Sealed battery on Jetski?

[The Ancient Mariner]

Greetings, I have a 2006 Seadoo GTI 4 tec.The current battery is bulged and I am unhappy with this,even though the intelligent charger says all is fine.I am concerned as to why it is bulged? I also dont like the fact that this battery is of the older type with acid and filler caps(prone to leaking),with an overflow attachment which exits through pipe on starboard side of ski. My immediate thought was to replace with a sealed,maintenance free unit and problem solved!Apparantly not!An experienced mechanic informed me that you cannot use this type of battery in a JS as it will get cooked! Thanking anyone in advance for any advice and light that can be shed upon this issue! Best regards, TAM.

 

[Ya Toivo]

TAM,

You get a gel battery for the jetski. I have a dual battery system in. Most guys now days will tell you to put this in. It cost a bit, because you fit two batteries so that you can switch from the one to the other easy at sea if you have problems. Race tech did mine, i think the extra battery is about R700 if i am not mistaking. And yes this is a maintenance free no leak gel battery. The dual system comes in handy , if you go on trips to Moz etc where you cant find them in shops, you always have a spare.

Cheers

 

[The Ancient Mariner]

Ya Toivo,

You are quick on the draw and a hive of information!Would the battery centre sell these or is it a special marine battery?

Regards,
TAM

 

[Johnno s gone fishin]

Hi Tam


A bulging battery is a sign of overheating, usually internally, either by a massive discharge, or from overcharging.
You can get a sealed gel battery from most battery suppliers.
All you need to ensure is that it's capacity (amphour rating) is as great as, or a bit greater than your existing one.
Sad to say but the experienced mechanic your refer to is not too clued up on batteries.
By the way if you want to see something real interesting --- Check the chemical reaction that occurs when you mix seawater with battery acid. Mix and RUN !!! or better still get someone else to mix while you run.
Also, if I am not mistaken, marine regulations do not permit Non sealed batteries.
I too have been toying with the idea of a dual system,but just have not gotten around to it yet.
  Fishfinders etc can easily run a battery down AND You can't push start a Jetski at sea.

Best regards
Johnno

 

[Ya Toivo]

There is all the answers you looking for TAM, thanks Johnno. I would suggest the dual system to any guy that go to remote places and that fish alone.
I dont always have the pleasure of someone fishing with me, so i am mostly alone out on the water.
And i have to say, when i leave home to go work, i didconnect my batteries, and sometimes even 6 or 7 weeks later when i connect them again, they still 100%.

 

[The Ancient Mariner]

Ya Toivo/Johnno,

Thanks for your time!Your input is greatly valued!Johnno,the Seadoo manual claims that the correct battery for my ski is a 12v 30a/h,electrolite type battery(taking into consideration that it is a 2006 model.Gel type batteries probably were not invented back then)??

Johnno,further to our conversation re:freezers for bakkie is concerned,Makro is selling 50 l 220v Campmaster freezers for R2,7k on special at the moment with the Danfoss compressor.I was wondering if one could run this whilst driving using an inverter on dual battery system.I was just wondering what the current draw would be using this system
and how long it could run for just on battery with no charge from alternator?

The Campmaster freezers have nice thick insulation and are apparently very good freezers.

Advice please!

Best regards,
TAM

 

[kb]

A freezer on the back of the ski should not only look interesting, but could be handy......

 

[The Ancient Mariner]

Hey KB,

Ha,ha!

Dont want to run out of bait when the fish are biting!

Hows the progress in aquiring your VX 110?

Regards,
TAM

 

[Johnno s gone fishin]

