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Paul Eschmann
Rochester, NY
Boat Name:
Model/Year: C22/1975
Hull No. CTYH47740375
Hailing Port: Brockport, NY |
 05/04/2012 8:20 AM Pacific Time
What type of battery is recommended if only running lights, knotmeter, depth gauge, and occasionally an autoplot steering arm? Motor is manual, no connection to battery. |
R. C. Luiken
Milford, DE
Boat Name: Ricochet
Model/Year: C-22 Swing Keel/1986
Hull No. 13560
Hailing Port: Milford, DE/St. Michaels, MD |
05/05/2012 4:15 AM Pacific Time
I use a group 27 deep cycle battery |
David J. Pierce
Sunset, Louisiana
Boat Name: Little Miracles
Model/Year: 1985
Hull No. 12822
Hailing Port: Cypermort Point, Louisiana |
05/05/2012 4:16 AM Pacific Time
The battery you will need is a deep cycke battery.
The next part of the answer will require some simple math. You need to determine the amp-hour requirement ofvthe battery you will need.
An amp-hour is the number of amperes drawn by the loads supplied by the battery multiplied by the number of hours the load will be supplied by the battery before the battery will need to be charged.
Light bulbs are rated in watts. The amperage drawn by a light us calculated by dividing the wattage rating of the lamp by the voltage (12 volts). A 12 watt lamp draws 1 ampere.
If the lights have LED lamps, the amperage drawn by the lamp will be small. Most manufacturers will list the ampere draw of the LED lamp.
The power drawn by the autopilot in stand by and in use need to be known as well as the number of hours thevautopilot will be in each mode.
Add up the amp-hours needed for each load in a 24 hour period and multiply by the number of days the battery will be required to supply thesevloads befre the battery is charged.
Batteries last longer if you avoid discharging the battery more than 50% of the battery capacity. Multiply the amp-hours calculated above by 2 and buy a battery with this amp-hour rating.
Happy sailing
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