Water Auto Fill for Lead Acid Batteries
- Thread starter Greg W
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tiltrider1
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Rather than investing more into lead acid, you should investigate going LiFePo4. Prices have come down to the point of being less than the cost for lead acid batteries.
RobertLeatch
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Not automated but I use the Trojan watering system on my T105s and find it very effective. Simple snap connection to the hoses running between the caps with inbuilt float valves. Takes less than 5 mins a month to check/top up 2 banks of 6 batteries.
www.trojanbattery.com
Trojan Battery | Single-Point Battery Watering System
The Single-Point Watering Kit is designed to work with flooded deep-cycle batteries. It takes the guesswork out of properly watering flooded batteries.
www.trojanbattery.com
Iggy
Guru
If nothing else, AGM batteries. No watering and more power.
NWSeadog
Senior Member
I have a similar system and highly recommend them. Makes checking and refilling the cells a breeze.Not automated but I use the Trojan watering system on my T105s and find it very effective. Simple snap connection to the hoses running between the caps with inbuilt float valves. Takes less than 5 mins a month to check/top up 2 banks of 6 batteries.
Trojan Battery | Single-Point Battery Watering System
The Single-Point Watering Kit is designed to work with flooded deep-cycle batteries. It takes the guesswork out of properly watering flooded batteries.
Flatswing
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FLA is still the best bang for your buck. I use the "Water-your-Battery" system. It's not automatic but simple to install and very quick and easy to water your batteries in minutes from a gallon jug of distilled water without even removing the battery box covers. Be sure to order the correct caps for the batteries you use so that the fill levels are correct.
The only place I use AGM (which are considerably more expensive) is for locations within sleeping cabins (i.e. bow thruster bank)
The only place I use AGM (which are considerably more expensive) is for locations within sleeping cabins (i.e. bow thruster bank)
tiltrider1
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two years ago I would have agreed, but not know. Replacement cost on my battery bank of L16’s was $2800. For $2400 I was able to install a larger LifePo4 bank. FLA has a 300 cycle life were LiFePo4 has a 3000 cycle life. The world changed in the last two years. Why pay more for less.
NWSeadog
Senior Member
I also have the manual pump version of the "Water-your-Battery" I see that they do have and automatic version that is less then a couple of hundred dollars. Water your battery link . If your FLA's are good there is no reason to spend money on LifePo4 right now. I'm waiting until it is time to replace my FLA's.
Flatswing
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L16 & GC2 FLA are half the price of the AGM versions quoted as comparison. I believe the original post was referring to FLA - hence battery watering.
While I would like to eventually switch, there are significant potential issues with “drop in LiFePO4” replacements including BMS integrity, high amp start service suitability, insurability, charging etc. Many trawlers who don’t spend many consecutive days on the hook, have no trouble recharging large FLA banks with each days run or a short Gen run (since many of us need AC power for cooking). If you add in the cost of new chargers, bat-bat chargers, larger alternators and/or upgraded external regulators to take full advantage of the LiFePO4, plus the need for some lead back up in case the BMS shuts down, it’s still hard to justify the (increased) cost.
That said, when my L16’s (1/2 my house bank) die in another 4-5 yrs, I’ll probably replace them with Li, cus they are so much lighter & easier to get in/out
While I would like to eventually switch, there are significant potential issues with “drop in LiFePO4” replacements including BMS integrity, high amp start service suitability, insurability, charging etc. Many trawlers who don’t spend many consecutive days on the hook, have no trouble recharging large FLA banks with each days run or a short Gen run (since many of us need AC power for cooking). If you add in the cost of new chargers, bat-bat chargers, larger alternators and/or upgraded external regulators to take full advantage of the LiFePO4, plus the need for some lead back up in case the BMS shuts down, it’s still hard to justify the (increased) cost.
That said, when my L16’s (1/2 my house bank) die in another 4-5 yrs, I’ll probably replace them with Li, cus they are so much lighter & easier to get in/out
Comodave
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For the short time I use a water fill can. Just push it down into the batteries and it fills and then shuts off. Got it on Amazon.
Golf Cart / Deep Cycle Battery Water Filler Bottle w/ Auto Shut Off
Xlantic
Guru
That’s what I have been using for years. Works great and can save your batteries.
Auto-fill may sound like a way to avoid doing a maintenance item, but it is a poor choice.
By checking the water level in your batteries allows you to determine if each if any cell requires more water.
Remember always use distilled water.
Secondly, you can "eye ball each cell to see if the water is clear or have a lead gray color which may indicated a problem.
Lastly, it provides the opportunity to see if the connections are clean of corrosive build up, or wiring that needs attention.
The auto-fill is great, except when you can't get the power to start your engine(s) or turn on the bilge pump..
Batteries should be visually inspected at least twice a year..........it's. not that big of a time effort to make sure, that everything is in good working order.
Nepidae
Senior Member
There are several approaches.
Some will say to go with Lithium batts because they are cheap now, BUT IF you don't already have equipment that will handle Lithium, then a conversion could be expensive.
You didn't mention new batts so I will step away from that and address your watering of the batts.
There are automatic watering systems that will require you to put in tubing from the water source to each batt cell that would need to keep full. You also need to keep the source full.
Before I switched to AGM batts which you don't need to water and will probably run in the current equipment you have I used 1 of these (https://tinyurl.com/mr4ar3ak). You will need to water each cell in a batt but I always thought it was better to check the batts in case you came up with a bad cell than to just water haphazardly. This tool is set to put the right amount of water in a cell with just a push on the bottle. Works great.
Some will say to go with Lithium batts because they are cheap now, BUT IF you don't already have equipment that will handle Lithium, then a conversion could be expensive.
You didn't mention new batts so I will step away from that and address your watering of the batts.
There are automatic watering systems that will require you to put in tubing from the water source to each batt cell that would need to keep full. You also need to keep the source full.
Before I switched to AGM batts which you don't need to water and will probably run in the current equipment you have I used 1 of these (https://tinyurl.com/mr4ar3ak). You will need to water each cell in a batt but I always thought it was better to check the batts in case you came up with a bad cell than to just water haphazardly. This tool is set to put the right amount of water in a cell with just a push on the bottle. Works great.
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