Original Hatteras Battery boxes

[captbuddy]

Can anyone tell me if I could fit 3 golf cart batteries into one of the fiberglass battery boxes that hold the 8D battery. Was at Sam's today and took an 8D and sit it on the floor and then took a golf cart battery and marked it on the floor and move it three times and it looks like it would be at least 1/2 inch longer than the 8D. Please don't ask why I didn't take three golf batteries. Reason, they were hard to get off shelf due to their height. Can't remember how much room I have left in the box after putting in the 8D. Was considering replacing the three 8D's with golf cart batteries since this operates the house bank. Would like to have three golf batteries in each box. Am I asking for to much?
Thanks,
captbuddy

 

[Captned]

I THINK you can. I started to do it, then changed my mind. I had bought the batteries and was planning to do it, but I had lunch, got lazy and brought the batteries back. I was thinking about removing those 8 d's and said, well.....

Like dad used to say "measure twice, cut once!"

Cheers,

Captned
Miami Beach

 

[bobk]

Three 8D's ought to fit in the box, but they may be too tall to put the lid on properly. Measure to the top of the terminal connections.

Bob

 

[Boatsb]

Will 2 4D batteries fit? That would be my choice. They now are as powerful as 8D but about half the size. I picked some up for about $140 each and they are 1175 CCA deep cycle marines from interstate.

 

[spartonboat1]

3 grp 27's are identical dimensions (I am fairly certain) as 1 8D...

 

[captbuddy]

What is a grp 27? Do they make a deep cycle 8D? Was trying to get more deepcycle hours.
captbuddy

 

[Angela]

We have the golf cart battery set up and can only get two golf cart batteries in one OEM box.

 

[SKYCHENEY]

We have the golf cart battery set up and can only get two golf cart batteries in one OEM box.

That's because the OEM 32v boxes are different size than the OEM 12v boxes. Also, 8v golf cart batts are not the same size as a group 27 12v batt.

 

[spartonboat1]

Re: Grp 27's, there are several batteries similar in dimensions to an automotive battery that are "Group" numbered; 24 & 27 come to mind. AutoZone, Sears Auto (may have dropped Grp 27 for some reason) should have some Grp 27's. I was thinking of going to 6 Grp 27 Gel type, e.g. Optima brand, batts, this year to replace 2 8D's. But cost was prohibitive, plus got a very good price on the 8D's, about $300 for the pair brought to the boat. However, the Optima's can be drawn to zero volts without harm, and will hold a charge for a very long time, excess of a year. Also, they can last over 7 years. USCG runs them to good effect.

I think there are some new series of Gel batts coming out...maybe less costly? (I wish)...All I know...

 

[mstailey]

spartonboat1,

Do you mean 3 grp 24's instead of 3 grp 27's in a standard 8D box? In looking at the standard dimensions of the grp 24 the length is 11" which is the width of the 8D. Grp 27 length is 12 1/2 inches - this seems it would be to long?

 

[dastahl]

I have 12v Hatteras boxes and can NOT fit 3 lifeline AGM 6Volts into them even though Life Line Folks insists you should be able to. They miss by less than an inch but they miss. I have contemplated cutting the box ends and making them one big box but have not had the time. The LRC 42 boxes are outside the engines and AGM are required as it is near impossible to check water levels. Also I can't lift the 8Ds into there boxes, so I replaced them with 6V AGMs.
I suggest carefully measuring the bottom demensions of your 8D boxes.

Skooch
LRC 42
Worton Creek, MD

 

[captbuddy]

Skooch,
So did you put in 6, 6 votls AGM's. Two in each of the three battery boxes. Have you done much anchoring out over a weekend living on the battery bank? Do they crank your port engine OK?
captbuddy

 

[dastahl]

Skooch had 4 8Ds from Hatt. One for Stb engine/gen set and 3 as the house bank which also starts the port engine.

The 8D that starts the stb engine I left as is, cause it is the only one I can actually get in and out (which I have not had to do .

