://www.batterylifesaver.com/default.htm

Thanks

[jmnpe]

The general class of devices known as "desulfators" are designed to prevent long term formation of lead sulfate on the positive plate of lead acid batteries. Lead sulfate is the expected by product of discharging a lead acid battery. If the battery is promptly fully recharged after a discharge cycle, the lead sulfate is converted back into lead dioxide, which is the normal chemical makeup of a charged lead acid battery.

The problem occurs in batteries that do not receive a complete recharge after they are discharged: if the soft form of lead sulfate is allowed to remain on the battery plate for longer than about 45 - 60 days, it converts from its original soft form to a crystalline form that is hard and will not convert back into lead dioxide with normal charging voltages. However, if high frequency energy is applied appropriately to the crystalline lead sulfate, the molecular structure "resonates" and the crystalline structure breaks down into the soft form, and normal charge voltages will convert it back into lead dioxide. This device was designed specifically for use in vehicles which are regularly under-charged, like police cars, ambulances, delivery trucks, and taxis to name a few. Basically, any vehicle that spends a lot of time sitting at idle with heavy loads on, or sitting with some loads on without the motor running, or spends its days making many short legs with frequent stops and starts of the engine. In these types of applications, the "desulfators" will extend the useful life of the batteries substantially ( I am more than a little skeptical about the claims of car batteries lasting 9 years or more.... ).

If you properly charge your starting and house batteries, and provide proper maintenance ( which includes regular equalization during the season ) if they are flooded cell batteries, a "desulfator" system offers very little benefit to you. You can achieve all the same advantages by following good charging habits and taking proper care of your batteries.

Regards,

John
1988 C34 hull 728 w/ all Lifeline AGM batteries
Otra Vez

[Stu Jackson]

I liken this to folks who suggest that purchasing separate "emergency battery starter packs" is a good idea.  I find it useless and cumbersome.

I agree with John.  Why not just do it right in the first place?

Build a reliable electrical system with a good design and quality components and connections, with a separate house and reserve bank.  Run your boat off your house bank, including starting the engine, and use the reserve bank for exactly that - a reserve.  Check the reserve bank and use it once in a while to assure it's working.

Fully charge your batteries (when you can).  Don't leave them on float forever sitting at your dock.  Equalize wet cells regularly.

Get a good battery monitor and understand how the banks work, charge and discharge.  Do an energy budget.  Watch your battery monitor to learn how battery acceptance affects recharge.  Learn how to use your battery monitor: it is NOT a fuel gauge!  There are operational and functional issues related to your batteries that you need to learn about and understand.  A topic on this subject is our "Gotcha" article on this MB. (http://c34.org/bbs/index.php/topic,4922.0.html)

If you have a multiple bank monitor, check both banks.  If you only have a house bank monitor, check the voltage on your reserve bank regularly.

Read the Ample Power Primer to learn about batteries.  www.amplepower.com

And before your design or change your electrical system, decide on how YOU want to use YOUR boat.  Marina hoppers and anchor out cruisers have different needs in terms of battery capacity, but the basic system design is pretty much the same.