Post by bamber on Jul 23, 2017 16:22:01 GMT
Just an observation from a marina based leisure cruiser --
My boat is very basic. 3x 110Ahr leisure batteries, no inverter, and primary loads being a Shoreline 12V fridge, TV for maximum 4 hrs a day, LED lights with usual use of water pump/shower pump.
I've had a SmartGauge fitted for a few years and always found it useful although I've always taken its indications with a pinch of salt for the first couple days out on a trip.
However, I had a new set of leisure batteries fitted about 6 weeks ago and now things have got a bit 'interesting.'
I've just done a three week cruise with relatively short days but the battery voltage has been around 12.8V - 12.9V each day before setting off. I stayed in Oxford for 2 days and only ran the engine for 1/2 hour to get some hot water and the voltage was still 12.65 volts on the third morning.
The SG capacity indications are (not surprisingly) all over the place, seldom dropping below 97% (even at 12.65V) except that one morning it went down to 91% while voltage still indicating 12.85V!
I know the manual says the SG won't be accurate until the battery is taken below 60% a couple times but without adding some substantial additional load this not going to happen for a long time with my usual cruising pattern. Just another of those 'first world' problems I suppose!
My boat is very basic. 3x 110Ahr leisure batteries, no inverter, and primary loads being a Shoreline 12V fridge, TV for maximum 4 hrs a day, LED lights with usual use of water pump/shower pump.
I've had a SmartGauge fitted for a few years and always found it useful although I've always taken its indications with a pinch of salt for the first couple days out on a trip.
However, I had a new set of leisure batteries fitted about 6 weeks ago and now things have got a bit 'interesting.'
I've just done a three week cruise with relatively short days but the battery voltage has been around 12.8V - 12.9V each day before setting off. I stayed in Oxford for 2 days and only ran the engine for 1/2 hour to get some hot water and the voltage was still 12.65 volts on the third morning.
The SG capacity indications are (not surprisingly) all over the place, seldom dropping below 97% (even at 12.65V) except that one morning it went down to 91% while voltage still indicating 12.85V!
I know the manual says the SG won't be accurate until the battery is taken below 60% a couple times but without adding some substantial additional load this not going to happen for a long time with my usual cruising pattern. Just another of those 'first world' problems I suppose!
