With the main Domestic batteries having been replaced by 3 off 220AH Rolls AGM (Absorbed Glass Matt) batteries during the refit, not two years previously, the lack of electrical capacity was both disappointing and confusing.
Calling in a specialist, conversant with the Mastervolt system, he discovered several issues. The ‘engineer’ (a loose term in this case) who carried out the refit, had wired the batteries wrongly and one of the terminals had not been done up at all with the nut just over the end of the threads, not even finger tight. It also became clear that the ‘Rolls’ manufacture of the batteries requires a unique charging regime which needs to be programmed into the charger – I am confident that this was not done. Another factor could be the continual trickle charging which had been recommended but has since been debunked and it seems that this, combined with the Rolls issue could also have been contributory to the failure.
The generator battery failure could just have been a function of age as the engine and generator batteries had not been replaced for 10 years.
The need to replace all 5 of the batteries did bring into question the option of changing the whole battery regime to lithium. I had encountered other yacht owners on our travels who swore by lithium, some said that they didn’t even bother with shore power and the argument becomes quite compelling. Conventional batteries can only be discharged to 60% of their capacity before potentially compromising their life . This delivers, in my case, only 260AH of usable capacity. Lithium batteries, however, provide twice the capacity in the same physical space, and they can be completely discharged without damage. This would mean that at least 1800AH could be available. Oh, and the life of lithium batteries is also considerably greater.
But there is a downside. In that the yacht has been set up for conventional batteries with the charger, inverter and alternator all matched, it would need a lot of intermediate electronics to accommodate a change to lithium. This coupled with an apparent increase in the fire risk, insurance complications and hiked cost, possibly by as much as 4 times, it is certainly not a ‘no brainer’.
Although I rather relish remote anchorages and ‘drying out’ (not to be confused with the alcohol connotations of this phrase), my preference is not shared by other members of my crew. This year’s cruise is a case in point in that we were only not ‘plugged in’ on two occasions.
So, the decision to continue along the conventional route was taken but with a corrected installation and a revised charging regime.
If specifying a yacht from new where all the components can be married to a lithium installation, then lithium would, in my opinion be the way to go.
I won’t be buying a new yacht !!!
Hi Nick re lithium. I refitted Kia Maru from Mastervolt and AGM to Victron and 660ah lithium, and while expensive has been, along with replacing our sails, a very worthwhile investment. As we travel West (now in Indonesia) we are mostly off-grid and rarely visit a Marina. In fact the last Marina we visited I didn’t even plug in. Of course every situation is different and if you’re mostly coastal the investment may not be justifiable. A couple of notes, our insurance company never loaded our premium because of the lithium install and maintaining them between 80 and 20 percent charge is recommended by Victron.
Thanks for your comment, Vince. I quite understand your decision making given your sailing lifestyle! My feedback from Pantaenius insurance was that any change to lithium would have to be done by a specialist lithium installer and certified as such, the installation components (retro fitted) would all have to be certified compliant and then they might consider extending cover. They were not at all embracing of a retro fitted concept. I guess the debate will continue and it would certainly appear that the product and acceptance is only improving.
Good luck keeping with Hejira Nick .
All the best
Stephen
She has served me (us) well, Stephen. I don’t have the need, appetite, energy, finance or time left to make a change at this stage in my life. And, anyway, Hejira is ideal and I continue to strive to make her as close to perfect as possible!