I replaced the other 8Ds with 6-6 volt AGMs or 880 amp hours at 12 volts. They start my 4-53s without much strain.

I anchor out as often as I can, three days last weekend with two other LRCs as a matter of fact, and the system works just great. I run the TV/entertainment, house lights, outlets, refer and ice maker off the house bank thru a 2500 watt Trace SW-2512 inverter. I run the gen set to cook and charge in the morning and evenings for about an hour or two. The Trace charges the batteries at 120 amps. The inverter shuts off at 50% depletion of the batteries, but that has only happened once when the shorepower plug can loose when I was away. Would guess I have about 20 hours of anchoring out while using the boat. In practice I rarely go more than 10, which is about 150-200 amp hours consumed before we run the gen set or the motors. Port engine has 175 amp charger on it so if we are moving I don't need to charge with the gen set. I can get Skooch down to draw 5 amps between refer runs while we are sleeping if the weather lets us not need fans or nav stuff turned on. When the refer runs and we have fans and Nav stuff on she draws almost 30 amps 12 v DC. We aslo have a Lectrasan sewage system which draws 50 amps DC for 2 minutes each flush, gotta count that in.

The AGMs are 6 years old and going fine

We really prefer to anchor out and after paying off the shipyard to fix my old Niaads and GM windless I have to anchor out about 100 times to save marina fees. LOL

Skooch
42 LRC Worton Creek

 

[jim rosenthal]

Three group 24s will fit, crosswise, in an 8D box. This is what I have in my boat. Two 4Ds will not fit. There is a long, narrow 12v battery which will probably fit, two nexst to each other, in an 8D box, but what would be the point...you wouldn't get any more capability and you would have that much more wiring and cables etc.

Three good quality 24s will crank any engine that an 8D will. Trojan 24s are especially durable, I have found- worth the difference. Rolls I think are overpriced. I don't know about any of the newer high-zoot batteries.

 

[bobk]

Chateau de Mer has a 2500 watt Victron inverter/charger with six 6V Workaholic GC batteries. It also has a 150A battery combiner that charges the house bank via the starboard engine (6V92) alternator. Our biggest draw is the self defrosting houshold refrig/freezer and the small under counter refrigerator on the aft deck. Underway the alternator keeps everything going just fine. At anchor, we follow a routine like on Skootch. Charge batteries while cooking breakfast and dinner, maybe top them up before sacking out. So far so good. Sure beats keeping a generator running, and we prefer to be on the hook.

Bob
1981 48 series I MY

 

[Pascal]

i have what i'm pretty sure are the original Hatt battery boxes on my boat and FOUR 8V Exide E4800 golf cart batteries fit with room to spare...

they are installed length wise, two rows of two.

or maybe i dont' have the original boxes...

 

[Jaxfishgyd]

Yup,
I replaced my HEAVY 8D's with group 24's, three fix perfectly into each 8D box. More power and reserve than the 8D did. Placed them in 2005 and have had zero problems with them.

 

[spartonboat1]

spartonboat1,

Do you mean 3 grp 24's instead of 3 grp 27's in a standard 8D box? In looking at the standard dimensions of the grp 24 the length is 11" which is the width of the 8D. Grp 27 length is 12 1/2 inches - this seems it would be to long?

Per two other posts, I guess Group 24's are the ticket (I knew it was a 24 or 27). I liked the AGM's, because they will take such a beating, plus last at least 2.5 times as long as a flooded cell lead-acid unit, ne 8D. I believe some have a full guarantee for a period at which an 8D would be dead (3-3.5 yrs).

I would think a critical success factor would be making up a durable, reliable new battery cable harness!

 

[Jaxfishgyd]

I bought my batteries at "Battery Depot" and they had premade harnesses to connect the 3 batteries. Think I paid $15 each but they fit perfectly.

 

[fissioneng]

East Penn (DEKA) makes 2/0 harnesses for connecting 2 or 3 batteries. Part numbers are 04317(red), 04318(black) for 2 batteries and 04319(red), 04320(black) for 3 batteries. I was quoted $15.89 for each.