Hi Tam & kb
The price of R 2.7 is about average for a 220 v only fridge / freezer.
The problem with 220 v freezers is that they are not normally suitable for running whilst the vehicle is in motion. I have one in my office that works perfectly until you shake it a little, it then shorts out the supply. Something to do with the wiring INSIDE the compressor.
Another thing is that you will need an 220 / 12 v inverter of at least 1500 W which will set you back about R 1500 - R 2000. The drain on your battery will be dictated by the inverter, so even when the thermostat switches the freezer off, there is a current flowing. -- Result is a fully charged 105 ah battery not lasting a day. Also whilst a 1500 watt unit will run the freezer, it will most probably go into overload every time the compressor starts so a 3000 w unit is a better bet.
Rather bite the bullet and get a 12v/220v unit to start off with.
Both the National Luna and the Snomaster/Campmaster ones will draw about 2 - 4 amps when running, which is about 50 % of the time if you place it in shade or cool place.
So a 105 Ah battery should last about 50 hours., but remember with batteries, one reading 12v IS NOT fully charged -- it's about 60% full, AND once the battery gets down to say 11 v, it will take a looong time to get it back to 100% full. Do not use voltage as a reference to the state of charge.
On the gel battery point. - I woud have no problem with an ordinary wet cell battery on a river or dam. It's the seawater that's the problem.
 So with Seadoos only being intended for swimming pools and small lakes they could use a wet battery -- Only joking !!!


Speak to you soon
Johnno

 

[Ya Toivo]

What do you guys wanna use the deepfreezer for, just travelling? Or at your destination as well? Because now days all resorts have big box deepfreezers anyway, so you just wanna get your frozen supplies there frozen. And the best and cheepest way to do that i have seen is teh Safari chillers or something simular. I pack mine with about 100 to 120 makrils and some vacuumed meat, and it stay frozen for just about two days if you keep the lid closed. And here we talkin about a chiller costing R1500.

cheers

 

[The Ancient Mariner]

Ya Toivo,

I dont really need a 12V freezer as I do exactly what you do!I bought a Pacific Chiller at Ganis about a year back!It is an 80 litre and I paid R1k for it.Best cooler box I have ever owned!I use it on my boat with 2 x frozen 5 l water bottles,frozen meat etc.This gives me 5 x days of cold fridge facilities whilst in the hot environments of dams such as Arabie,Makolo,Rhenosterkop where daytime temps are around 38 deg.Just open and shut asap.No time for rummaging!

The thing is that I now have a dual battery system and feel that it is time to go the whole hog(even though I know that it is not really necessary)!More than a want than a need!Once I have it though,it will make camoing etc more efficient!

Best regards,
TAM

 

[The Ancient Mariner]

Hey Johnno,

Thank you for shedding some light on the inverter topic!The inverter route sounds like an arse about elbow one for something that will not be efficient!I must just foot the bill and be done with it!

The people at Linex recommend the normal type battery,but you,PM and Ya Toivo all use the gel type so would like to follow suite!

Have tried Seadoo in swimming pool and dam,now its time for groot dam!

Speak soon!
TAM

 

[Johnno s gone fishin]

Yeah -- Looking forward to Vidal bigtime !

 

[Schatzie]

On the fridge issue inverters dont work unless you have a very expensive pure sine wave unit. I have a 12 v 80 lt fridge I run whilst driving off duel battery syatem in car. I also have a 40 lt fridge which I use for frozen stuff. I run it will full contents at home night before leaving on any trip at max minus temp I think -22deg. I do not open the freazer at all before leaving pack it under the other luggage for insulation. If I travel for 9-10 hours it is at - 2 or 3 deg by the time I connect to 220v again meat still very much frozen.

hope this helps

regards
Garry

 

[The Ancient Mariner]

Mee too Johnno,I can hear the waves breaking already!

 

[The Ancient Mariner]

Hey Gary,

I have put the inverter idea to rest as it is the arse about elbow route!I think that I am going to settle with the Indel b 55 l and move on from there!

Best regards,
TAM

 

[Johnno s gone fishin]

Hi Tam

Good decision on the Indel.

Ya Toi
I camp at a lot of venues and then the fridge and freezer AND - wait for it -- the ICE MACHINE comes along, document.write('/images/emoticons/f11.gif');

Schatzie -- I do as you do as regards use of fridge / freezer. My only comments are ;
1. I have successfully used a normal inverter on a National Luna and  Snowmaster without ill effect, but as Tam has said, it is a bit arse about, and all my units as well as those I do for people are 12/24/220.
2. Always make sure you have enough ventilation around the air inlet and outlet grids when packing the units otherwise they will overheat and could burn out.

Cheers
Johnno